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We very recently added chalkboard paint to our kitchen nook/home school room and I was a little weary about it after making the choice.  The thought of it always looking “messy” almost sent my chest into uncontrollable spasms….I mean, I complain all the time about trying to clean up messes, and this would be like making the choice to have a “permanent” mess.

Well, after a few weeks of having them, I’m really loving these walls.  Yes, we have chalk dust here and there,  but we have controlled the mess by having rules.  We have nooks (like under the benches) that are “free style” areas, but otherwise they have to have permission to chalk.  Oh, and we cut out colored chalk…turns out it stains carpet.  OUCH.

This morning was an example of why I love these walls.  We had an impromptu math lesson, which led to a lot of questions, which led to a lot of answers…and want to know the funny part?  The kids had NO IDEA they were “in school” for that half hour.  I just love that.  And we probably had more breakthrough moments than if they were sitting there with their math books out. 

I love this photo below.  Adin has a math wall (behind him), Priya had her wall, and then Adin did the section of “H’s” for Gabe because Gabe is obsessed with the letter “H.”  (He’s so funny.)

I saw this photo and the first thought I had was, “This is a snapshot of a dream….a dream I had probably 12 yrs. ago about what I wanted to see when I had a family.”  Made my heart smile.  Big time.

Oh, and during that kitchen segment, my little type A dude left the ruckus and went to sit in the clean dining room to work diligently on a birthday card for his uncle. 

To each his own.

Yes, I know it is March.  Of 2010.

I have been meaning to do this for weeks, well, make that months, and I always have the hardest time going through photos….I start organizing, erasing and moving them here and there.   With all that was going on with my sister’s wedding shower and now here comes her wedding (this WEEKEND!), this project got pushed to the very back of the back burner.

Then the hardest part, of course, when I try to find the perfect music to represent our family’s year. Not an easy task. After a couple days of racking my brain, I decided to let the kids decide.  I told them to pick from their favorite songs in 2009…and they did well.   The two songs on the slideshow were two we listened to together A LOT…as in, Gabe knows every word to both and sings them all the time. So as lame as I feel for posting this show in MARCH, I couldn’t help but fall head over heels in love with our past year in pictures. It’s a little longish, but we welcome you to take a peek at what we did around the Z house and beyond, as a family last year.

The first song is “Mountain and the Sea” by Ingrid Michaelson and the second song is “Corner” by Allie Moss, who sings and tours in the band with Ingrid, and she also has her own solo career. Ironically we took photos at one of their shows last year….they were great live!

Today the mother of my Daddy turns 93 years old, or young if you ask her.  And trust me, if you knew her you would agree.

My grandma is the type of person you meet and you never forget.  She stands out from the crowd.  She holds her own.  She has a voice that longs to be heard.

In a way you could say that my love of photographs comes from her.  From the time I can remember, she has sat me down with a stack of old photographs, pointing each person out and sharing their story.  When visiting her it is something you can count on- she will have somehow received new photos that she is eager to share.  Her love of history and genealogy is like no one else.  I find the stories so fascinating that she recalls from being a little child growing up deep in Kentucky.

One thing I love most about her is her sense of humor.  When she had a stroke and was in the hospital a few years back, part of her recovery became “dancing” in the hallways.  She often pulled in nurses and doctors to show them how to do the moves.  She is full of jokes- often a bit *ahem* “rough on the edges”….but her zest for life amazes us all.   She loves to have fun.

These are a few photos below that I snagged off of her Facebook.  If you follow me on twitter then you saw my tweet last night.  She called me and told me to go check out the new “hot” pictures of her on Facebook. 

In the first one she was 17 and had a 5 month old baby.  She is quite proud of that figure!  The second photo is of her and my grandfather.

The little boy in the two bottom photos is my Daddy…isn’t he a cutie?  And I’ve always thought my grandma was hot stuff in that bottom right photo.

Here she is with my Grandpa- probably in the early 90’s.  They were married 63 years before my Grandfather passed.

5 kids together

13 grandchildren

24 great grandchildren

1 great great grandchild, and 1 more coming soon!

(correct me if I’m wrong Grandma!!)

My three kiddos loving on Grandma at her 90th birthday.  Look how little Riah is!!

I didn’t mention how talented my grandma is with quilting and sewing….She has made so many amazing works of art.  I am honored to own a couple myself, and will always cherish them.

A recent photo of my babies with their great-grandma. 

Love you Grandma!!! You are loved by so many.  Hope you have a great day today! 

Please leave my grandma some birthday love…..I know it would MAKE her day!!

You may remember my little sister Ash’s engagement session a few months back.   This past Sunday (February 14th)  my Mom, sister Angie, and I, threw a shower for our sweet Ashie!   It was at my house, and I had so much fun (with a touch of stress involved) preparing for it.  I really have this secret love of throwing parties…..It’s an illness from my mother.

I was in charge of decor, and my mom and sister Angie were in charge of food.  I decided to make most of my decor and use lots of candles.  I did buy this paper bird garland on Etsy. I fell head over heels when I saw it.

My most time consuming decoration (yet easy as pie at the same time), were these fabric “pom-poms.”  Click HERE for the link to where I found the recipe. 

p.s. I love how lady-like my daughter is in that photo below.

We had a great fruit tray, meat and cheese tray, and desserts galore.  My mom made blackberry cobbler, apple pie, and her amazing German Chocolate cake, which I think I would get in a fist fight over (and win).

Priya made her “famous” pear tart too.   OHHH, the food was good.

Our favors were little boxes of Aglamesis’s chocolates.  YUM.

We recently redid our kitchen nook (aka schoolroom) with chalk board paint.  It fit Ash’s vintage vibe perfectly.

and of course flowers….

My Mom surprised Ashley with a barbershop quartet!!  They sang 3 little love diddies and made Ashley feel all good and uncomfortable.

Here’s the gift Brett and I got them….a canvas from their shoot.  I almost decided to keep it for ourselves instead. 

Their wedding is in 2 weeks!!! And I still have a TON of shopping to do.  All 6 of us are in it. I can’t believe it’s almost here.  Can’t wait.