And here we are...Omahoma

 Many of you have asked me why I haven't blogged in awhile, people have been wanting updates on what the crazy Zimmermans have been up to! 

 Well here is the scoop on this. 

 I blog for many reasons but my main reason is for my kids.  Each year at Christmas they get a hardback book of a year's worth of my blog entries.  This is my way or version of a scrapbook for them.  It is something I hope that they will always keep with them and pull out many years from now when they are not at home with us and hopefully it will give them some comfort and remind them of how much they are loved by their family.  

Which is why I usually tend to only write about the good/positive/happy/funny things that go on around here.  We are like any other family, we have our fair share of disasters around here...daily, but how fun would it be to read your childhood book full of complaints from your mom.  Not how I want to be remembered! 

This move has brought about all sorts of emotions from me and as much as I tried to stay positive and excited, it was hard.  I honestly think I have stayed away from my blog so long because I feared looking at my pictures.  Pictures paired with music always get to me! 

So change is hard for some people and I am one of those people.  

But here we are in our new house in Omahoma (this is what Caroline calls it) and I am ready to be positive! 

 We are meeting our new neighbors, the girls have joined a swim team, Kyle is loving his new job, Walter is signed up for soccer, we are spending time with new friends, and reconnecting with important loved ones from the past.  School starts in a few weeks and I can't believe I will have a 2nd grader, one in Kindergarten, and one in Pre-K.  Not sure yet how I am going to manage all of this kid free time ;)

When this truck pulled up to our house on May 29th two things went through my mind:

1.  I can't believe this is really happening!

2.  How is all of our cr#$ going to fit into that thing.  I hope we don't have to pay more for another truck!

Moving day wore us all out.  

This little bitty crashed on the floor cuddled in her sister's bedding and her  brother's bobbi

Well they got everything cleared out and loaded into one truck and I was able to get one last shot on my way out the door.

  

The entire month of June we drifted from friends to family staying with whomever would have us.  Kyle was working in town until the end of June and I was not moving without him.  We are so very thankful to those who helped us out.  Taking on a family of six is a very brave thing to do and you all did it without hesitation.  Thank you!

Stay tuned, I can't wait to fill you in on what we have been up to!

Caroline Turned Two!!!

A lot...

can happen...

in two years!!!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet Caroline!

Last weekend we celebrated this little Miss into toddlerhood and as I was looking through her pictures I just can't believe how much she has changed in just one year!  When I look at her I still feel like I am looking at the first picture, my baby.  In reality she is all grown up and learning new things each day!

Her special day started with her favorite morning staple, a banana.  She asks for this immediately when she gets downstairs in the morning and walks around the house with her hands entirely full while trying to eat it.  This girl is a multi-tasker!  She constantly has a million things in her hands and gets down right mad if she can't hold everything at once.  Heaven forbid if something should fall out of her hands as she is climbing stairs or trying to get on furniture.  This frustrates her to no end!

Sitting in her special "Birthday Chair" for breakfast!

Running through her special "Birthday Door"

Super excited for her fun day to begin.  Getting the party started!

It was also Mother's Day so I was able to sneak in a pic with my kids :)  

She is enjoying the farm so much this year.  This year she doesn't have to spend time in the stroller and she loves it!  I love watching her run from one animal to the next!  Feeding the baby goats was one of her favorites!

And seriously, what would a second birthday be without a trip to (the stinkiest, dirtiest place on earth) Chuck-E-Cheese!  She had a blast and loved riding all of the rides.  

I have had so much fun with this little girl the last two years.

  Even though she is #4 she has managed to teach me new things everyday.  Her determination and spunk are my favorites!  

I love how she brightens the room each time she walks in, I love seeing those dimples when she smiles, I love seeing her kiss and hug her brother and sisters each night before going to bed, I love how she still lets me rock her and sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" each night before bed, I secretly love that she still wants me to hold her all of the time,  I love how she constantly is saying "me do" when she wants to do something on her own, I love watching her hair blow as she runs...

Caroline, you are a sweetheart and mommy loves you to the moon and back!

Come out, Come out, Where ever you are!!!

Hello to all my blogger friends and family!

Many of you can tell what is going on in my life by looking at my blog.  It has been BUSY! 

A good but crazy busy.

We are all surviving this move so far, even though it hasn't even happened yet.  I guess I didn't realize all of the work that I would be doing beforehand to get us on our way.

The house is sold, the car is sold, and at last weeks garage sale I sold a lot of the furniture.  I guess I am just ready to start fresh!

The kids are keeping busy with all of their friends and activities.  I really don't think this move will affect them until we are there.  All in all they seem very happy with the idea and we haven't had any tears (from them) over it yet.  I am expecting it that first day we are there and they want to have one of their friends over for a play date.  

Isabella has been very busy this spring with her soccer team and getting ready for her dance recital.  She has two performances in this years recital and she will perform at three different recitals.  She is very excited to  get to wear two costumes!  She recently reached the highest level for her swimming and is hoping to find a fun swim team at our new home.  She recently made the big step from Daisy to Brownie in her Girl Scout Troop!  What a fun day it was to watch her walk the bridge :)

Now that the house is sold we are having fun making lots of messes around here.  Arts and crafts on the floor of your bedroom...why not?

I knew it was getting bad when during nighttime prayers Margaret always made a special request that our house sell quickly so that we can have fun again.

This little stinker is growing up way to quickly!  I mentioned how artistic she has become around the house and as you can see in this shot she continues to show me each day her passion for coloring.  On this particular day it was all over her body with a purple marker!  How does she find these things!  I had most of it washed off when I thought about documentation so all that is left is the small bit on her arm.  Needless to say, her second birthday is next week and I just ordered her the coolest art desk ever! Let's just hope that she can keep her artistic talent all in one place!

Besides repeating everything that comes out of our mouths (kinda scary) she is also begging me to use the potty.  I have been avoiding this task because with the move so close I didn't even want to get started on this.  My other kids didn't even have interest in this until 2 1/2 years but this little chick wants to sit on the potty all day long, and she actually goes in it!  Although I am very proud of her and can't believe my eyes I just don't want to have to deal with this right now.  I sound like a horrible mother but I have potty trained three kids and it is no small task.  When you are in training there is nothing quick about your day.  Every time you leave the house it is a HUGE ordeal.  Some days I find myself begging her to just go in her diaper so that we don't have to wait.  This is bad, usually it is the other way around.  I think I probably need to just get over it and slow life down.  Any tips on how to do this?

Pizza party with friends!

This is the only picture I have gotten lately of my little guy.  He is keeping very busy with dealing with three sisters, tae-kwon-do, and swimming.  He has become a master rhymer around our house and has gotten quite his own opinion lately.  He is turning the big #4 in a couple of weeks and he is making sure that we all know!

Little Miss Middle has been keeping busy as well with swimming and her upcoming dance recital.  She is very excited to get out there on stage and has been practicing her moves so that she doesn't "have to look at the teacher"!  She is such a curious girl with lots of questions to stump her mom and dad. 

Izzy on the soccer field!

All in all we are living the dream! 

 We are all healthy and together and that's all that really counts!

Easter Blessings

If you know me well, you know why I haven't blogged in forever.

Lots keeping me busy right now.

Let's see...

bought a house

haven't yet sold my current house

need I say more????

Wanted to share our (millions) of Easter photos!

We had a great weekend with the grandparents. It was nice to get away from reality a bit and have some fun with the family.

He is Risen!

Getting ready to dye eggs at Nana's house!

We are finally at the ages where coloring eggs is enjoyed by all.

Isabella and Margaret were much more particular about their eggs and took time for each one. By the time they would color one my other two had gone through about a dozen!

It was fun to see their creative side as they worked.

Caroline was able to show us her creative side while the adults ate dinner. The kids were downstairs coloring when Walter ran up in a panic to let me know Caroline wasn't coloring on paper (our #1 rule). As I ran down the stairs I was a little worried but when I saw this I couldn't believe what this little stinker had done! Thank goodness for washable markers!

About 10 minutes before a showing this week my little artist struck again. She took a red crayon and colored all over my white kitchen cabinets. She must of thought this is what we needed to do to get this house sold, spice it up a little! Thank goodness for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers!

Sisters!!!!!

We got to see the Easter Bunny this year without tears:)

Aunt Kari!

Love this kid!

Pre-Easter brunch was filled with lots of fun crafts and face painting.

Coloring eggs with Mimi & Papa!!!

The girls were excited to decorate the traditional easter bunny cake.

Leaving a trail into the house for the Easter Bunny...

Dancing to VBS music at Mimi's house!

Bubble machines are the best!

Going on an egg hunt!

Hoping everyone had a blessed Easter with family and those that you love most!

By the time I got to the end of this post (it took me several hours to download pics, put kids to bed, clean up, write, etc...) we got an offer on the house :) Saying prayers this all works out, God is Good!

Yummy!

Getting a jump start on spring...

bring it!

Saint Patrick's Day!

We had a great St. Patrick's Day with our traditional Topeka Downtown Parade.

Each year we gather with my mom's family and do it up big!

Believe it or not but this is only just a smidge of us!

Eleven my mom's twelve siblings were able to come and only a portion of us cousins could make it. We always have a blast when we are together and this year was no different. This is why I always tell people the more the merrier...this is how I grew up.

(thanks mom for not letting me in on the matching shirts!)

We were the only float with our own Saint Patrick and our own bagpiper!

I love how my kids look forward to this holiday every year...

they like to get decked out all in green...

they even dress up their pet dogs!

(no Walter did not get glasses, he found them at Mimi's and insisted on wearing them to the parade.)

Sharing a smooch with her Papa!

My older three had the honor of riding in my uncle's convertible again this year. The older cousins had volleyball tournaments this year and couldn't fill the spot.

They loved it!

Margaret didn't stop smiling and waving the entire parade. Isabella's smile faded about halfway through, but she kept her hand waving. The only way that Walter would wave was if his eyes were closed. He said that there were, "too many people looking at me!"

Walter had to hold his own with all of these little ladies.

Aunt Rachel!

My Lucky Charms!!!