Overdue Post

Part of this post is long overdue. Many of you have read recently and heard about the tough economic times that have befallen our country. Towns are in ruins and the unemployment rate has steadily risen. One of the towns that has been highlighted is Kokomo, IN due in part to its dependence on the American motor industry. Well for Easter this year we went to Kokomo to visit family and go on an Easter Egg hunt. And let me tell you that judging by the Kokomo Easter Bunny those stories are not quite accurate. Amidst the usual candy and toys that are found in children's Easter eggs there was more. The Kokomo Easter Bunny also decided to have an adult Easter egg hunt. Inside the adult eggs we found candy, cash, books, gift certificates and Final Four tickets.

Economy Schmonomy

It was great to go to the game even if the end result was not what we had hoped. Please see the link below for pictures from the game. We were so busy watching everything that we did not even get any pictures of those in attendance.

http://picasaweb.google.com/zachwford/2010NCAAChampionship#

Cheers to Thirty (plus one!)

On the eve of Zach's thirty-first birthday, just a few pictures to say, "thank you and we love you," from Bennett and I. Cheers to our thirties together...it just keeps getting better.

Up to no good.

Dad and his mini-me. Seriously, look at them...two peas in a pod.

They are both so handsome...I am so lucky!

Happy 31st! Looking forward to a fun weekend with my boys.

Road Blocks

So I turned 30 on Sunday and I was looking forward to it. I love reflecting on the 20's chapter of my life - laughing that at 20 I relied on a fake I.D. to get me through a Key West spring break, 21 I met my lovely husband, 22 I purchased my first pair of "Seven" jeans...and it was only about 5 weeks ago that they earned their first hole while crawling on the floor with Benentt, 24.5 I married my lovely husband, almost 27 - Z and I traveled Europe, just before my 28th birthday we saw our tiny son on an ultrasound screen, 29 I finally made it to Vegas for the first time....

The list goes on...many memorable moments and some not so memorable ones. But it is at thirty that I can say more confidently than ever before that a healthy family and friends...time with family and friends is more important than any pair of jeans, but I do still love shopping. I know that neither Zach nor I take for granted the many blessings in our lives.

If I could, I would stay forever young, but I completely look forward to my thirties - filled with family vacations, learning to ride bikes and then getting bikes for our whole family to ride, church festivals, falls filled with football games and apple picking...there is so much to look forward to and I embrace it.

Seriously, my only real frustration right now are the road blocks involved in my new morning commute. And maddening as they are (not one, but TWO major road closures causing back-ups), even I know this is no problem at all. Life is good. I am thankful.

And some favorite smiles from the past few weeks. This is what Zach and I wake to each morning...we are his daddy and mommy...someone pinch me.

Looking for the next wave.

Bubbles galore (or gazore...as someone who mixes words once said). The smiles from this boy when bubbles (or bu-bu, as he calls them) are involved are many. I like this shy one when he noticed me watching him.

One last picture from an afternoon where running around our dining room table was better than any toy. The other day we were back in our old (and already missed) neighborhood, visiting our neighbors and Bennett wanted to go next door to our old home - his home. Made us a little sad. But we know that great things are in store for him and us in what might be our new place...I can't think of a better way to begin the thirties chapter.

Ketchup

Time To Catch Up
These last few months have been a whirlwind. Abby and I started giving serious thought to selling our home in February. With the counseling of our realtor and some push we put the house on the market at the end of February. Two days later we received and accepted an offer. That left us with quite a bit of packing to do and a short window to do that. Needless to say we got everything packed up and closed on the house at the end of March. We are now residing in the same apartment complex Abby lived in before we got married. It is kind of fun and a great experience. About 40% of our life and its belongings is now in the apartment while the remaining 60% is in a storage facility on the east side of town. Makes for a fun twist that all of us (Bennett and Fenny especially) are taking in stride.
I am learning all sorts of new things about life in general. For instance, I have always wondered who buys this crap from the infomercials. Well I have an answer... People who do not have cable. You see while Abby and I are living in the apartment we are attempting to save a little money and not get cable. Right now we have the standard public stations and over the air channels. And let me tell you, if you think you have a hard time sometimes trying to find something to watch on one of you 300 cable channels, try not having cable on a saturday afternoon. This past weekend I watched a 60 minute infomercial on the Ninja Master Prep thingamabob. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wRYd5H3koA
At the end I actually caught myself thinking that one of those would be a good thing to have around the house. Immediately after that thought I realized that I am now one of those people who could be supporting the infomercial business and the products that they peddle.

Easter came and went this year and Bennett got to celebrate it three days in a row. He started with an Easter Egg hunt in Noblesville, then a hunt and breakfast with the bunny at Meridian Hills and capped off the Easter weekend with a hunt and lunch in Kokomo. When he gets older I will explain to him that Jesus only came back to life that one time not actually three days in a row. Click the link below to see some of the easter pics.
http://picasaweb.google.com/zachwford/April9BlogPost#
The picture with Bennett, Abby and the Easter Bunny is about as close as Bennett felt comfortable being near the Bunny. It was quite entertaining to see the two of them interact.

This weekend my lovely wife enters a new decade. Please take time to remind her of this and wish her the best.

Stay tuned for a birthday recap and more exciting apartment adventures to come.

BIG thank you

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you to Auntie Whitney and Uncle Eric for taking Bennett to the beach and many trips into the pool! Bennett and I fled the coup and left closing on our house to daddy while we played with Auntie in Ft Lauderdale. We had a wonderful trip - survived the flights, great cooking (thank you, again!), beach trips, many dips into the pools and on the morning of a little rain - no problem...story and music time at the local library (giving Eric's dog, Tucker, a much needed toddler break).

We love this picture of our noticeably white baby and nicely tanned Auntie.

A walk to the beach and time to play in the sand. Bennett spotted the ocean in this picture and there was no turning his head toward the camera. I held his hand as we walked toward the ocean and then let go to watch as he checked it out...

Auntie snapped this picture as Bennett ran toward the ocean water- you can see my shadow...I had no idea Bennett would run full speed ahead - meaning, I got to do the same thing in my socks, running shoes and clothes. No fear. Screamed when we had to head back.


Day two at the beach - sand and ocean are definitely his playground. It made me so happy to see how much he loved the vastness of the beach and ocean.

Not a care in the world. Borrowed a shovel and he was so happy sitting and playing. So looking forward to the fun ahead as summer approaches with this curious boy.

We can't wait to see Auntie Whitney and Uncle Eric next month - the wedding is here - and these two make one amazing couple...look forward to celebrating with you, your families and friends. I should also mention that Bennett was lucky to have a couple playmates while in Lauderdale - Eric's neices, Elise and Kendall, and their families were wonderful hosts to us, as well.


Happy Easter! Zach, Bennett, Fenny and I are now living on the third floor of an apartment while we house hunt. And, mostly, we are loving the adventure.