Friday, April 30, 2010

Superheros and a Pretty Girl

These were taken today...my superheros and my pretty girl.


I bought these capes for the boys at Christmas off the website http://www.etsy.com/. If you haven't been there - go now! Superheros are finally catching on here at the Pattersons. (I thought it was a great gift and they've just been hanging on the back of their doorknobs for 5 months).
And Zoe was wearing my favorite shirt today. (Maybe it's because you don't see babies in black very much but I just think she looks adorable!). This photo was taken just a couple hours before it came off in a huge blowout-situation.

Just a Friday and some cute kids.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Daddy's Girl

As I type I am holding Zoe in my lap, and she is wearing a shirt that says "I love being Daddy's girl." Bill slipped it into a pile of summer clothes we were buying for the kids at Children's Place last week. He showed it to me when we got home and said he wanted her to have it. How sweet is that?!
Zoe loves when her dad holds her and soothes her down to sleep. She has always smiled BIG for Bill. And now she's loving some playtime with daddy too. Here are a few snapshots of Daddy and his girl. So sweet. This guy is good.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Who are these people?!


Pop culture. It's never been my thing. I worked in Beauty Care at P&G years ago and this is when it first came to light... I was actually chastised by my boss for not caring enough about popular trends and celebrities. I found myself disliking the "cool brands" and rooting for the simpler ones not sold by over-the-top beauty or the celebrity with the best hair.

Although I certainly can't deny I like to look up-to-date; I like to dress from the same stores that you like (Gap, Banana, White House Black Market, Dillards, whatever) and I'm not immune to the effects of pop culture upon me.... I just simply don't CARE about it much. That's what I tried to tell my boss... "I can't make myself care about something that I just...don't." She wasn't impressed and decided to send me to our PR firm for a crash-course in "what's cool." I quit before she got the chance.

I had a recent incident where I heard the name "Randy Jackson" yet saw a picture in my head of Randy TRAVIS. (My country music days returning to bite me in the butt). I've had many similar incidents over the years: asking a friend about some band that sang a hit song called "Hey ya" that I'd never heard. I'm sitting here remembering my Aunt MaryLee asking me once "what's a Bon Jovi?" I'd ask that now. If you quizzed me on celebrity faces, the only ones I MIGHT know are those who have appeared on American Idol lately. Although clearly this isn't the key, as poor Randy Jackson has still fallen prey to my pop culture faux-pas.

This also extends into the world of music, especially...and it's associated technologies: IPODS (just learned I have an Ipod that is 4 "generations" old), current stereo systems, popular radio stations, etc. I'm not sure why the music world is hit especially hard by this (and I do love to listen to music) but it seems to be a place where celebrity and up-to-the-minute culture is of critical importance. That's where I'm lost.

I'm not embarrased by this. I don't think it's a bad thing. Actually, I think it's great and often very amusing. I now know and accept that this has nothing to do with being relevant to people... it's actually a way that God has put me together. I think it makes life a little simpler and less crowded by people that I'll never meet and never know. And I hope that it makes me a little less part of the worldly culture around me. A friend recently suggested that I should be embarrassed by this. But I'm ok with staying a few steps further away from bad trends and bad boob jobs. I think I'm probably better off for it!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Family Pictures!









Do you have a favorite?!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Walking in the woods


Each day's schedule is quite different right now for me and the boys. This morning Zoe woke up just before 9am. I was thinking of what I could take them all out to do for a while and it hit me "Withrow Nature Preserve." This is an amazing nature-preserve not 3 minutes from our neighborhood. I don't know why I had that idea this particular morning...or maybe I do.

It was such a blessing...I took all 3 kids, popped Zoe in the Baby Bjorn and we took the 1/2 mile trail through beautiful woods on a breezy, warm morning. Then we played hide and seek in the gardens by the house and made our way back to the car. All in all, only about 45 minutes. It was perfect.

When I was walking on the trail watching my boys get excited about the trees and squirrels, I got tears in my eyes and realized that God knew exactly what activity would bless me and be fun for my kids. I love the outdoors, the woods - and I want my kids to love it too. I always feel God's Spirit heavily in these particular woods...and this time was no different. It was perfect.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter weekend in pictures

Easter has evolved into my favorite holiday. We always end up with our friends, it's springtime and it's just a sweet time to celebrate. This year, Easter and Bill's birthday were on the same day! On Saturday we went to Crossroads and had an egg hunt with the Little family...(pictures on that to come). Sunday was the big day. And it was a great one. First we...

Had our own Easter egg hunt and baskets


Opened presents for Bill's birthday ("hi daddy" love Zoe)


Made a homemade cake for daddy with plenty of finger-licking!


The sprinkles got a little crazy.


Then we headed over to the Valentines for yet another egg hunt.


And the kids got a tractor ride to top it off. That DVal knows how to party.



A weekend of celebration!!