365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #75

December 28th 2011

REDNECK FIRE PIT

My phone vibrates the kitchen counter with a incoming text.

It's from Dylan, sent via his new IPhone from the front yard.

This may seem lame but he was also watching Drexel so I completely understood.

It read;

Fire is ready

Sweet... bringing the dogs out now

Mom, I love this phone more than I could love a human baby

Of course you do Dylan

No, really mom, it's the best thing that's ever happened to me

LOL

Do you even know what this phone can do?

:)

There is an APP for anything you would ever need

DYLAN! I WILL SEE YOU IN 9 SECONDS DUDE!

I'm not really sure why I actually keep texting back.

2 minutes of my life I will never be refunded.

MOM? MOM? MOM?

ARE YOU STILL HOME?

??????

It wasn't particularly cold this fire pit night. Ya think this would have killed the mood. Nope. Even better in my book. No need for mittens or the actual fire itself. Plus the many trips to the S'mores table to get my 'fixins' didn't leave me frozen.

Two kinds of people in this world.

One who lights a MALLOW on fire just to light the MALLOW on fire

and the people who

actually eat the unique tasting, crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside sweet treat.

Drexel is......

drum roll please......

yep, you guessed it......

THE FIRE GUY!

Look up boy in the dictionary.

A picture of him, I swear.

Boys like fire. He collects sticks from everywhere we go.

Soccer fields.

Parking lots.

Neighbors yards.

Even the dump.

99% of the time my Church van has a pile of these hand picked gems. Usually dumped in a pile directly behind the drivers seat. They can sit for many days, unaware of their fate.

Mom? Mom? Mom? When is the next time we are doing a fire pit night?

He 'cooked' me roughly 56 perfectly burnt mallows. This is the kinda mother I am. I ate all of them. No way, are you kidding me. Most were thrown over my shoulder as I declared

LOOK A SHOOTING STAR!

The sky was very active.

How come come you are the only one to see them?

Diane jumps in for support. I think I saw one too Big Man, keep looking.

The picture of this one was priceless. I can't recall why this special gift to his favorite mother was no longer on some sort of stick. Oh no, his hand. Are you serious right now. I of all people know where those hands have been. Do I really need to eat this one?

His smiles. Flashing me his one dimple and six year bucky beaver grown up teeth. If that wasn't enough, the slobber on his chin seals my fate. I know the drool was an indication on how hard he worked. Concentrating so hard to cook this mallow just right for me.

I look up at the heavens, mutter something about baby Jesus and lower my head to eat the mallow right out of his hand. Oh my shooting stars. And yes, that IS the kinda mom I am.

If you have never seen the movie "Sandlot" I highly recommend you rent it, borrow it or Netflix it. Nice family movie. You will never make another S'more in your life with out quoting this classic. YOUR KILLIN' ME SMALLS!

Next time you see Diane, ask her about it. She can literally recite the entire mallow dialogue.

Thank you Daniel Lowder for the camp side music. #48 on my bucket list.

Learn how to play the guitar for this very reason.

As I lay in bed that night, I twirl and pick out knots from my long tired hair. A particularly difficult spot demands my attention. Events of our fun fire pit time swirl around my brain. I keep working on the sticky clump. Hhhhmm.... mushy and white.

I pick up my IPhone and text Dylan. Oh yea, I do know what this phone can do. He would be horrified I got marshmallow on my touch screen but well worth it.

R U still awake?

Yes ma'am

Can you bring me the baby wipes?

Sure...

:)

LUV U

DILL? DILL? DILL?

2 minutes of his life he will never get back.

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 83

January 16th 2012

TYE DYE INTERVENTION

Anyone who knows me or have been around my kids for any period of time knows;

THEY DRESS THEMSELVES

I DON'T CORRECT THEM WHEN IT DOESN'T MATCH

SHORTS IN THE WINTER? SURE, BUT NO COMPLAINING
JUST NOT ON MY RADAR OF IMPORTANT ITEMS TO WORRY ABOUT

WE RECEIVE TONS OF 'HAND ME DOWNS' FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY

THE KIDS ARE THE YOUNGER HALF OF 25 & 1/2 GRAND KIDS

I'D SAY, A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO BE

NOT ALOT OF TIME WORRYING ABOUT BEING FANCY AROUND HERE

MY IDEA OF PUT TOGETHER IS WHEN MY NIKE SHOX MATCH MY SHELF BRA

NOW THAT'S PERFECTION

I can't recall where I read this quote but I love it...

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN WEAR IS YOUR PERSONALITY"
Probably a fortune cookie or perhaps a trashed Snapple lid Drexel picked up off the ground

OF COURSE MY WARDROBE STANDARDS HAVEN'T TOTALLY HIT ROCK BOTTOM

WHAT YOU WEAR SHOULD AT LEAST BE CLEAN

Summer 2011 was filled to the rim with easy going, hang out, make the most of, cross off the bucket list kinda days. Big on the FUN list was tye-dying. Huge fans of this get your hands dirty, definitely outside, pick anything in your closet fun! I wear tye dye under-roos, lay my big ole head on a tye dye pillow case, wipe the counters with tye dye rags, Zumba in tye dye tanks.

Blah, Blah, Blah.

I don't have anything against it AT ALL.

BUT

No exaggeration, after hosting several tye dye parties these have been the ONLY shirts Delaney has worn for 4 months straight.

IT wasn't hard finding pictures on the computer of her with these shirts on.

CHECK

PICTURE FOLDERS

8/11

9/11

10/11

11/11

The intervention begin a while ago, one shirt at a time. I felt too guilty to actual give them away. Didn't seem fair.I wouldn't want someone doing that to my favorite 2 pairs of black yoga pants I alternate days wearing.

BUT

That was then!

NO MORE MR.NICE GUY!

Confiscating them took a while. Higher up on the shelf they went. Last one out of sight around Christmas time.

Mom, have you seen my tye dye shirts?

Your what honey?

MOM!

No really, what did they look like?

It's not funny mom.

Oh, sorry, I will keep my eyes open for them. In the mean time I need help getting these bags in the car for Goodwill. (wink wink)
OK, sure. Ya know what mom?

What?

I think I'm going to save my money up to buy something.

Oh, yeah....what would that be?

A tye dye kit. (wink wink)
I guess I'm not smarter than a fourth grader after all.

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #74

December 27th 2011

CHRISTMAS DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FAMILY

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,

From the heavenly household on high

Look upon all earthly households today.

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family,

You were not welcome in Bethlehem;

Embrace those rejected by the world.

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family,

You were sheltered in a stable;

Protect those who have no home.

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family,

You heard the angel's song;

Sing to us of heaven's joy.

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family,

You faithfully observed the divine law;

Show us how to do the will of God.

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family,

Protected and guided

By Saint Joseph,

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family

Cared for, looked after

By Holy Mary,

PRAY FOR US

Holy Family,

Fulfilled by the

Presence of Christ,

PRAY FOR US

Be our strength in life,

Be our hope in the hour of death.

PRAY FOR US

AMEN

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #74

December 27th 2011

The Power of a Fake Mustache

$2 for six fake mustaches.

I highly recommend you run out to Hobby Lobby and throw some in your cart.

Can't really tell you where exactly in the store we found them.

Its been a couple of weeks.

Prime time Christmas craft time shopping.

The last thing I remember is La La hugging The Virgin Mary.

Drexel playing Jesus and Delaney delivering 'Frank-in-cents'

Oh wait, I can't forget the 10 minute conversation with a Grandpa about who bought the last available camel.

Good Stuff for sure.

He had no idea I was egging him on.

Funny thing happens when you apply a fake mustache.

Strange behavior begins once that white sticker backing is removed.

The subject looses his/her ability to smile.

Like the small piece of furry material above your upper lip makes you super serious.

Crazy looks strain ones contorted face, followed by a raised eyebrow.

A hand to the chin completes the 'acting out'

I'm serious, none of these pictures were posed.

Don't take my word for it . Try the experiment for yourself.

Do me a favor though, if you see any part of the big cheesy, plastic Nativity on clearance.

Call me.......I still need a donkey.

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #73

December 27th 2011

Homemade Advent

WEEK # 1

Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

While memorizing this verse Drexel would accidentally replace gentleness with kindness. Not wanting to get struck by lightning by changing Gods word. We inserted kindness after gentleness with

big huge exaggerated rabbit ear quotation mark fingers.

WEEK #2

Mark 1:3

Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.

Delaney had the audacity to loose a during Advent.

Mom, the tooth fairy didn't come last night?

Geez honey, that's weird.

And Max

(AKA the really high maintenance, wish I had invented this money maker, can't believe kids remember every crazy rule about it, moving every night elf, too much for me to remember elf on the shelf)

didn't move either.

Mom. Are you the tooth fairy?

What kinda crazy question is that? Why would I give you money for teeth that I helped God form in my very own womb. The same teeth I nag you about everyday to keep clean. The teeth I pay the dentist a lot of money every appointment for his professional expertise and advice. Does that make any sense?

Plus, you know I never have any cash.

WEEK #3

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Our make shift Advent 'wreath' before our school fundraiser one was delivered. Leftover Halloween decorations still out. I have to admit I kinda liked it, it had style like no other.
WEEK #4

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON!

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #72

December 26th 2011

BEFORE AND AFTER, MORE THAN JUST THE TEETH

These two are a lot alike but don't tell Diane.

She would never believe it.

Even though we have many VCR tapes of her 'performing' like her mini-me.

Memories are a tricky thing.

Even as adults we tend to remember what we want.

What sounds good in our head and in an entertaining story.

Delaney is coming up on her first double digit birthday.

Diane is six months away from her first double digit birthday in her 20's.

I try hard and resist the urge to say out loud.

"Oh geez, I really can't believe it"

I also try hard not to rip out the multiplying grey hairs on my head.

A friend told me the chapter/verse in Proverbs about them being a

Crown of Wisdom

I forgot to write it down and have since forgotten it.

Do they make me look wise?

Well, I'm not sure but time is marching on regardless.

Diane is the oldest of the three-stooges.

Delaney is the oldest of the pre-stooges.

Seperated by 10 years.

Making them both the oldest, sorta kinda.

Organized

Confident

Take charge

Example setting

Good delegating skills

Ahem...bossy

Caring

Studious

Structured

All characteristics I'm sure that are found in chapter one titled

"OLDEST CHILD"

of any typical birth order book.

Big sister is looked up to by all her siblings.

I can't help but smile when I look at these two.

I notice their teeth right away.

Diane's now super straight, pearly whites where just as jacked up as her little sisters.

Maybe even worse.

At nine she already had a pound of metal in her mouth.

I have been dragging my feet about calling for an appointment for Delaney.

Not really excited to hear about how many years, visits and dollars it will take.

It needs to be done.

Too tired to look up the # now.

I will write it on my to-do list for tomorrow.

I grab my Wal-Mart list and scribble

Call about teeth

right next to

BUY HAIR DYE

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #70

December 11th 2011

THANKSGIVING at the BEACH

"EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD.

ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD."

Look around. We owe it to God to try and be good. We do. I'm not so great at at times. I can be a really lazy child of God. I can make just about any excuse in the morning to hit snooze, forfeiting my quiet time in the Word before the kids find me. That's rotten really. I know it. My nightly prayers are often cut short to check Face Book or ahem...to blog or something really not more important compared to talking with God. I think this is normal. I think. Yea, I'm normal. I hear from other moms about this challenge too.

House duties

Kid duties

Work duties

Wife duties

Friend duties

duties, duties, duties

I say "duties"

God says "distractions"

Well for me, there is no other vacation place on earth that makes me feel the love of God like the beach. I love it. The miles and miles of water and the sand between my toes. Wet sand, hot sand, castle building sand and the crunchy on the outside kinda sand. Swishy, rhythmical sounds of the surf and the bright sun. Warms and nurtures my soul. It puts me in check. So many of Gods creations, right there before my eyes.

DAY #1

And God said,

"Let there be light"

Day #2

And God said,

"Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

And it was so.

God called the expanse "sky"

Day #3

And God said

"Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear"

And it was so.

God called the dry ground "land"

and the gathered waters he called "seas"

Then God said

"Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds."

Day#4

And God said

"Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth."

Day #5

And God said

"Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."

"Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."

Day #6

And God said

"Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to it's kind."

Then God said

"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

(We missed you Diane. We loved playing around with you Rowan, Deacon and J.W)

Day #7

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Thank you you grandma and grandpa for a week at the beach.

What a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving.

Family

Friends

relaxation

and

God's creations.

This picture had to be snuck through a slightly dirty window. I just couldn't resist this sweet couple watching the morning sky as they wait for th coffee to brew. This past October marks 52 years of marriage for them. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Zybko. Thank you for the vacation, your son and always setting such a good example.

365 Days of Random Team Zybko

Day #68

December 9, 2011

Ti's the Season for.....Sprinklers

STARTED OFF INNOCENTLY ENOUGH

DELILAHS FIRST FEEL OF THE COLD WATER

ARTSY FUN

SAGGY CROTCH HAND-ME-DOWN

IS IT REALLY DECEMBER?

YEP, JUST LIT THE 2ND ADVENT CANDLE

OH GEEZ

WATCH OUT DREX, PAYBACK A COMING

THAT'S OK WITH BROTHER

JUST WANTED SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH

MERRY CHRISTMAS!