365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 150

MAY 31ST, 2012

HAND WRITTEN LOVE

Thank you Miss S for loving Drexel for who he is.

Thank you  for your dedication to the children of St. Anthony's.

Thank you for hours spent teaching and encouraging Drexel.

Thank you taking the time to write, stamp and send this letter.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Zybko,

Thank you for allowing Drexel to participate in First Grade CCD this year. Your commitment to giving him a firm foundation in our Catholic faith is a wonderful thing.

Although I love all the children in our class it seems as if every year one or sometimes two stand out and become my favorite. This year it was Drexel. He is just so cool! I love his fashion sense and creativity.

I tried to stand by Drexel at our prayer circle because he knows the new Act of Contrition. He pretty much led the class until we all got it. Drexel seems pretty mellow but once I saw him get in another child's face. It floored me until I realized his finger pointing and stern face and earnest words were putting a stop to that child's teasing another student. Drexel is my hero!

(Birthday Card from Delaney to Drex)

God has a plan for your amazing child. Drexel is going to do great things. I won't be surprised by "Dr. D" curing people and spreading Christ's love throughout the world!

Have a blessed summer. I am so sad I won't have the opportunity to co-teach Delilah one year. Delaney was a treat, Drexel too.
May God watch over you and guide you.
Charlotte's gain is definitely Florence's loss.

                                        Yours in Christ,

                                      Miss "S" 

I seriously have no recollection of my one year old being so short, fat and bowlegged. I do remember his extra large head and the fact he always had a stick or a rock in his hand.  

Six years later he has traded his old fashion Stride Rite walking shoes in for hand me down Crocks.

His weapon of choice is now a Nerf bow and arrow. Trying out his new wet suit in the middle of January his face seems just as intense. Good news about his head, it does appear to have shrunk. Or maybe his body finally caught up. 

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 149

MAY 30TH, 2012

ROAD TRIP READING

Kids are at a terrific age for long car trips. I have to admit I look forward to the quiet time. Feel as if I have won some sort of reading lottery. I sit quite contently on my big ole bum with a bag of chosen books and/or magazines. A stuffed small bag filled with reading material. Ahhhhh.....dreamy. I scratch off my ticket and I am an instant winner. Nice. I am awarded hours, not interrupted or consecutive mind you but never the less hours of quiet alone time in the co-pilot seat. My favorite person in the world only inches to the left of me. My hot cup of coffee even closer, steady and secure in the slightly dirty cup holder at hands reach. Baby Daddy is a great driver, I love how his big bear hands simultaneously hold the over sized steering wheel and our family steady. Mile after mile. Rain or shine. Day or night. 

Right on track.

Are you sure you don't want me to drive?

No, honey I'm fine.

You positive.

Yes.

OK, just let me know.

Alrighty.

I never push it and ask a third time. He knows I don't really mean it anyway. This short conversation will happen over and over on the rotation of about every 30 minutes. For now though I turn my head away and immediately dig into my carry on bag which I have placed strategically at my feet for easy access. Minutes tick by as fast as the mile markers on my right hand side.

Can't really remember the exact date of when we hit this glorious season of easy cheesy lemon squeezy driving time but I like it. I like it a lot! Maybe just maybe it coincided with the purchase of multiple Apple products and free gaming apps.

No diaper changing? Maybe

No clunky car seats? Maybe

No breast feeding? NO way.

  I'm proud to say breastfeeding was never a time sucker or pit stop along Interstate 95. For long journey's boobie night night never slowed us down. Like a proud decorated Veteran reliving his war stories I too am pretty excited and always ready to tell a good ole WHIP a NIP story. Yes, you heard me. WHIP a NIP. Advice and hands on useful parent stuff, the real life mom stuff you don't read about in baby books. To date it remains one of my favorite momma medals earned. If  your baby refuses to take a bottle in the car, call me I will give you all the necessary details. Although as you can imagine it is certainly not rocket science. 

I recently read somewhere it is actually legal in South Cackalacky to unhook your baby from his or her car seat to nurse.

Hmmmm...really?

That would have been some valuable information years ago. My strained, hunched over back and stretched out Ta Ta's surely would have voted for that law. Then again maybe not. Intense bonding occurred those meals on wheels feedings. Law or no law I wouldn't change a thing. Then I wouldn't have the honorable boobie award pinned to my veteran sash or the stories to go along with it.  

The book of choice in the front seat with me is a book filled with GODS WORDS. A hand me down student FCA Bible. Yes, I  totally love and need all the help I can get understanding what I have read. I certainly do not have a wealth of knowledge about the tribes, geography, people and customs back in the day. In that respect I am very much a still a beginner. I have yet to read the entire Bible. I have tried before, several years in a row I have written down on a fresh sheet of paper.
 New Years resolution.

READ BIBLE COVER TO COVER.
2009

2010

2011

 January one meant page one.

In the beginning.....

 Never have I succeeded. Often the culprit was various Bible studies, getting side tracked in a good way but I guess that's just another excuse. Reading daily over time turned into a chore and that's so not cool or the right way to treat this precious book. I suppose laziness and lack of understanding have been the real issue. Not this time. I'm reading through the Old Testament and this go around the words are sticking. Prophets and famous characters are talking to me. It's nice and refreshing a real heart opener. Maybe cause it just happened and it wasn't a mandatory box to check off on a big to-do list of life. Chugging along, little by little. Some days I get more time, other days maybe only 5 minutes. I take what I can get. Always a little bummed when it's time to close the book with 1348 pages, from beginning to end. Whew, I will get there, hopefully within the year. A homemade book mark currently holds my page. A Burger King receipt proudly shoved in between the thin white sheets. $24.45 spent for a family lunch. The Page # reads 288. I have made it all the way to 1 Samuel Chapter 22. 

The story of David and Goliath. A top ten greatest hits and probably the most well known stories of the Bible. Most people have heard of the young man bravely going up against that jacked up angry giant. I have even told it to my kids before, many times. Never having read the non watered down accounts of this long ago encounter between two warriors. So cool for me to finally read the actual straight up play by play, verse by verse on a grown up Bible. Well, in my recent travels through the history of the Old Testament, 1 Samuel Chapter 17 verses 41-47 are my new favorites. Between exits 116 and 124 I reread them over and over. Digesting every part of it slowly, making sure I really understand and wondering how to apply this to my life.

Read for yourself and tell me these ain't some powerful words.

Read it again if you don't get it.

Then when you do get it.

Read it again.

Some might not care for the gorey parts but seriously, it doesn't get much better than verse 45.

I COME AGAINST YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY. 

Those 11 words are sticking to my guts.

<>

1Sa 17:41

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.

<>

 

	1Sa 17:42	He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him.
	1Sa 17:43	He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
	1Sa 17:44	"Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
	1Sa 17:45	David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
	1Sa 17:46	This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
	1Sa 17:47	All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 148

MAY 30th 2012

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 147

MAY 29, 2012

UNDESIRABLE ITEMS FOUND AT BEACH

 Memorial Day celebration started early on Friday morning. Only 12 minutes past our ETD of 5:00am the prison van backs out of the sleepy dark driveway of our house. Despite the early-ness every one is excited to get the show on the road. 6 meals, 11 people and 2 full activity days planned. Yikes. That's a lot of  mouths to feed and money for food. 4 of which are teenage boys so that's a whole other kinda multiplication problem. In efforts to keep costs down and stay within our holiday weekend budget, I packed food for our travels. 

The specifically planned meals looked a tidy tad better on paper. I suppose that's true for anything. Timing, weather and unexpected mood swings due to low blood sugar shifted the dinners and lunches around on the menu.

After spending hours on the tall sand dunes we find ourselves hot, tired and hungry. Behavior is going in the toilet as we look for a beach front parking spot and a legal place to grill our burgers.

Tick, tick, tick. Like a time bomb.

Even in a the 15 passenger van the sitting quarters are tight with all the necessary packed gear. The air conditioning knob turned to high is thankfully working properly, blowing full blast from all 12 vents. Despite the refreshing heaven sent air the temperature inside remains muggy and irritable. Me thinks we might have overdone it with the first fun adventure of the day. Several of the kids behind my seat, the ones with out armpit hair have now officially turned into pumpkins. Their juvenile short legs repeatedly running up 100 feet of soft sand dunes was quite a workout. Over and over again.

Mom, he got sand on my arm.

Dad, she is touching me.

He took my pillow.

She is sitting on special blanket, that's nasty.

He looked at me not nice.

She pooted.

Baby Daddy and I glance at each. A non verbal conversation quickly takes place. A parental rolling of the eyes and huge huff we somehow communicate with out words and agree to change plans. We gotta get the kids out of the van and fed.

STAT

Everything works out fine in the end. No one kills each other before we find parking and lug the snack/food bin out over the walkway to the surf. 20 minutes later all is well again in the world. Life is good with bellies full and a game of  hacky sack well underway. I look at the kids playing and the unique combinations of food sitting helplessly in the hot sand. Not the idea types of goodies one would dream of out here in the elements.

 All sticky or greasy. All sand magnets.

Interesting enough for a picture.

I feel a tiny bit successful as the shutter clicks. Success knowing we saved some $ by not caving and swinging through a drive-thru. Just yet anyway. I'm thinking ahead and admitting a little selfish. Premeditated if you will. I can hold out a couple more hours though. This worn out momma plans to look at baby daddy just right and with no words spoken ask him to swing by Starbucks on the way home. With an extra sweet kiss I may even be able to up grade and score me a venti. Extra hot. 

 I'm confident it will be in the budget.

;)     

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #146

MAY 25, 2012

Cool Car, Even Cooler Stories.

Wonder when the last time the rubber wheels of this cool old Chevy hit the road. What I would do for a ride around town in this beaut. Cleaned up and in it's prime I'm positive she was a

real looker.

 I'm thinking the original owner parked it under here years and years ago. In realistic hopes to get it running again. Decades later it still sits, asleep under the aging carport. The carport covering he himself  built by hand, one tree trunk at a time. I suppose the local Lowe's was closed, not open on Sunday's in these parts. No expensive 2 by 4's bought for this project. He is an old school kinda carpenter. I don't know the people who live here. After passing it several times while visiting a friend I knew I had to get a picture. Last day we were there it was bright and sunny so I snapped a picture as we drove by and I steered with my knees.

Just kiddin' mom....

Drexel held the wheel steady for me.

He's better than you might expect.

  

 Looks like a popular year and make. Definitely the sorta trivia one should know off the top of ones head. Some days I barely remember my own password to Face Book so as far as knowing cool facts to impress people, well....I reckon I loose this round.

 I may not be Marisa Tomei's character in that 80's movie

"My Cousin Vinny"

 but I do know what I like when I see it.

An old couple somewhere have the stories and the memories that go along with this awesome shark fin car. I wish I knew them so I could probe their brain. How entertaining would that be on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I'd plop my big ole soccer mom rear end down in a chair, not to get up for hours. I would claim the cozy chair in the corner, bought circa 1967 with some seriously saved up cash. Interesting retro color, originally mauve and a little velour like. The hand stitched round doilies on each arm rests would scratch my elbows but definitely not distract me from listening and hanging on to every word.

The sweet tea offered in a mason jar would be the best I ever had. 3 fresh lemon slices and glasses later, I discreetly look around for the hidden bathroom. I need to pee. Bad. Time ticks by slowly  as I ignore my bladder, and my mother's wisdom. I hold it in, not wanting to miss out on a story.

Drive In's

Parades

Kisses in the back seat

Trips into town

Sunday drives

Packed picnic lunches

Bringing dinner to a sick friend

Unruly, unbuckled, un car-seated kids 

A too fast adolescent race down the country road

and

Ordinary every week food shopping

just to name a few.

   

Flash forward 50 years.

Wonder where my white prison van will be parked? The stories bored people might make up about our travels. Our fun, crazy and sometimes mundane family time inside.

Would anyone even want to take a picture of it? HA!

I hear Drexels old man raspy voice in my head as he explains to his grand kids.

See, back in the day kids, parents were crazy. Crazy enough to have more than one kid. Can you even imagine that van filled to the brim? Let me tell you some things about the olden days. Turn of the century I'm talking about here. I was just a little guy, I even had hair then. Grab a coke and pay attention to Grandpa Drexel now.

They were good times I tell you, good times.

One more burning question in the flash forward picture.

Did I ever save enough serious cash to have hot pink flames painted on the side. I guess I will never know. 

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 145

May 25, 2012

CUTIES

We go through these little CUTIES at an alarming rate.

Hard to eat to just one at a sitting. Pretty sure I  never have.

Easy to pack.

Easy to travel.

Easy to peel.

 Easy to pop in your mouth. 

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 144

MAY 25TH, 2012

Thank you Sam's for carrying this tub

 of my favorite kinda ice cream again.

 It's been a hard couple of years with out you. 

Everyone knows I really buy it for the durable

Zybko tested useful container

 and super tight lid.

I'm a freak about lids.

Tye-dying

Spaghetti sauce for freezer.

After fun beach day wet swim suits.

Ghetto style give away cookie holder.

Nut and bolt organizer.

On the run baby survival kit.

Wash the car kid bucket.

Ambitious kid piggy bank.

Toddler get up on the parents bed inexpensive stool.

Sand castle builder.

Sea shell,

keep the fish smell covered on the way home genius.

Travel Lego holder.

A round movable junk drawer.  

Play-dough accessory keeper.

Extra set of clothes for car.

Scummy frog and minnow non-spill aquarium.

Barbie and Ken condo,

 tiny clothes, shoes and mini cooper fit too.

Snack pack for on the go prison van goodies.

263 of our favorite Crayola Crayons.

Drum sets for a home made band.

And much much more.

I'm sure I have forgotten some uses.

Sometimes I don't even eat the creamy delicious ice cream.

If  you buy that.

I also have some ocean front property in Arizona.  

365RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 143

MAY 22nd, 2012

 Pretty sure they are all mocking me.

The mom photographer always searching for an up to date Christmas card.

I will not give up.

One day they will be on the the side of the camera.

Poo on all of you.

I love this picture despite your attempts to sabotage.

HA! 

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 142

Sketti Sauce Makin' Day

May 21, 2012

One of the few dinners I can make without a recipe. Spaghetti sauce, spaghetti sauce and more sketti sauce. A big batch finds it fate made into an array of different dinners. Not gourmet by any means but it gets the job done. Two huge pots, some cheap cans of tomato sauce and few hours of stir on demand time and viola!
 Always worth the time and effort.

I crank up the heat on the 2 big front burners.

10:00am. It's go time.

 Post coffee and pre afternoon Diet Dr. Pepper I thankfully still have a little pep in my mid-day step. Whistling while I work on sketti sauce day is normal. I like piss-getti. I could eat it everyday. 

  I smile as I throw my faithful stainless steel pots up on the stove. 

 Side by side, ready to rock an roll. 

A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

La lah la la Lah la, lah la la la laaahhhh.

I feel like Ratatouille as I scoot around the kitchen looking for just the spice. Twirling, gliding and leaving cabinet doors open as I please. No baby Daddy around to hit his head or remind me gently to close them. Oh yea, I'm the only cook in this kitchen today.

BOO-YAH!

 

Fresh herbs right now would be nice but ain't gonna happen. Not in this sell the house season. Anything extra to water daily or take of at this point simply wouldn't live. Period.

Oh well, please forgive me Grandma Leonie for using store bought dried flakes. Yikes. What a disgrace to the family I am.

Just kiddin'. 

I'm so not Eye-tal-ee-yun. 

Wish I was though. Good eats and fun people. 

Wait, I did ask a chocolate cannoli to marry me once.

Does that count for anything? Am I in by marriage?

The digital clock on the stove now reads 3:51.

Anyone at this point, even a part time Pizza Hut employee would be proud. I'm still stirring these big ole pots some 6 hours later.

That's what ya gotta do, bring out the taste and all. 

Ya' know this Irish girl may know a trick or two about bringing out some yummy Flav-O-flav.  

Spaghetti sauce day isn't much different than any other day around here. The sink seems to get bigger and bigger by the hour. No biggie, they aren't going any where. I have other, more pressing meaningful stuff on my plate to attend to. Like dessert. I'm gonna run as fast as I can to the back freezer and grab that hidden Dilly Bar before anyone else finds it.

I mean..... correct school work, write a love note to baby Daddy, push and old lady across the street and give an attention deprived kid some one on one mommy time. Well, whatever the case is, dishes can wait til after bed time.

After the extras are sealed tight in their appropriate containers and left unattended to cool it's eating time. Still smiling as I think of all the easy prep meals to come having this sauce already made. Lasagna, baked ziti, pizza and pepperoni crescent roll ups are all easy go-to Zybko favorites. Last minute

 get out of dinner free cards

 at arms length is too good to be true.

Now, back to those dishes.

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 141

MAY 21, 2012

This is reason  #42

 as to why I keep a bunch of extra hats in the van. 

Don't let this happen to you.

 

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 141

May 18th, 2012

Um, excuse me...does this new haircut make my face look big?

YES! and I love it.

No way am I in a rush for La-La to grow up, at all. 

So thank you Stephanie for the homemade, front porch, spur of the moment pixie-do haircut. The length and unique artsy angles

(yes, I know....she moved suddenly, she must have seen something shiny)

Well anyway, they really do fabulously accent her baby juicy-ness. And by the way she does still love you...a lot!

Promise. 

Lip gloss compliments of The Hebler Zoo. 

Thank you girls for the La-La make-up loot.

 Keeps her busy for EVAH!

And don't worry honey.

You will eventually grow into those cheeks.

Then again....maybe not.

Sorry bout that.

Guess while I'm at it I should also apologize for the Jay Leno chin and large forehead.

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 140

May 18th, 2012

Heart Sisters

Excuse me Deb....would you mind terribly if I Colone-ed you?

I think I would really like to be just like you when I go grow up.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 139

Soccer Senior Night

May 17th, 2012

This random day of Team Zybko and story of the heart is a long time coming. Only one sentence complete it appears I haven't worked on it at all. Truth is I have already spent hours on this post. Years really. Real life feelings, deep emotions, avoidance tactics and sometimes tears have caused me on several occasions to "X" out of this page and abort the mission.

Maybe I could make it funny.

Maybe silly baby pictures would help.

 Maybe I could post on a Wordless Wednesday.

Oh, yea that might work. Keeping my beat up bruised  momma heart out of the trenches. Just a little while longer.

It would buy me a few weeks til the realness of this season sets in.

    

Nah, I know deep down none of that will work.

Any combinations of excuses, anyway I sugar coat it.

At the end of the day it will always mathematically equal the same.

Soon, very soon. Whether I'm ready or not.

Two of my baby birds will be leaving the nest.

Yes, already. Time really does fly, just like they will.

Those of you reading who have been there before know it gets easier. I do too. Maybe that makes it even harder. I know the process, the letting go and of course the indescribable pain that inevitably comes with it.

 Like standing on the very last inch of a super tall high dive. Starring down at the water and knowing what's to come. Knowing you will in fact now have to jump, dive or fall in if you ever wanna feel your pruny feet back on the pool deck. Fearing a belly flop situation in front of all your friends and the entire pool, the nerves hit hard. Too late, there is no turning back. You are simply not aloud to chicken out.

 Being a chicken in Motherhood isn't an option either. 

At seven years old I learned this the hard way, not the motherhood part but the nervously jumping in part. Over and over again my chubby legs climbed the 15 or so freshly bleached clean stairs up the ladder to the top. Confidently I strolled to the end of the board like I had done just a mere 2 minutes earlier. Uh oh, I don't remember is being so high. I would bite my tongue with my big cheesy, too big for my mouth growing buck teeth. There I stood like a miniature statue, as time somehow ceased to stop ticking. The summer lifeguard would blow his whistle. I heard it clearly but chose not to look over to where the warning sound came from. Not in a rude way but in a I had to really concentrate in fear of losing my balance kinda way. Instead I kept my eyes focused downward as my tomboy tanned toes clung to the edge of the scratchy board. I stood frozen. How did I get myself into this pickle again? The greased up teenage who sat comfortably with one leg slung over the side of his stand blew his whistle again. Reminding me nicely I was holding up the line.

OK, I can totally do this.

I can totally do this.

I can totally do this.

Or can I? Yikes, I'm not sure anymore. The deep end drain seemed a long way away, pretty far down. It didn't matter what my not fully developed brain thought, I wasn't allowed to turn around and climb back down the stairs. House rules.

I had to jump and I did.

I lived to tell about it. Every Summer, same scenario, same jacked up butterfly feeling until....eventually... I got really good at it. Wishing now my mom had an IPhone back in 1978 then I could prove it, showing off just a bit how I really did get good. She always biased-ly gave her youngest swimmer a perfect TEN. I had come a long way as I eventually learned to even flip off that big scary high dive. Pointed toes and all. Well that was 33 years ago and of course a cake walk compared to the jumping in I talk about now. 

 My toes aren't as tan and my hair certainly not swim team blond anymore. The same chubby legs are weak and my stomach feels exactly the same, I remember. Tied up in knots, this time in a painful momma kinda way. Second time around isn't easier at all. If you have ever heard this from a veteran parent, they have simply lied straight to your face. It may be different but not easier.

 Do I really have boys men in the house legally of age to buy cigs and warrant daily shaves? No way. Can't be. Not listening.

Lah Lah Lah Lah Lah Lah.

Graduation only a couple weeks away?

Nope...... still can't hear you.

 I need more time.

I need more fun. 

I need more practice.

I need more memories.

I need a couple more re-do's.

It went too fast.

Allowing them to grow up and leave.

I'm no good at this.

At all.

Two years ago the oldest baby bird left. Our first time as a family doing this. All growed up and ready to go, she was moving on. According to societies paper plans it was her time. Days passed, some slower than others. Some events harder than others, like an empty chair at the dinner table or a missed sibling soccer game. Things at home are never the same again no matter how hard you try and fit them back into the same mold.

A puzzle missing a piece is just that.

A piece is missing.  

The rest of the family adjusts accordingly, but a momma never forgets. Simply impossible for her to forget what it is like. The super warm love feeling of having all your chicks under one roof. 

A complete puzzle equals a complete heart. 

I suppose GOD made us mommas that way on purpose. 

We carry our kids worries and triumphs with us wherever we go. They are on our brain and in the front row of our hearts 25 hours out of every day.

25/7/365  

Three decades later and two feet taller I smile as I look happily at these forever captured digital images. No where in sight is there a cute, whistle swinging lifeguard encouraging me to jump. Now as I prepare for the next season it is GOD telling me it's time.

 It's time to jump.

HE tells me not to worry.

HE tells me this too shall pass.

HE tells me I can do it.

 HE is there for me.

Maybe in thirty more years I can brag about how good I've become at this part of Motherhood. I surely doubt it. As of now, I am as far away from a perfect TEN as one can get. I'm trying not to freak out too badly. I wake up each day with new hope and a new box of tissues to get me through. I also live knowing and believing that GOD will always keep my head above the scum line. No matter what.