ANOTHER CANDLE ON THE CAKE!

Never Too Old To Be Youthful

Day 172~Year 3

Team Zybko

December 29th, 2014

Here we go again, another candle on the cake, another year gone by in the blink of an eye. Despite a few more wrinkles on my aging face (curse you baby oil days at high noon during the entire 80's decade) and desperate requests for my 13 year old to pluck the unreachable grey hairs on the back of my head I smile. I smile BIG. Life is so full of wonderful moments, people, opportunities and blessings. Thank you Baby Jesus. 

I  have come to terms with, or at least learning to live with the outward changes of middle age as I continue to focus on the parts that are only visible through my actions. But I'm not trying to get all deep here I simple want to remind myself for future references to never stop living it up, and by living it up I mean the tiny little moments that bring me joy and make me at least feel younger than I look. 

Dear Older Victoria,

In case you forget.

Please never get too old and boring to;

*Jump on a shopping cart with both feet as you find your missing car.

*Create an obstacle course at the playground.

*Shimmy down an aisle in the grocery store when your favorite Pitbull song comes on.

*Stop at a kids lemonade stand, buy lots and tell them to keep the change. 

*Stomp around in a huge rain puddle pretending to be Fred Astaire. 

*Have a dance off in the living room with your kids.

*Do a cartwheel at least once a year.

*Enjoy the sound of a newborn baby crying for boobie go night night.

*Laugh at myself. A lot.

*Write handwritten thank you notes within a few days.

*Sit down and commit 2 hours to a great game of Monopoly with your kids.

*Sing along to your favorite song at a traffic light with the windows rolled down.

*Giggle like a little girl with your besties.

*Squeeze Baby Daddy's bum cheek in public. 

*Skip

*Wear your hair in pigtail pony balls.

*Encourage a mom struggling with her two year old in public.

*Lick every utensil used for baking a cake thoroughly. Twice. 

I'm sure there is more I am forgetting. This will do for now. Enjoy your day. Don't do any chores, do not pass go, head directly to your favorite cupcake place, after all it is $2 Tuesday.

Love, 

Me

(you are welcome)

People Watching

Miami Beach Edition

Day 171 ~ Year 3

Team Zybko

December 18, 2015

Like an alcoholic invited to a party with an open bar. Me, on a beautiful beach with an overflow of interesting people with absolutely nothing better to do than people watch. My cup runneth over as the unaware subjects literally walked right in front of my Nikon. Baby Daddy was in no mood to help me out, I was on my own. I can understand that, he himself was rendered motionless by a strong dose of hidden vacation kryptonite. We never did find out where it was stashed but we sure had fun regardless.  

If you find yourself in South Beach with some girlfriends, live it up and drink some rum out of a flippin' coconut. This definitely qualifies as a legit selfie. 

When your cut off sweatpants are drenched with....uh...sweat, you know you are working it!

This guy weaved in and out of people and traffic like it was his job. 

This coconut selling survivor and his outdoor carnival voice was a regular sight on this stretch of beach. I know that full back pack wasn't easy. Keep it up bud.

Hey.....hey, dude! Please do not put any more oil on your abs, you are still fried from yesterday.

Thank you.

Love, Your Mom

Is that Pitbull?

If it weren't for a few basics facts like.... being a few decades too old and a happily married mother of six I TOTALLY would have hung around this 'Baywatch' stand for an invite to a local party.  

Bikers, walkers, roller bladders and fitness enthusiasts everywhere in this sun shinny town. Awesome. 

 Took this guy like ten minutes to get the perfect shot. A goober train wreck I couldn't peel my eyes away from. I mean, at least grab a prop or something......put the straw in the coconut and drink it all up!

I could read this couples thought bubble loud and clear from 3 rows of comfortable wicker recliners back. We are most certainly leaving the 2 year old home next time we come.

These cabana boys don't exactly have a glamorous job but at least they work right smack dab in the middle of paradise. I'm thinking there is a lot of butt crack sweat on those towels.

This one done right. Grab a cute girl before the selfie.

Or your Baby Daddy

This ginger had no biz-nass being out in the noon day sun OR guzzling a "Bucket of Booz".

I supposed there are worse jobs than parking $400,000 rental cars all day.

A middle aged train wreck.

That is all.

Walk of shame after loosing of a bunch of girls.

Just a cute couple enjoying the view and day dreaming about the passing cruise ship.

I wanted to scoop this lady up and put her in my pocket. 

Her cute giggle was as great as her smile and way better than her hat choice.

Are we thinking he got crunk up in da club later that night?
Fo sure.

Fedora and fishing done right.

 That's the life.

Almost speechless...almost. GO GRANDPA!

And then these snazzy twin Ricky Martin bums stood here for a while. 

Oh man, let me just tell you about the stuff that goes down around here.

She sucked the life out of the best job in the world. Look enthusiastic, wear super short shorts, check Instagram  every few minutes and pretend you like people. 2 out of 4 ain't bad.

Team work amongst co-worker.

Less mojitos next time bud

Moons over Miami
(Interestingly enough, I don't remember taking this picture.I believe Baby Daddy picked up my camera while I was in the bathroom)

Christmas card 2015 coming soon

This gentleman pulled the car up, escorted his wife and loaded the car. All while making sure his bride stayed dry.

 Wonderful. 

Walked past this resting man clutching his iPhone for dear life.

There may have been drinks involved.

Maybe, maybe not.

College kids with no money but a smack down great idea. 

Find the perfect palm tree and nurse a cheap six pack of Milwaukee's Best bought with quarters that was found in random furniture. 

Capturing memories the hard way

The guy in charge was very adamant about the perfect family picture. Everyone else, wanted to shove his selfie stick where the Florida sun don't shine.

A True Friend 

Day 169 ~ Year 3

Team Zybko

November 23, 2015

A true friend.....encourages.

A true friend.....appreciates exactly how you were created.

A true friend.....asks how she can pray for you.

A true friend.....hands you a mirror then tells you about the booger.

A true friend.....listens, over and over again.

A true friend.....treats your kids like her own.

A true friend.....gives without expecting anything in return.

A true friend.....sends a fun package, just because.

A true friend.....understands the grumpy days.

A true friend.....calls you out when necessary.

A true friend.....saves the corner piece of birthday cake for you.

A true friend.....sends texts only you would understand.

A true friend.....allows limitless picture do overs. 

A true friend.....knows a good ugly cry is OK.

A true friend.....allows you to sleep in her bed.

A true friend.....spoils you with love.

A true friend.....says, borrow anything you need.

A true friend.....senses what you need before you ask.

A true friend.....smiles when she thinks about memories shared.

A true friend.....has got your back.

A true friend.....is generous with her time.

A true friend.....is reliable.

Proverbs 18:24

² 

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The Depressing Pumpkin Patch

Day 168 ~ Year 3

Team Zybko

November 22, 2015

It was a last minute type of thing. A spur of the moment panic to go pick pumpkins from a real patch on the Sunday afternoon before Halloween. Not like the kids would be scarred for life if we skipped a year of scooping slimy guts, carving, burning the seeds on high broil and Drexel lighting the innards of his particular orange vegetable on fire. 

Seriously, you do this once you have done it a thousand times. But we were up for the adventure so off we went. 

It started off great and all. The Fall colors were breath taking during our long walk down the pretty path to the patch but these pictures are pretty much where the visual Norman Rockwell memories stopped. As soon as we rounded the corner, the sun seemed to disappear behind a menacing thick layer of October clouds. Well, there goes the nice natural lighting for a keeper kinda picture of the younger three. No worries, it's not ALL about the picture memories hung on a wall or posted here.  

I kept clicking the small silver button on my Nikon despite the awful, funky smell entering my nostrils with every soccer mom breath I took. It that overripe mud? Is it cow poop? Is that rotting pumpkins? What could smell so bad I was unsure. Holding back an overactive gag reflex I mushed on with the crowd capturing fake smiles, avoiding tripping over vines and breaking a hip and encouraging one child to just pick one for the love of the Lord and go with it.

The point of no return was the unexpected, explosive bloody nose that created a movie like ten year zombie look. Yep,

the sort of blood water fall that requires a modern McGyver mom to think fast and sacrifice one of her favorite no show, extra thick, brand new black socks.

Time to go kids. We are done. 

The long walk back up the pretty path was where the real memories were made. Watching the team work and determination of my little crew was worth the not the so perfect experience a half a mile behind us. Delighted like any mom would be as they happily traded off the duties of carrying the many pounds of hand picked unique pumpkins. I couldn't help but smile inside and out as bright as the sun that was sure to come back out, tomorrow.