365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY# 22

02/25/11

DREAM CAR

I slam on the brakes when I see this beauty. I couldn't ignore the shine of the Incredible Hulk green paint. calling my name for sure. I can admit now I probably stopped a tidy tad too fast. Shoulder straps locked up, happy meal toys litter the floor and a half full water bottle rolls to my feet. Yeah, it was that cool of a car.

I jump out of the van, the water bottle follows me, hitting the parking lot pavement. I toss it carelessly back in through the open window. No time to aim, I was on a mission.

"MOM!"

I really should slow down, guess it hit one of the kids.

"Sorry!" I yell back as quickly put my camera up to my non-squinty eye.

I don't know what kinda engine this puppy has.
I don't know how many seconds it takes to get to 60 mph.
I don't know how much this baby puts one back at the bank.
I don't even know how many kids it would seat.

BUT
I do know one thing,
It gave me chills.

I felt the need to take a zillion pictures, from every angel. Just in case I win the lottery. I wouldn't have to waste my time or words describing my this car. I hear rich people are smart with their time. I would simple hand the dealer this picture and go back to counting my millions. Muuhahaah.

The kids are getting antsy, urging me to get back in the van.

"Hey Mom, what if the owner comes out?"
"Hey Mom, your kind of embarrassing us"
"Hey Mom, please get off the pavement, you look a little crazy."



The special time with my dream car is over. I pucker my lips, blow a kiss and whisper I LOVE YOU. That's not weird, really...... I don't get out much. Totally normal. Did I mention the leather seats and super sparkly rims?
As I turn to go I notice the owner took up two spots. Oh man, I've always wanted to do that. On purpose that is. Hey a 15 passenger van can be tough to park ya know.
My old knees creak a little as I climb up into the van. I wrinkle my nose, why does it smell like a dirty diaper in here? No body wears diapers anymore, well, I'll worry about that later.

"Thanks for waiting guys, sorry it took so long"

"No problem Mom, we know how you are."

I twist to buckle back up, in the corner of my eye I see Drexel eating something. I look closer. He is shoving yesterdays french fries from in between the bench seats into his mouth. I also witness a slushy falling to it's death to the already stained dirty floor.
I immediately throw an entire package of baby wipes to the far back row. Yes, perfect aim this time. I set my camera down in a safe spot and drive off. Anxious to see the pictures of my dream car on the computer I smile. Not at the Camaro but at my white prison/church van. I think to myself, I'm such an idiot. I already have my dream car. No 'new car smell', real leather or sparkle to be found. That's ok with me. My dream car is the one filled with my family, our memories and lots of trash.

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #21

2/24/11

STATISTICS

Happy Birthday Rich

One cold morning Dylan brings me a handful of gloves and dumps them on the counter.

Mom, I found six of these little stretchy gloves, not one of them match up

Without looking up I reply

Bummer dude.

and continue making sandwiches for school lunches

No really Mom, not one match! How is that possible?
At this point I'm cutting crust with a sharp knife, I definitely don't turn his way. Not to be rude, just knowing my limits with sharp items before 7am.

Geez, Dill, what do you think the statistics or probability are of that happening?

I put down the box of sandwich baggies and take a quick break, to jump start my brain. Surely a few sips of strong black coffee will enable me to do this math.

Yeah, right!

Even if I call up Juan Valdez himself for a home delivery of fresh Colombian Java. I ain't never gettin' that formula right. I'm OK with not being a #'s girl cause I kick BUTT in retail clearance math.

20% off original price

30% off original price

40% off original price

Ya know, the important, everyday kinda math.

My mind wanders down memory lane. Ten short years of working at different malls.

Good times

Good times

Holding my favorite mug with two hands, it's feel so good. Perfectly warming me up on this chilly morning. I suddenly realize I'm starring with glazed over eyes into the cup. Dylan is still talking. Whoops, wonder what I missed. I jump back in, maybe he didn't notice.

Ummm, did you figure it out yet Dill?

Mom, were you listening?

Yikes, I'm cold busted.

Did you know Mom that 64% of ALL statistics are made up?

Oh my gosh, really?

No, not really. I just made that up.

I smile and know I deserved that one.

Good Times

Good Times

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #20

2/23/11

WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN

DEUTERONOMY 6:5-9

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.



(typo on banana, should be chapter 6, sorry)

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.




Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

I enjoy writing where I'm not supposed to. Visual reminders work for me. It provokes discussion, curiosity and interest about what matters to me. Of course I haven't always been this way concerning un-washable sharpies and free flowing random art. Back in my early days of Motherhood I'd fuss when the kids wrote on their hands. Freaked out a bit if my little artists marked on the table, outside the lines. Crayon scribbled on the wall? No! No! No.....David!

Over time

I've changed

I've loosened up

I've learned

Our slightly used, but new to us dining room tables are stainless steel. Within minutes of the last leg landing on the floor, I hear a kid yell from across the house.......

you can write on them!

you can write on them!

you can write on them!

I ran in from the garage as fast as I could. Grabbed a hot pink Expo marker and tried it myself. Could have sworn I heard angels sing as I wiped it clean. With just one easy swoosh of a napkin, it was gone. I smiled out loud and looked up at the heavens. This Christmas gift came just at the right time. God's timing is always right. He knew for sure, I had no more room left on my walls to write a thing.

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 19

UN-TALKATIVE TUESDAY

2/22/11

I'VE NEVER HAD AN UN-TALKATIVE DAY IN MY LIFE. MY MOTHER SAVED EVERY REPORT CARD I EVER RECEIVED. TOO BAD THERE IS REALLY IS PROOF.

" VICKY WOULD DO MUCH BETTER IF SHE TALKED LESS."

SAME REPORT, DIFFERENT CARD.

I JUST HAVE TO SELL OUT HERE PEOPLE. TWO IN THE BATH. HOMEWORK WITH ONE LEFT TO DO. TWO BIG HUNGRY ONES COMING BACK FROM A SOCCER GAME. NO TIME FOR TALK TODAY.



BEEN HAVING A FUN TIME EXPERIMENTING WITH MY CAMERA AND THE SETTINGS I NEVER KNEW EXISTED.




LOOK AT HER FEET SPARKLE. HOBBY LOBBY LOVES US!

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 18

MONDAY 2/21/11

YUMMY GOODNESS IN A JAR

To Monica, my 'sister' in many things important, including NUTELLA SPREAD

It must be one of those 'interesting' food items you either love or hate. I've given samples to inquiring beginners.....never to hear from them again. Others like me, keep a stash in my special, magic closet, the pantry. Monica has hers labeled with a sharpie. Each of her kids names neatly written on the once smudge free clean white top. I'm sure to avoid confusion and ownership when someones runs out. Made from Hazelnuts and blended with skim milk. Gotta be good for you.

The' good for you' kinda oil and fat, right? Added sugar? What? I can't hear you, I can't hear you....LA LA LA LA LA

I can't hear you!

Spread it on just about anything. Oh and it's easy to spread for sure. Perfectly creamy and smooth any time of the day or night. While approximately ten and a half months pregnant and roughly 345 pounds I find myself up in the middle of the night. Not officially diagnosed by a doctor or anything but pretty certain I had that wacky syndrome. I saw it on 60 minutes once, when people sleep walk and eat almost everything in the kitchen. In the morning they can't remember a thing. Well, one morning I lay in bed half awake and a little confused. I go to wash my sticky face, raking my brain while having spotty flashbacks of my head in a jar of Nutella. After piecing it together , mostly checking the trash and sink for 'clues'....NUTELLA was the main course. The bestest sandwich ever eaten.

Hawaiian Bread (so sweet)

Marshmallow Fluff

Peanut Butter

and

Nutella

I can not confirm nor deny if a bottle of syrup was somehow involved as well.

I licked the container clean. I'm officially out. No worries. I can always go over to Monica's house and JACK the one labeled MOM.

I

365 Days Of Random Team Zybko

Day #16

I should Write This Stuff Down

2/19/11

Happy, cozy and squished reading books with the three year old. Delilah gets side tracked and squishes my boob.

Um hello, can I help you Missy?

Mommy, it there still milk in there?

No.

Why not?

Cause we don't have a baby anymore.

oh, ok.................

Well, we need to GET one Mommy!

***********************

Taking a sunshiny walk to the lake to throw rocks is simple perfection

for D-rex.

Holding my hand and in his HAPPY PLACE he says to me;

Mom, if I could make any dream in the world come true,

I'm thinking world peace, ending hunger.......forgetting he is a new SIX

He says,

I would turn our WHOLE entire family into fish.

I just love fishes.

I'm thinking affordable health will have to wait for next year too.

***********************

In 2ND grade Delaney brought home a

'what do you wanna be when you grow up'

type homework assignment.

Shifting uneasy in her chair and starring of into space.

I smile over at her.

Thinking she just couldn't decide between being a teacher or

well being a teacher.

She does have a natural I'm in charge side to her.

What's wrong sweetie? Need some help?

Sort of.

I need to add a square.

What?

I have read all the choices a million times and there is no choice for...

Kindergarten Teacher, Kindergarten Teacher

This Mom stuff is so easy sometimes......I know what's she's gonna say already.

They didn't give us square for

ROCK STAR!

I'm sure you older kids said cute stuff too. I just can't remember that far back.

I should have written it down.

I've learned my lesson, for sure.

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 14

A CHAPTER A DAY.....PROVERBS

2/17/11

Happy Birthday Tommy and Hannah

Ten minutes a day, tops. Grab a Bible, find a quiet place. Ok, don't loose me if that quiet part seems impossible. Instead find an open bathroom, lock the door, plug your ears and go for it. Reading a chapter of Proverbs everyday, that's it. Shouldn't be that hard. Well so far this February, I have stunk at it. Let's review a typical day of "ten minutes"I DO find time for.

*bloggin

*face booking

*cleaning behind the stove

*exercising

*being goofy

*plucking back hair

*talking on the phone

*making up steps for class

*creating a sculpture out baby teeth

*texting

*making fresh orange juice

*watching TV

*taking pictures

*cleaning behind the stove

*walking around house forgetting what I'm doing

Can you pick out the "fake" ten minutes?

I hope so, or you'll surely give me a freaky look next time I see you.

I figured I'd type the Chapter for today's date. This will ensure reading it more than once. I should make "ten minutes" for a spelling and typing class a priority. Never do I get it right, the first time around.

Proverbs 17

1. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

2. A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3. The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

4. A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

5. He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

6.Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

7. Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

8. A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it:whenever he turns, he succeeds.

9. He who covers over an offense promotes love, but he who repeats the matter separates close friends.

10. A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11. An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.

12. Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

13. If a man pays back evil for good evil will never leave his house.

14. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

15. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent- the Lord detests them both.

16. Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?

17. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born of adversity.

18. A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security.

19. He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20. A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

21. To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.

22. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23. A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.

24. A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25. A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.

26. It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.

27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

28. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY # 15

TOO WEIRD OR BAD NOT TO USE

2/18/11

SOME DON'T HAVE AN EXPLANATION

OTHER CASES IT MAY NOT HELP

DELANEY MOCKING ME.....MY LITTLE MINI ME

EASTER EGG TIME
GAME OF NINJA....NOT A BRO-MANCE

PERSON?

CRAFT TIME

JUST LOVED THESE SHOES

SHAME ON ME FOR MIXING BRANDS WITH MY SOCKS

SHOULD BE PUNISHED

ON THE WAY TO PIE FIGHT

TOOK A TURN TOO FAST IN THE VAN

MAD LOBSTER BOY

FIRST PLAY DATE

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

DREX'S SLEEPY EYES TELL IT ALL

AT THREE SHE STILL TAKES A BATH IN THE SINK

BIG DADDY TOOK 11 KIDS TO THE BEACH ALL DAY

PRETENDED TO TAKE A SHOT OF THE OCEAN

COULDN'T RESIST THIS GUY

WEARING IN HER BOOTS

CRAZY EYES

SHE DID GO IN THAT PUDDLE

AND I DID, AT SOME POINT CHANGE THAT SAGGY DIAPER

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #13

02/16/11

Brysons Chicken

(Chef Richard M.....this is definitely not going to be fancy enough for you)

Meet Bryson Fuller!

This post is NOT about him.It is about the super easy, crock pot chicken dish named after him. I don't generally use slow cooker recipes. Usually requiring a variety of veggies, it just doesn't appeal to Team Zybko as a whole.

No food allergies

Just picky allergies

I can and will totally blame that on Big David. Yep, I am throwing him under the bus. Funniest dinner table story by far is the fateful night he attempted to eat a pea. A single, tiny, baby, almost microscopic, harmless PEA! The green BB whirled all the way across the table to my side. Past every single one of our wide eyed innocent children, onto the floor. I suppose we shall simple blame it on his

'over sensitive should have been a chef palate'

After all, I don't really wanna sleep on the couch tonight.

Please forgive my lack of details and accuracy with the amounts in this recipe. Accustomed to doubling and even tripling a recipe (to freeze for a later meal) I really have no idea, the original #'s of anything I cook. The most important thing to remember, don't try to sneak peas in anything!

Remember, go as healthy and tweak as much as you'd like. It's good and easy. Trust me on this.

ONE CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

PLUS THE CAN OF WATER

PACKAGE OF CREAM CHEESE

A PACKAGE OF RANCH POWDER STUFF

( I get the big container from Sam's

so I just shaky shake til it looks like a package amount)

combine these in crock pot, put on high, mix with whisk to prevent lumps

oh wait, I forgot. Put cream cheese in mikey until it's kinds soft first

After about half hour, stirring a few times for the lump issue

ADD A VEGGIE I use corn

A STRIP OR TWO OF BACON cooked or not, for flav-o-flav

SALT

PEPPER

ADD FROZEN OR NOT CHICKEN BREAST

don't know how much, they should be covered with liquid though

you can always add more water obtain desired(couldn't wait to use that word) thickness

ABOUT FOUR HOURS ON HIGH or

SIX HOURS ON LOW

you guys know the drill, scoop out a piece of chicken

make sure it's not pink and taste it.

SERVE WITH NOODLES OR RICE

OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE ON STOCK.

Give it a shot and let me know how it works out for your family.

Surely this will not land me in any cooking magazine, I get that.

Bryson, your real blog with be on a later date,I promise

MRS. Z

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #17

2/20/2011

Spitting it Out Half Way Through

A box full of chewed on spit out broken up chocolate. This is how I found one of the kids special Valentine Day heart boxes. Not eaten, at all. Not one piece fully consumed. Sorta hurt my feelings a little. Thinking it would be a special treat, it was bought and given with love. My first intention upon finding this wasted half eaten chocolate was to search for the offender and give them a piece of my PMS-ing mind. I mean seriously? Who disrespects chocolate at a time like this? Instead I took a few deep breaths and thought for a minute. I thought and looked, thought and looked. Looked for a caramel one and thought about eating it.

That kid had control, freedom and the ability to quit while only half way through.

To spit out the ones he thought he'd like.

The ones that had a funky texture.

The ones with un-expected flakes of coconut.

As I sat there picking caramel out of my molars, I dreamt about life being like a box of chocolate. Oh, wait......I believe some dude already did that years ago. Run Forest run!

At times I wish I could spit life out. Half way through a commitment it sometimes gets too hard. Too time consuming. Wasn't what I expected. Too annoying.

Baby Daddy often reminds me gently not to bite off more than I can chew. I 'never so often' listen to him and wish later I could spit out my mouth full.

Running, walking and crawling a half marathon comes to mind. Not my brightest idea. Juicy baby strapped to my back, two in my Mac Daddy stroller and motivating teenager right along side of me. Around mile marker 6,7 and 8 I wanted to spit this stupid idea out. What was I thinking? What was I trying to prove? All I know is I can't quit now, what would that teach the kids? Plus it was where I worked, I knew too many people. Shoot......gotta keep chewing this one....til mile 13, to the finsih line we will go.

I possibly have hit a cheap chocolate sugar low cause I can't seem to tie the end of this post together. Almost forgetting my point. Or maybe there isn't a deep moving personal point. That is very possible. Do I like all the choices found in a box of CVS candy? Not really, but as an adult I continue to bite, chew and keep on going anyway. I have learned a tasteful lesson for next Valentines Day. I'm buying more grown up choclate, perhaps Dove or Ghirardelli. Just in case, the kids act like kids with choices and spit them out......half way through.