The good and the bad

We show it at any given point with no warning ...

The good - Ava's got her first haircut!

While we were in Illinois we went to see Ellen to get the girls hair cut. Ava went first (because Mai said so - I thought she should go first to show Ava how it's done. Nope. I should have known I was in trouble right then). So Ava got her first haircut complete with a wash and she did great.

Isn't she cute? We just had her hair trimmed but it looks good.

I do think she was a little nervous though she had this funny tongue thing going on the whole time.

As easy as that was next came Mai.

The bad (this time) -

Remember this?

She's 4 now so it was a different version and Ellen isn't scary but today was still as messy. She has had her hair cut since the car and by Ellen and she's loved it but today was a different story.

She was not going to get her hair cut, she was not going to wear the cape, she wasn't sitting in that chair she just wanted to keep her own hair she said. I had flashes of past Mai moments so after I tried all of the tricks I could think of to make her think it was a good idea it was time to go outside and discuss it further. It was really cold outside though so after some "talking" we went back in to the bathroom. In Mai fashion she found a penny on the ground in the bathroom and suddenly she was going to get her haircut because she had money to pay for it - we had to wait our turn since we had missed it but she was willing. Our turn came and the chair became exciting the cape was still not happening, (don't ask I have no idea). No hair wash. No hair clips. Poor Ellen tried to clip up her hair and it sent Mai right back out of the chair... okay, no clips. I held her hair up (I really wanted her hair cut and no way she was going to win - but I was willing to compromise). We didn't get a "cut" but we got a trim. Here's the nut.

Thanks Ellen for putting up with us. Aren't you glad we live in Texas :).

A little sassy but kind of funny.

Just don't tell her I think so.
Mai has been fighting the colder weather for a couple months now. She doesn't want socks, jackets, anything warm. Some days in Texas that's fine other days it's not. In Illinois it isn't okay in December so we were always trying to get Mai in her jacket. She was frustrated with Galen and with a big huff she says "Daaad you're wearing me out!"

Baby Names...

Ava got a new Bitty Baby from Santa. Galen and I asked her what she was going to name her baby and her answer without hesitation was- "Baby Jesus". Hmm that one's taken Ava...

Christmas Cards...

It's December 20th and I still don't have a picture I can use. I have been trying. If only my friend Tracy hadn't moved away... For more reasons then our Christmas picture but I know she would have done a great job and I would have cards to mail!
I had the perfect opportunity - Santa came to our friends house. He was great. He took time with all the kids. Let them warm up to him, gave them gifts. Should have been perfect but not for these Z's. Here are our Santa lovers who were SO excited to go see him. No chance they were going to be peeled off Daddy! At least he and Santa look happy.

Mai did warm up once he called her over for her present. And even gave him a big thank you hug.

Ava got close enough to grab her present and offer a quick thank you but she preferred to keep her eye on him from a distance.

We tried again last night at the Gaylord (another perfect spot) but with a late start and Ava feeling a little sickie it was another bust. I'll post those fabulous pictures soon.

4? Really?

Seriously how did it happen. Has it really been 4 years since "baby Mai" joined our family. What a ride it has been so far. I just don't see that changing anytime soon and I'm okay with that. Mai decided she needed to have a flower party this year... so much for my winter themed parties. I new it was going to end but it's hard to give up control. I guess we could have gone the poinsettia route but that just doesn't seem very 4 year old :). Since I'm still barely keeping up these days we celebrated at Prosper Pizza/Party Place. It was great fun and had all of the essentials on Mai's list - friends, balloons, cake and goodie bags. Throw in some bouncing, dancing, games and pizza and you've got a party!

All of my pictures of Mai are seriously a blur so here's Ava bouncing! She had great fun using the blow ups as tackling dummies.
Here is a little Mai after the party action. She got a new guitar that she direct quote "rocks out" on. What do you think? A future star?

So Thankful

We truly have so much to be thankful for - certainly that includes these little Zimmerman Turkeys!

The biggest news we have is that next year we will have another Turkey in our family!
It's true we are expecting baby Z #3!
We're really excited to meet our newest little one in June!

Time keeps on ticking, ticking

ticking into the future.... Seriously, is it really the middle of November?!
Our jack-o-lanterns have rotted, our Tinker Bell and Sleeping Beauty have become dress up clothes, the neighbors have up Christmas lights... I'm behind.

I really really don't like being behind - it gives me that "ship is sinking" feeling...

As much as I don't like it I've had a hard time getting caught up. This blog is long overdue for an update. So much has been happening around here. Pumpkin patches, Halloween, football, a weekend in Houston and plenty of visitors (which we love). All that fun that I haven't shared.

To make things a little harder - I got a nice new camera for my birthday and for some reason the pictures are trapped on it - I'm not sure if it's me or my computer (which hasn't been behaving) but they are stuck and that makes catching up tricky.

But this is a start - we've un-buried our heads and I've at least decided to start bailing water...

Any Suggestions?

This is not safe...

I cannot get Ava to keep her top buckle buckled. I even ordered a new one hoping it would be tighter and she wouldn't be able to do this. I've tried everything - I've been firm, I've explained, I've pulled the car over a thousand times. I don't really blame her she can reach things this way - but it's not safe and I simply can not get her to stop! When I tell her to hook her buckle she grins at me in the rear view mirror and does it but just until she wants to reach something...
Mai had a lot of tricks but this is one she never pulled.

Meet the Redhawk.

Mai loves the Redhawk. Ava trembles in fear. So here are Mai and her friends with "Rocky".

Although she doesn't love the hawk she does right along with her sister love football games.

Mai helping draw up some plays while she watched.

Parenting little Z's...

As a parent there really are a lot of things you worry about for your kids. There is one however that Galen and I can check off of our list of worries.

NO ONE will ever push our kids around. They might try but our girls both will defend themselves and what they want or have at all costs. The part we will have to try and mold is exactly how they stand their ground... The toddler version makes my cringe.

In case you don't believe me - this is Ava's newest friend.

After going home yesterday with a scratched up nose (her 2nd injury with Ava involved in a week). She showed up today (to the preschool/daycare that I'm helping a friend with) with this -

Yep, that's right - a big red bat.

In she walked with her scratched up nose carrying a bat. Her dad saying, "this is to protect her from Ava".

It was really pretty funny. I think...
In Ava's defense they truly are just both going after the same things.
Ava's daddy's response to the whole thing - "at least she's winning".

Hmm, I wonder which one of us they got this trait from?

This Girl

does not make me think Ballerina... and I don't think that it's just because I'm not really the ballerina type.

Ballerina is what she is all about. You should see her moves!
She wants to be a ballerina for Halloween AND she wants to have a ballerina birthday party.

Not Princess, not Fairy - Ballerina...

Time for a football update.

It's a busy season and we don't see much of Galen so we sneak Daddy time any chance we get.

Galen had the girls come up to hang out with him during a freshman game. They always have fun up at the school with Daddy. Especially when it includes Gator rides. (They really were more thrilled then they look).

Friday nights have been going all right for the Redhawks. They are 2-2. Not so bad for their first year playing varsity. Hopefully they'll keep adding to the win column. We are having great fun going to the games to cheer them on.

I do try to get some good pictures at the games but so far it's been a bust. Good thing we have at least 6 more games! I WILL get some good ones... I hope.

Let me introduce you

To the two newest Super Hero's!

There's "Super Mai"

Who with lightening fast speed will gladly save you.

And her little sister "Super Ava"

Who prefers to not show her face...

Super Mai's response when you thank her for saving you...

"My pleasure"

(Think possibly she has been to Chick-fil-a too much?)

Thank you Grandma Z for turning ordinary into extraordinary!

For those of you who have ever tried to photograph a super hero toddler it is a tricky job...

Crazy or Confused?

So, tonight I was packing Mai's lunch for tomorrow and she has been disturbed that her name on her lunch box is spelled Mai - crazy I know - what was I thinking?

Getting quickly irritated she told me -"but mom that's not how you spell me" Trying to not set her off I asked her to tell me how it's spelled. She started to write it in the air (starting with A of course). I stopped her and said don't write it just say how it's spelled. Her answer was "Mai". So then looking at her lunch box I asked innocently "and what does this say"?

Her response? Shouldn't be documented. We'll just say it was ugly and lasted for a good hour and a half... After what seemed like forever we finally got her reasonably calm and to the bath- almost. She quickly fell apart again when she saw her towel hanging there with her name spelled "Mai".

She insists it's not right and I can't figure out why... Is she really confused for some reason? Is she just being Mai? Is she wanting control? Who ever thought 3 little letters could cause so much trouble. Maybe we better call her Mailand all the time.

This is from today - she wasn't even "Aim" instead "ima"

question her at your own risk...

Milestones.

Today was Mai's first Day of preschool. She was so excited!

She kept making sure that I would be leaving... I don't think because she was concerned about it - I think she is just really ready to be big.

I don't know about you - but the teacher side of me thinks this face looks like trouble.

When I picked her up I tried to get a picture of her and her teacher Ms. Dawn. Mai was not having it- I tried to sneak one when she gave her a good bye hug. Documented - but I'll be trying again.



Her update: "I had a lot of fun". "My favorite part was playing outside". I asked if she learned anything new - her answer, "oh yes" when I asked what - "things". Nice.

Friday Night Lights.

Our version of Friday night lights has begun! Liberty started their first varsity season off with a 30-19 win.

It was a HOT and HUMID not exactly "football weather" night- But regardless there is something special about being out there under the lights with all of the excitement! It looks like I might even be able to catch a few more plays this year. The girls were a little easier to keep up with then they have been the last 2 years :).

The best part of the game for the girls is still running out on the field after the game with Daddy.

Flip Flop Fun!

Ava is our shoe girl so a flip flop party seemed fitting to celebrate her second birthday. It wasn't easy finding "theme related" items the end of August so we threw in some beach accents (also fitting since we visited so many this summer). It turned out to be the perfect mix.

We had such a fun day with family and friends. We even were lucky enough to get a few clouds to help with the surface of the sun feeling Texas has right now. Those of us not in the pool sure appreciated some relief!

The cutest sandcastle cake I've ever seen! Straight from Illinois. Why not have your cakes driven in from 13 hours away? Grandma and Grandpa Z and Aunt Lesley are truly the best and have helped make both Mai and Ava's birthdays amazing.

Our "sandy" cupcakes. And some of the cute cookies Grandma Z made.

Party favors and presents. What fun!
Yes, it was a pool party -those Zimmerman girls are trouble. Next year maybe we should have a shower party?

We had BBQ chicken, salads, fruit, and some hot dogs and chips for the kids. All served out of sand pails.

What''s a party without snow cones? Uncle Chris helping make sure Ava got just what she wanted.

Birthday treats and birthday kisses!

I love Ava's happy face in this video. She is so excited to be the birthday girl!

I know it's a little blurry but I this picture shows how much fun Ava was having. She was SO excited about her new purses, jewels and fancy shoes. She was hilarious trying to open the rest of her presents and keep her two purses on her arms. She wasn't putting them down for anything! Finally she trusted her friend Makayla enough to hold onto them so she could finish opening all of her fun presents.

Grandma and Grandpa Mailand got her her very own big girl bike. She is so excited about it and screams "my bike" every time she sees it.
Grandpa and Grandma Z and Aunt Lesley got Ava her very own Gator! She loves throwing her purses in the back and she's off. Part farm girl/part city girl.Mai has been more then happy showing Ava how to drive. We've joked with the neighbors that Ava got a gator and a driver for her birthday. They are having lots of fun cruising around the neighborhood.