Surprising Zoey!

Back in November we surprised Zoey with a trip to Disney World!  We started planning it back in February.  It was hard and fun at the same time to keep the secret from her.  There was times when I wanted to tell her so we could do a countdown, but then I knew I wanted that element of surprise when we told her.

As soon as we decided we were going last year, I started working on her autograph book for meeting the characters.  Thankfully we do not use our dining room that much nor does she go in there because that came my station of mess for creating the book! I got the book done with a week to spare. :)  That's pretty good for me!  My sister helped me embellish it once I had all the character cut out and put together.

We left Sunday morning early to head to the airport.  Our flight left around 10:30 am from Memphis.  We got up early and told Zoey we were heading to get donuts.  Thankfully she cannot read yet! :)  She had no idea what her shirt said.  After getting donuts, she realized, hey wait a second.  We are not headed back to the house, she started asking to go back home. So we told her where we going instead.  I was hoping we might could get to the airport before we told her, but she wanted to go home.  I got it all on video! I love my sweet girl!

Zoey learning we are going to Disney World!

Changes are happening

The beginning of the year, I stated I wanted to make changes in my personal life.  I was working toward becoming a more positive person, I want to drop the negative influences in my life, focus on my family, and spend more time studying the Bible.

I have been making good progress with most of the above.  There were a few weeks during February that was a struggle for me at work to stay positive, but I recognized it and worked harder. Little did I know when I said I wanted to change, that a huge change would happen the end of February.

After 11 and a half years at FNC, I accepted a new position with a new company!  It all just sort of landed in my lap and was an offer I could not refuse.  I never thought I would leave FNC, granted it has been on my mind more lately due to the potential sale of the company, and it was a hard decision.  I was given an opportunity to help start business intelligence for a company, right next door to FNC too!  Leaving all my friends and coworkers was very bittersweet, but exciting at the same time.

Surprisingly it was rather easy to make the decision to leave once I got over the initial shock of being offered it.  Yes, it was hard to do, but I knew it was the right decision.  I am starting my fourth week at Next Gear Solutions this week.  It has been different getting to know the products, the people, and culture.  Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful!

I hope things continue to go well and I can quickly learn the ropes and systems!

Changes

It's been ages since I have stopped to even put any type of thoughts down on the blog.  I love to provide updates to my non-existent readers, but sitting down to post at night is the last thing I want to do. To help change that, I have decided 2016 is the year of change for me!  I want to change (in a good way) so many things about my personal life, work life, and just little things.  While I did not sit down in January and do an update, I did start on changing things.

I have always been a firm believer anyone can change if they set their minds to it and really want to change in their heart.  Changing yourself is always the hardest goal to achieve.  I realized at the end of the year, I no longer wanted to have some of the negative traits I saw in myself.  I was seeing that I no longer first saw the good or positive about a situation, but the negative.  I realized this was not the example I wanted to set for Zoey. I wanted her to see me as a strong, positive woman, not a negative woman.  While I am doing this for her, I am doing it more for myself.

There is so much that come to play that makes us fall into this type of pit.  I recongize a lot of them in my life.  A handful I cannot readily change due to it is out of my control.  Another thing I fall short of, letting go of things I cannot control.  Yikes!

To start the year off, I told myself I wanted to be more positive first off. Stop seeing the bad and complaining about every little thing. Surprisingly, to myself, I am accomplishing that.  While it might take a while for others to see it, I can tell a difference. I feel "lighter".  While I know negative thoughts and feelings can weigh you down, I had no idea how much!  It will continue to be a work in progress and there will be bad days, but I am determined not to let that get me down!  I can do this!

If you are reading this and see me fall back into my old negative self, please call me out on it.  I am still learning how to let go of things and get them off my chest without sounding like I am complaining or being negative.  One of my favoite signs I had as a child, which is hanging in Zoey's room today as a reminder to myself when bringing her up, says "Please be patient with me.  God isn't finished with me yet...".  Oh how this applies even to us as adults today!

                          

First Dance Class

This fall Zoey started ballet and tap lessons.  All summer she mentioned how she wanted to take dance.  The studio we went with, had a 3 day summer dance camp.  This was perfect to see if Zoey really wanted to do dance plus she got to try out three of the top classes for kids her age.



We were able to get her in the ballet/tap class on Mondays which allowed her to still take gymnastics this fall too on Tuesdays.  Our weekly schedule is busy this year!  By Thursday I’m ready to sit at home and do nothing.  Zoey loves her teachers, Ms. Mary Frances and Miss Rachel.  She says she loves tap more than ballet. Personally I'm hoping that will change later.  I do hope she sticks with dance as she gets older and continues to practice.  I would love for her to see it through until she is out of high school.

Ready for her first dance class.

Amazes me how she knows how to do this without any classes yet! 

Getting a twirl in before class.

Snow Day 2015

All Winter Zoey talked about snow and how she wanted a snow day, to make snow angel, build a snowman, etc.  We would always explain to her that we would have to wait and see if it snowed and how it might not snow. 

The end of February we were forecasted to get 5-6 inches of snow.  I had major doubts.  Good thing I was wrong!  Zoey was so excited about the snow!  She couldn’t wait to get out in it and play.  I was able to hold her off until it had accumulated several inches.

Watching it snow!

SUPER excited it is SNOWING!!

Zoey and Daddy walking in the snow.  She played in out in the snow for hours.  We had to beg her to come in.

Zoey and her snowman.  She got her Daddy to help build one.

Running in the snow.

First Hair Cut

After putting it off for as long as I could, Zoey got her first hair cut in January.  I was so afraid that if I had her hair trimmed, the curls would fall out.  We have been lucky that her hair has grown fast and even!  I made it three years before I got it trimmed.  I was a little nervous how she would do and was afraid she would cry or throw a fit.  She did AWESOME!  We went to Phipps Salon, B and I both go there, where Melissa cut her hair.  Bragging moment.  Everyone there was so impressed with how well she behaved and sat/stood still. Typically three year olds do not do as well.  Her hair was so long, Melissa had her stand instead of sit in the chair to trim it.  When it’s wet and brushed out it’s almost down to her waist.

Before.

After.

Caldonia Farms

Oops, got a little out of order!  I forgot we went to two farms/pumpkin patches this year!  We went to Caldonia Farms with Dennis and Nona one weekend while we were in Aberdeen.  The farm is just outside of Columbus.  I had never been, Dennis and Nona took Zoey last year when she was with them one weekend.  It is a beautiful place.  So much for the little ones to do and incredible section of different pumpkins, gourds, mums, and more!

Snow Angel

I am so out of order on posting but it's ok.  This past weekend we went to my parents house. We left early Friday to avoid the ice on the roads that we feared was coming. As we got close to their house, it started to have snow dusting the ground. Zoey got so excited! She started on wanting to make snow angels and build a snowman. We told her there might not be enoughy for that but we would see when we got there.  

There was enough for her to get down in the driveway to do a snow angel! The cutest happiest little snow angel ever.

Halloween 2014

The Halloween season this year was a busy one!  We had 4 different Halloween parties to attend.  I almost forgot about a couple of them until I was looking at the pictures when I finally uploaded them from the camera.

This year, Zoey decided to be Tinkerbell.  She started talking about this back in July or so; so when I found the costume on sale, I snagged it then.  We did almost have to change it to Princess Aurora, but we showed her the Tinkerbell costume and she was excited again to be Tinkerbell. 

Zoey and Brian carved their pumpkins again this year.  She was more into it this year, but still thought the “guts” were gross.

Zoey took this one herself of her bear and pumpkin

We started out the holiday by a party at Gage’s.  Carol out did herself on the decorations, food, and games for the kids!  I do not have many pictures from this one just due to following and keeping up with Zoey. 

We then had a Trunk or Treat after services one Sunday night.  She RACKED up on the candy; she did not need anymore after this for the reason of the holiday. 

I have ZERO pictures from the FNC Trick or Treat.  Zoey was not having it at all.  All the blowups in the office scared her and she would not leave the front lobby.  I still enjoy brining her up to the office for this, but this year was not as fun.  Maybe next year she will not be as scared of everything. 

On Halloween Night, we had a party in the neighborhood.  It wasn’t really a “neighborhood” party, but friends who live in the neighborhood hosted for all the kids and we had a hay ride around the neighborhood.  Boy was it COLD that night!  We did not make it halfway around the neighborhood before we turned around.  It was a mass chaos the whole night. Once again, I do not have pictures from the night.