Well, it turns out there is not deep dark fear of cole slaw lurking in my daughter’s subconscious. She eventually stopped freaking out about the “Picnic.” Of course, if you use “Mimi and Grandpa” with any words long enough it will win her over. “We’re going to torture puppies with Mimi and Grandpa!” would sound fun to NikkiZ after you say it a few times. So, the picnic went off without a hitch. We even took a short hike with her and she walked a good chunk of the way. Her favorite part about the outing? Plopping down in the middle of the trail and picking up handfulls of dirt to toss further down the trail. She was reorganizing the filth. And the trail is much better for it.
LilZ is still at his Dad’s until Wednesday since this is his Fall Break. I always feel a little frazzled without him here. He’s kinda my sounding-board for ideas and silly stories. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons he loves these breaks from me, I’m betting his Dad isn’t telling him stories about spilling coffee on himself. (But - I spilled it on my shoulder - that’s a good story!)
Someone asked me if LilZ was excited about the possibility of having another sibling. I don’t ever feel like the word “Yes” is emphatic enough. LilZ wanted to be a big brother for years before NikkiZ finally made it to our family. And that has proved to be so awesome for him, he could only imagine it being even better with more. Where I’m glad he finally has the experience of “brother” to add to his life, I always have to remind him that not everyone loves their siblings (while their still kids) as much as he does. Some might even argue that without the periodic urge to punch your sibling in the gut, the relationship could not possible be legit. My brother would be one of those people.
I, on the other hand, was the perfect big sister who never said anything mean or tried to physically harm my little brother. And I definitely never dressed him in purple Hammer pants. That would be unnecessarily cruel.
That is the best pic! That look!! I always wanted to be a “big” sister…but I was the baby….my big sister was cruel when we were little…but now we are best friends. It is crazy how that works…..
I just love that picture, lolol If that doesn’t show a fast forward of… DUH MOM… for 10 years from now I don’t know what does, ….LOL!!! Awesome shot! And I am so happy about LilZ too. My kids have a love /hate relationship, lolol. I wish they got a long just a bit better, lol.
I’m still laughing about the picnic aversion. Goodness they are funny little things, aren’t they?
Love that photo!!!!
It is so great that he loves being a brother. I have to say… that like you… I was am an awesome big sister. haha
This picture is PERFECT! It also shows me what you will be experiencing in the years to come. Zoot…your kids are awesome. The stories that you tell through this blog show just how much they love each other and what a wonderful job you and MrZ have done. Glad you had a good time on your picnic and that NikkiZ was actively reorganizing Mother Nature (too cute).
I’m so amazed by LilZ. My brother came along when I was 11 and we had an entirely different experience. I was NOT pleased with his arrival and never got over it. We are now 38 and 27 and still not close. LilZ is very special to have so much room and love in his heart.
My brother and I are currently not speaking for reasons only he knows. It is sad. He was always my best friend. I am actually the eldest, but you would never know it! I miss him every day.
And now that I have depressed MYSELF- Both of your children are so very lucky to have each other. Mine are like that too. For the most part! Remind me to tell you guys about the song Aidan made up about his bubba. It will definitely make you tear up.
I was an AWESOME big sister, btw! I hardly EVER made him drink special “magic potions” that my cousin and I created…
I’m glad she had so much fun.
I’ve gotten a big kick out of this comment war you’ve created on your site. It’s really really entertaining for me.
I love this picture… We can’t keep Scout still enough for pictures like that…
I’ve tried really hard to create a good age difference between my girls so they could have more in common. My biggest wish is that they are close and have each other when they get older. Oh man they love each other now.
I love that picture. What a face!
I was the perfect big sister too. I never convinced my brother that it would be a good idea to get a perm to look like Joey from NKOTB. Nope. Not me.
that is a fantastic face she’s sporting
makes me wonder what you were doing behind the camera…. lol
I’m an only child but my cousin, who is five years younger than I am, kind of functioned as a kid sister, at least when we both got dumped off at grandma’s while our parents worked. I’m almost certain I didn’t dress her up like Angus Young from AC/DC — short pants, tie and all.
That really IS the “whatever, mom” face–as the mother of a nearly 15 year old girl, I know it well.
I’m one of those horrible, selfish lonely onlys–so we had two in quick succession and it’s been great.
Could she BE any more bershon right there? I love this picture!
First, I love that photo. I was going to comment on it last on flickr but something distracted me. (Damn you, Rock Of Love Reunion!)
My oldest daughter was 10 and then 12 when her siblings were born. She was excited until the 2nd one came home. Then, if ANYONE asked us if we were having more, she would sprint through the house and hurdle over the couch to scream, “NOOOOOOOOO!!” at the top of her lungs. She is now 16 and the little ones are 6 and 4 1/2 and she kinda likes them now.
LilZ is such a great kid. You have done a wonderful job raising him. I only hope my son is like him.
How do you raise such a caring son? What do you do? I don’t know if it is acceptable to blog about some of the teenage problems he encounters,but if he doesn’t mind I would love ideas on how to handle them. You are doing something right. I would love the insight.
Aww….I love that challenging look on her face….does Mom get this look too? lol…
That photo! That face!! Priceless.
LilZ is a good, good kid. NikkiZ is lucky to have him…and so is the Zoot-byro.
Lil Cutie looks so much like her brother right there.
Such a cute, cute picture!
I was thinking about it - do you ever call her “Nick”?…maybe thought everyone was going to ‘pick’ on ‘Nick’…no?
love the picture. (as usual)
That photo is awesome. LOL
I’m glad he doesn’t get that Clean Your Room thing - he was seeming a little too good before this!
I am so curious about what set NikkiZ off, whether it was the word ‘picnic’ or something she thought it was or something it sounded like. This little mystery is going to drive me crazy.
good to know you had a nice time!
Her face is priceless. I get that look from my little girl, too. I have a feeling we will see a lot of it in ten more years.
I’ll say it again. You have an awesome son.
I would really like to know how you managed to spill coffee on your shoulder.
As a perfect big sister you would not have photographed your brother in funny outfits, right?
I meant to ask… you did print this out and hang it on the wall at home right?! This is such an awesome picture. You have to hang it in the living room.
I was an only child… I missed out on all kinds of sibling fun!