10 Years.
Today is my birthday. I was wondering if, maybe because it’s my birthday and I NEVER ask for ANYTHING from you but your sensitivity when I talk about my idiot parenting moves; could you tell me that you’re here? If you read my blog I’d like to know who you are! Just leave me a comment and either A) Tell me how you know me B) Tell me something about yourself or C) Debate the merits of the mint/chocolate combination. Do you love it? Hate it? Discuss. THANKS!
Now. Since you’re doing something for ME, I thought I’d do something for YOU. This is – by far – my favorite idea I’ve had as a Mother. EVER. SO GLAD I THOUGHT OF IT.
For my birthday, my E humored me and let me follow-thru on this crazy idea I had to re-create the photo we had done before the FIRST Harry Potter movie. I came up with the idea this weekend so we didn’t have time to try to actually re-create the outfits, but we had plenty of Harry Potter shirts to choose from an a portrait studio in town with a cloud background. WIN.
Kudos to E for being the most TOLERANT teenager EVER. There is no way in one-million YEARS that I would have done something like this with my Dad at 16. Well, by 16 I think I had grown out of my embarrassment of my Dad, but STILL. I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have allowed this. So, thank you E for humoring me. You rock. Thank you, Harry. For helping make all of this happen.
Happy birthday to you – recent discoverer of your blog here, I think from Google Reader’s recommendations but don’t remember! Our family are also Harry superfans. Have a lovely day!
Well here’s to all of us superfans having an EXCELLENT evening!
Happy Birthday! I found you from another blog and started reading when Nikki was born. That’s what the other blog was doing-saying congrats on the birth with a link to your blog. Great photos!
Thanks, Sandy!
Hi Zoot – happy birthday!
Hmmmm… I think i have been reading you for… six years now? Amalah linked to you back in the day. You are honestly one of the FEW blogs that I still read every day. I remember N and W being born! You are great, and honest, and fun.
I live in Amsterdam, NL and I travel a TON for work. I check in on you from places like Sri Lanka and Tanzania
Holy COW. That’s REAL traveling. My first job out of college I traveled to…MISSISSIPPI! It was quite an exciting trip, I’ll tell you.
Happy, Happy Birthday!
What a wonderful picture set for a bi-fold frame!
I know! But the orignal is cut weird, like maybe I had it in a collage frame once? So I’ll have to mat them or something so they’ll fit.
*wave* Happy birthday!
I lurk quietly over here. I’ve been around since we were both training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I have even made cake pops because of you.
Since my nut allergy keeps me away from the supposed genius of the chocolate/PB flavor combo, I firmly believe that mint/chocolate is the best flavor pairing ever. Just sayin’.
I have no allergies and I still think mint/chocolate is the best!
Hii! I read your blog, check out your photos, follow you on twitter! I think you unfriended me on facebook because I have a potty mouth and a mean streak
I hail from Scandinavia (seriously, like at least from half of Scandinavia at once) and reside in Finland. I don’t blog regularly, but when I do it’s a lot about race and social justice. I definitely enjoy your blog because it’s everything mine is not and I appreciate that.
Oh, I unfriended EVERYONE months ago b/c my photos were getting stolen on FB. You prob got caught in the crossfire. I’m sorry! Feel free to re-send a request if you get bored and I’ll re-accept it! Sorry! Just tell me your comment name here in the comment box if that’s not you’re real name so I’ll know it’s you!
Well, haha! That just goes to show =)
But, I am kinda sorta anticipating myself moving to G+ altogether and you’ve already got me in a circle over there! (I’m Gry, btw.)
Oh, oh, and Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday. I think you know the rest, including that if it’s food, I like it.
If I haven’t “heard” from you by 05:30, I start to worry.
Janelle, thank you for being my a.m. friend. I wish it were because you were getting up though and not going to bed. Then we could maybe have breakfast together some day! (hug)
oooh yeah, since I am six hours ahead of you, I also REALLY enjoy that you post first thing in the morning!
Hey happy birthday to you!
I’ve been reading you for years now. Unfortunately, I can’t remember how I stumbled upon you and your blog but I am so so so happy that I did. You must be one of the most honest and authentic blogging moms out there.
I am from Germany and hate the mint/chocolate pairing with all my heart.
Hee. I love how passionate you are about your hatred for mint/chocolate. That’s awesome!
Thanks for the kind words!
Hi! I, too, have been reading you since a link from Amalah. I love how you put yourself out there and are so frank about possible mistakes you made and what you learned. The honesty. Is refreshing. (Like when you made the cake popper mistake when first made them. I would TOTALLY do that.) I also have to admit so much of what you do is completely relatable for me that I feel like you’re in my head. So much so that when I watched a video (crayon pronunciation I think) where you spoke, I was stunned about your southern accent. Yes, I know you are from Alabama. Yes, I know you shouldn’t actually have my voice, but… Whatever. You are just very very relatable.
I’m a 31 year old mother of an 17 month old spitfire girl. Being a momis both harder and more wonderful than I could have dreamed. I live outside Chicago and work part time as a civil engineer. I’ve been married almost five years and have three miniature schnauzers. I read part of the first Harry Potter book and didn’t finish it, but your devotion to the series intrigues me. I have just started to learn to quilt and fr my birthday (6 days ago!), I got and kid trailer which has been fun.
I like mint chocolate combos if it’s very rich and the chocolate is very chocolatey – think Fannie May Mint Meltaways, but not mind chocolate chip ice cream. Weird? Probably. Yours sound delicious!
Melissa – I still haven’t revealed my latest screwup yet b/c I’m still so embarrassed. Wait until I work up the courage to tell you, then I’ll get my own class of mistakes no one will ever admit sharing with me
Oh, and I have a weird fascination with civil engineering and city planning. I worked in a planning office for awhile in college and I tend to geek out and ask questions that only intrigue me and no one else
Happy Birthday!
I was lucky to stumble upon you from another blog, can’t remember which one. I’m an American who moved to The Netherlands to live with my online bf. Married him and we now have a very busy 3 year old. Stay at home mom, loves to bake, just ran my first race, and really like the Twilight series. Mint and chocolate are the bomb diggity. We need more of it here in Holland, as well as peanut butter chocolat…MORE I say!
Anyway hope you are having a great day and I LOVE the idea of the picture…such a great idea
Your life sounds way more exciting than mine, which probably makes the lack of mint/choc pb/choc tolerable.
Happy Birthday!!
I started reading you about… ohh.. four years ago. I think I found you through Amalah who I found through Dad Gone Mad who I found through Rock Star Mommy (All of which I still read or am friends with). I also have you on Flickr (ChickenTherapy) and sometimes I freak out that I know a fair bit about you and have watched your kids growing up (I remember when Wes was a blob, wtf, why don’t I comment???) but you have no idea who I am. I am like a freaky stalker outside your window. Only not, and in Australia.
Oh and I personally love mint & chocolate and this weekend am on a mission to create new herb/chocolate mixes. I am thinking basil chocolate? Rosemary chocolate? The ideas are (nearly) endless!!
Man…I love rosemary. Let me know how that turns out
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading you for about 5 years now. I mostly stay in the background, but I found that I have various things in common with you — your love of office supplies & cadbury’s creme eggs, and I’m also a early riser… among several more things — so it’s nice to be able to know that I’m not alone.
I have learned there are TONS of us office supply addicts online! We need to build a support group
I don’t know how I ended up here! But I like it. And I think I’m looking forward to the HP premiere as much as you are!!
YAY for HP excitement!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I read your blog every morning. It’s the first thing I do and almost always gaurantees a good laugh. I am your brother. I love chocolate and coming to see musicals that my nephew is in. My wife and I are jealous of all the awesome things you do! Happy Birthday, sis!
Thank you, bro. You’re pretty awesome too, you know. Kinda like bacon. THE MAPLE KIND.
I’ll do the brief formal stuff, just for your records: I’ve known you since high school, found your blog a few years ago, and have been a faithful reader ever since, and I usually love chocolate mint ice cream but tend not to like the combination in candy. But your mint poppers look like an exception to that! Now, what I wanted to say was: how awesome that you look exactly the same in both pictures…you’re apparently ageless! Love it! And also, Happy Birthday/Bastille Day. I have a present for you. Unfortunately it’s sitting on my dining room table, so it’s not yet on its way to you….
Hey Ash! And that’s okay b/c I’ve been carrying BZ’s gift around in my “work bag” for two weeks now just waiting to go to the post office!
And happy Bastille Day to you too! Someone wished me a happy Bastille Day on twitter and I told them I had a dear friend who taught French that would totally love she had done that
A. I think I can say this about many of my favorite blogs: I’ve been reading you for so long, I don’t remember how I found you. But I adore you and I think you’re an amazing mother.
B. I have an M.Ed. in Marriage and Family Therapy but I work as an assistant construction coordinator. And I love it. I’m currently studying and hoping for an eventual promotion to Operations Specialist.
C. Mint and chocolate belong together, there’s nothing to debate. Now if you made me choose between the chocolate/peanut butter and the mint/chocolate combos THEN I would really struggle. Because they are both amazing, I don’t think I could choose a favorite…
Happy Birthday!!!
What a crazy professional path your life has taken! (And don’t worry, not entirely sure I could choose either. Depends on the Peanut Butter I think
)
Hi Kim, and Happy Birthday! I have been a reader (and rare commenter) since NikkiZ was a baby. I’m a theatre professor, so I love all of the stories about E and his (and yours!) foray into the magical world of theatre. I think you are a terrific Mom (I yell too). I admire your amazing creativity and the ways you demonstrate your love for your family.
As for chocolate and mint–HELL YES! Publix has a mint cookie frozen yogurt that is so freaking good, I have a hard time passing it by.
Have a terrific day!
I will be stopping at Publix and getting some of that IMMEDIATELY.
And a theatre professor! Awesome! E’s theatre teacher has changed his life and I think it’s amazing to think you’re doing the same!
Happy birthday! Love the Harry Potter portraits! I’ve been reading you since you were pregnant with Nikki. I am a dedicated young adult fiction reader like you, however, I don’t get into the vampire YA lit. Post apocalyptic YA is where it’s at for me. Anyway, I love your YA posts because I often find new stuff to read through them. Hope you have a great birthday.
Oh right. mint + chocolate = best ice cream flavor ever.
Have you read Divergent yet? I think I love it more than Hunger Games! EEK.
Happy Birthday! I have been reading you for years, probably following a link from another blog. I’m originally from the northeast, but now I live in the south. My northern friends think I have a southern accent; my southern friends think I have a northern accent. And mint + chocolate = win!
For a long time when I moved to Alabama they all thought I was from “up North” (I was from TN, that didn’t quite count) and when I would go back to TN they would be shocked that I suddenly had a Southern Accent after not having one my whole life
Happy Birthday, Kim! I don’t remember how I stumbled upon your blog but it was YEARS ago.
I am a poet and live in TX with my husband and 10 year old son. I just recently started making fruit salad once a week – you inspired me. (You may have been the inspiration when I took up running too.)
Awesome! My son is very upset we didn’t have fruit salad this week. He loves it as his after-school snack!
Happy Birthday! I have been reading for several years now. I found your site through another blog with a link to you. I have 2 children similar in age to your 2 youngest. I love your honesty and can relate to so many of your entries. Oh and I love mint and chocolate together.
AND we both have AWESOME first names, right?
Totally!
Happy Birthday!! I am a long time reader but first time commenter. I get up every morning and read you before my shower. I have also recently been trying to make your cake poppers. Utter Failure. I think I will stick to cake in a pan.
Well, if it’s any consolation my icing idiocy makes me somone who has given up on cakes in a pan!
Happy Birthday! I’m an avid reader of many years. I can’t tell you how I possibly found you or you/me etc, other than most likely through the blog’sphere. I’ve grown to love both you and your family through the wonderful stories you share with us everyday here on your site. I hope you have a great day! Happy birthday! And enjoy Harry Potter! I know I will!
Thank you for the kind words and I’m sure we’ll both love HP!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I’m here. Always.
Thanks, Sarah
Happy Birthday!
I’m another who has no recollection of how I found you, it’s been that long. I know it was back when ‘E’ was ‘LilZ’, dying to be a big brother, and looking a lot more like the photo on the left than the one on the right!
Man…I did start blogging just about 2 years after that other photo was taken so you’re right! EEK.
Happy Birthday! Ok…about me: I read your blog because it makes me feel like I have an ally, a compatriot, in child raising. I am also not much of a girly-girl, and have a 5-year old girl obsessed with everything pink and frilly; and a 3-year old son who is a ball of psychotic energy and adorableness. So I get advice from you, and laughs, and feel less like I am the only one struggling and figuring out the best I can on the fly. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Man, I’d give anything to see how my daughter turns out with me as a Mom
I’m glad there’s more of us out there kinda not sure what to do with our ubergirly daughters!! 
Happy Birthday!
I’ve been reading your blog since you were pregnant with Nikki. I comment occasionally but not often enough. You are one of my favorite bloggers because you are just so…real. You don’t try to be someone that you aren’t and I love that.
I have 4 kids and I’ve been a SAHM for the last year after my job was eliminated. I really love it more than I ever thought I would. LOL I share your love of office supplies and have passed that onto my 11 year old daughter. We are dangerous in Staples.
As for the mint/chocolate combination – I think the empty pints of Ben & Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Cookie in my trash say it all.
Have a fabulous day!!!
Mmmm…must. have. Ben & Jerrys….
Happy Birthday!
I am a 34 year old mother of 2 girls (aged 18 months and 3 years), also trained in GIS and cartography. I have been reading for a few years now – since before you were pregnant with #3. You remind me a lot of myself! I also love HP and have trained and ran a marathon. I live in Ottawa, ON, Canada. I hope you have a spectacular day and please keep writing!
Dana
Ah…a fellow Map Geek! Hats off to you! (I’ve been obsessing over cool map projects on Pinterest lately…I am a dork…)
Happy Birthday! I found your blog a couple of years ago through a friend’s blog. It was right around the time you were finding out your dad had cancer I think and I’ve been reading ever since.
The reason I keep reading is because I’m not brave enough to make cake pops, your progress in the fitness department is inspiring, and I love to see what you do with the photos you take.
Thanks, Amber! I moved up to 10lb dumbbells this week in my boot camp class so I’m totally feeling AWESOME with my fitness goals right now.
Now, if only I could stop eating butterbeer cupcakes for breakfast and I’d be AWESOME.
Happy Birthday! Not sure how I found you but it was a long time ago…memory fails me when. Either way, I love Mint & Chocolate as a flavor combo. People who don’t are strange in my humble opinion.
Heeh. More for us though, right?
I have been reading your site since I started my own to document my son’s life. I find your humor and humanity so refreshing. Whenever I come upon a site where the author seems to have it all figured out. Where they know they are right about things *absolutely* without a doubt, I can’t delete it fast enough from my feed reader (and then I wonder how it got into my feed reader). Like you, I am figuring things out as I go along. I often contradict myself in my thoughts, words, and deeds and that is OK with me. You do the best you can with the moment at hand and I love that about you. Have a wonderful birthday! You deserve it.
Thank you, Erika. Sometimes I feel like I write more about “misses” than “hits” so it’s nice that I come off as a bit more well-rounded than I feel sometimes. Thanks for the kind words and the “Let Me Tell You How To Be Perfect Like Me” blogs make me sad because either they’re lying or they’re perfect and I dont like either.
Happy Birthday to you! I’ve been reading for a very long time, but rarely comment-mostly because I am lazy and don’t click over from my feed reader. I enjoy your blog very much and hope you have a great birthday! Boo to choc/mint combo but yea to cake pops
I rarely EVER leave the comfort of my feed-reader, so I understand! And as long as you like cake pops, then it’s okay
Happy birthday!
I don’t remember how I found my way to your site, but I stayed after that first day. I think you’re such a nifty person with a great family AND you have curly hair. In my day-to-day life, I don’t see a lot of women who wear their hair curly and I find that sad. I wonder sometimes (when I’d take public transportation) how many of them were straightening their hair and then I feel a little sad for them.
I just got my 4th tattoo. I started a tumblr account to follow some people but it’s also become where I talk about my tattoos. http://jasratumbles.tumblr.com/
I looooooove mint and chocolate together.
I hate that two of my favorite actresses (Julianna Marguiles and Gina Torres) (I know I spelled both name wrong) are both back on TV but with STRAIGHT HAIR. *sigh* What’s wrong with curls?
Absolutely nothing! Curls don’t make someone look non-professional. :p Meh to them.
hi! happy birthday! i’ve been quietly reading you for… oh goodness, over 5-6 years now at this point, i think? i found you via amalah’s blog.
i love mint & chocolate and my favorite thing about your blog is your love of books, photography and your kids.
i just had my first baby (almost a year ago now!) and you’ve given me so many great tips and ideas for me to utilize. plus, i like how you’re nice — you won’t talk badly about anyone. it makes my day a little brighter always and i’ve tried to incorporate that myself b/c of you!
plus, somehow i think you love harry potter more than i do, which is just impressive, ha!
E is gorgeous! when did he become such a grown up/teenager?! good lord i feel old!
have a great day!
I was waiting for him to pick me up yesterday. IN A CAR. I feel old. *sob*
Happy Birthday! I found you via links from other bloggers. I’ve got a 2 year old boy and am 9 months pregnant w/ baby #2. And last night I ate a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream–highly recommend
Right after Folic Acid for pregnant women! Good luck with the arrival of baby #2~
Happy birthday!
Chocolate and mint are a combo that must dance carefully. Get it wrong and you might as well chew a piece of gum while eating a piece of chocolate. However, if you get it right? You are immediately transported to a special spot of heaven. Already inhabited by the inventor of the Junior Mint. Because for real, if anyone deserves a spot in heaven, it is THAT GUY.
Man, I have not thought of Junior Mints in FOREVER. I want some…NOW.
Happy Birthday, Kim! I think yours was one of the first blogs I started reading, along with Amalah and Rude Cactus. That was waaaaaaay back when.
And no, you have apparently not aged at all between those two photos. Awesome.
Thanks, hon. Remember the Haiku smackdowns? Those were the good ole days.
Happy Birthday!
I found your blog about a year ago thanks to a Google Reader suggestion. I love your recipes (I’ve made cake pops thanks to your inspiration) and admire you dedication to working out. I’m a major couch potato. I really need to do something about that.
I’m a SAHM to a 10 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. My daughter has high functioning autism so things can be challenging sometimes, but that’s life. You play the hand you’re dealt. I love to knit, scrapbook, read & cook.
I like chocolate & mint, and chocolate & peanut butter, but what I absolutely LOVE is chocolate & raspberry.
Thanks for commenting, and telling me about your life. Especially for reminding me about chocolate and raspberry
That’s a GREAT combination.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
A) I can’t remember how I found your blog but I’ve been reading it for years… Hmm… Maybe Amalah? I don’t know. But I’ve been around… Left a comment or two. Sometimes you think I send you emails that say “Check Out My Boobs” when in reality it’s Goodreads sending you an email saying “Check Out My Books.” We go way back.
B) My birthday was two days ago so I guess we’re almost birthday twins? Is that something? Does that count? I really feel like I could’ve done better with this point but I panicked!
C) Mint/chocolate combo is a sin to me… But only because I hate, hate, hate mint. For people who love mint though, I’m sure it’s lovely.
Ah! Yes. One of those many times I wondered, “Should I have told her that’s where my brain went?” Heh.
Happy Belated bday! Even though you have strange tastebuds
I’ve known you since high school and have pics demonstrating how on top of our game we were fashion wise. Plus, somewhere in my fathers attic,I have notes that were passed back and forth in the school hallway, agonizing over certain boys, writing that our life was OVER because it was not panning out the way we planned. We love your blog. Tommy is obsessed with how your next cake poppers are going to turn out (4th of July was a big hit) George likes the pics of NikkiZ (he calls her that pretty girl) Jeremy laughs whenever I chose to read a particular funny entry to him and me…well I start my days off with you followed by Notes from the Trenches. And when I found out you knew her…well you became rock star status in my book. Teal came across a pic of you very pregnant with E at our house – I think at your shower. I had forgotten I had the pic…I thought what a great journey you have turned out to have with him. As the mother of two boys, I adore reading about him and you. I love the honesty and humor you write with about being a daughter, mother and wife. I love that you share your struggles, especially with weight. You currently are serveing as my therapist on that topic . And just for the record, you look AWESOME! Own that awesomeness today, embrace all the love being sent your way and have a beautiful day!
Rebecca – I MUST SEE THOSE NOTES. I’m sure I know exactly what boys were so important to us in those moments
Chris from NotT is a total rockstar. She’s been a good counsel for me having a teen son and I think, even though we email often, if I ever had to talk to her face-to-face I’d get all dorked out and silent because I think she’s amazing!
Man…I have a picture from that shower (WHY DID I WEAR TIE DYE? Is there anything MORE unflattering on a pregnant woman?) and I always wonder if I was as grateful as I should have been. It was so kind of you all to have that for me and that part of my life is such a blur (I think it was a coping mechanism – hee) that I worry I was not as appreciative as I should have been.
But more importantly I think: WHY TIE-DYE?
Happy birthday!!! I think I found you through Amalah also. I really became a follower when you were pregnant with Wes, because I was pregnant at that time. He was born a week before my baby was. Every baby post you wrote I sat at the screen nodding my head in agreement.
Oh, I also love the chocolate mint combo. Peppermint patties are one of my favorite combos ever!
Hee! That’s how I found a lot of the blogs I read, that Agreement Nod! Peppermint Patties are HEAVENLY.
Happy Birthday Kim!
We’ve met about three times; I’m Betsy’s friend. She and I attended NWSCC at the same time & both got jobs in Columbus, GA. Now we both live in Seattle. ;o)
I’ve never been a fan of mint chocolate chip anything. I like both, but separated.
I’m also a Harry Potter fan thanks to Betsy. I have all the books & watched all the films. I’m looking forward to see how they did with part 2.
I also agree that E is a great kid. You’ve done a wonderful job raising him.
Take care!
Thanks Bobby! Means a lot!
Happy Birthday! I don’t comment much because usually I have nothing to add that’s not been said. But I just realized I’ve been reading your blog a long time! I started reading when Amalah linked to you and we were all pregnant. Wow, I just realized how long ago that was! Um, about me, I used to teach High school science, now stay home with four boys. And I LOVE the mint/chocolate combo.
Holy CRAP that’s a big change in your life! And don’t worry, I never comment on blogs I read, so I understand.
Happy Birthday to you! Your TV blog was one of the first blogs I ever read. Ever since then, I’ve loved reading all about your family! I hope you have a fantastic day!
I forget I used to write so much more about TV. Before I was ashamed of what I was watching
My latest stupid show I can’t stop watching? Nine Lives of Chloe King. So bad but I CANT STOP.
happy birthday! i started reading your blog maybe back in 2005, but not a regular commenter-I know I’m a lurker. I think I commented on one of your entries dealing with NikkiZ and her child care center. I work in the non profit sector, advocating for a better educated child care work force and I believe my comment was in support of recognizing child teachers as TEACHERS.
I read your blog Monday-Friday at work to help usher in my day and I enjoy reading you because of your honesty and humility. My second daughter was born shortly after your son, Wes and she was born 10 years after my first daughter. So I always appreciated reading about your children and how their age spacing impacted your parenting experience.
oh, yeah. My favorite ice cream in mint chocolate chip (although I like the mint brownie chip ice cream that Edy’s makes even better). I like peppermint patties and Andes mints, so I think my position on the mint/chocolate combination is well established!
I hope I was speaking favorably about them b/c we’re really lucky. Our kids love their teachers and I’m sad Nikki starts Kindergarten this year and leaves that school behind.
What about Junior Mints? I hadn’t thought about those until today. I MISS THEM.
Happy Birthday!
I’ve been reading you for about a year after following a link from Amalah. I love how much you adore your kids and your passion for everything in your life. Your honesty is helpful, too, for the rest of us who aren’t perfect either.
Thanks for your comment! I do adore my kids, even when they’re accidentally punching me in the face
Hi there
I’m another reader that found you via Amalah about a million years ago. I love your blog, your honesty, your willingness to share your life. I was particularly excited when your kids’ real names slipped out (I love unique names – my kids are Pacey and Brighton).
I was a working mom until a year ago when we moved and I started staying home so it’s nice to read another mom who has experienced both sides of the coin and acknowledges that every situation has challenges and benefits.
I’m jealous of your photography – I’m getting better with my camera but haven’t even begun to learn editing.
Oh, and I can’t eat mint since my second pregnancy. No mint gum, no mint toothpaste and please keep it away from my chocolate!!
Happy birthday
You poor thing (about the mint)
– And I was just telling someone the other day that I still think life was harder as a SAHM than it is for me now. I stand by that. 
Happy birthday! I’ve been reading you for years and years — long before NikkiZ — at this point, and you are still one of my very favorites. You are a real person, untouched by drama and unaffected by the wild west gold rush towards sponsorship and style. You, my friend, are awesome. I adore you, and hold out hope that one day we shall meet. I will hug you awkwardly, but mostly, I will just say thank you, for all the years you’ve made me smile and helped me.
Love to you on this birthday.
Thanks, Jonna. And I assure you there will be awkward hugs. Because I am that weird person who MUST HUG EVERYONE but also suffers from SOCIAL ANXIETY which is an interesting combination to say the least.
And your words mean a lot…seriously. I think it may be the most complimentary comment I could have gotten from another blogger.
Happy birthday!
I honestly don’t remember how I found your blog, but I think it might have had something to do with Blogger templates?
I’m a mom too, so I’m always checking out your experiences and parenting ideas to help me along the way. My girls are 3.5 and 10 months.
Mint and chocolate were meant to be together for infinity, amen. Two words – Thin Mint
Ahhh…blogger templates! Those were the good ole days
YES. Thin Mint. *drool*
Happy Birthday!
I’ve been following your for YEARS, and barely ever comment, so sorry for that! NickiZ and my 1st daughter are the same age which at first drew me to you, but you’ve kept me interested since the time they were both infants.
And I just commented a couple months ago how I was finally reading the HP books. Probably in large part b/c I’ve been listening to you go on and on about them for so many years.
My husband is definitely not a fan of them b/c I’d check one out each Friday and then not do anything but read for the rest of the weekend — for 7 weeks in a row! (well, I did skip one weekend to try and appease him some….)
I made cake pops — back before you did even — but they were really really bad. I’ve considered trying again but don’t want to waste perfectly good cake and frosting for another failed experiment.
And my main passion is quilting & sewing. You really should use that machine of yours more!
So, happy day from Austin TX!
Don’t worry, I don’t comment on blogs I read either
And I DID practice threading the needle and sewing stitches a few weekends ago, that’s a step! RIGHT?
I’ve been reading your blog for years, not always as Mrs. Commoner though. Unfortunately, I can’t comment much because my work computer blocks all blogs and I don’t have a smart phone. In the morning I download all the blogs I read to my mobile rss app on my iPod and read when I have time throughout the day. Unfortunately, this means I don’t normally have the time, or the energy, to go back to the blogs I want to comment on when I get home from work – though I often feel like what you’ve written really resonates with me. Even though you know nothing about me, I feel like we would be really good friends if we lived in the same town.
How do I feel about the chocolate/mint combo? I used to love ANYTHING mint. But ever since I had my tonsils out 4 years ago it just doesn’t have the same appeal. If the mint isn’t too strong in your cookie balls, I’d probably love them!
Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! With the movie opening tonight, I’m sure you’ll have an awesome one.
The one PERFECT thing about those cookie balls (giggle) is that you can adjust the mint! Use less extract AND even use only chocolate chips! I was worried about them being too strong b/c I’m a bad judge since I love ALL mint/choc combos!
Happy Birthday! I love that HP has given you and your son so many great memories together – the pics are awesome!
A) found you via google reader ‘recommended feeds’ and was hooked. You were discussing pinterest & you very nicely gave me an invite! So now I follow you there too! : ) thanks!
B) I’m from WA state
C) mint-chocolate ROCKS!
Yay for Google Reader! Hee. It recommends to me tons of cooking blogs. I try not to take it too personally
I read! Your my favorite blog, actually. I don’t remember how I found you, but I’ve been reading you for a couple of years, at least. You bought rings from me once (or more than once, I think) and put a link to my shop in your blog post, and that day I got a bunch of orders! Haha.
I know those rings! I still have them, except for one which I think my daughter stole. Hee. That’s a compliment though, right? If she’s stealing your rings from me?
Your super stylish daughter stealing my rings? Huge compliment.
Happy BIrthday. I’ve been a lurker here for a couple years. I discovered you through a link on slackermama. I LOVE the chocolate/mint combo.
Yay! Marilyn and I are good buddies!
Your blog is the first thing I read every morning. Seriously.
My birthday is tomorrow!
I despise mint. Why would you try to ruin chocolate with mint! I’m probably in the minority on this one.
My husband is very iffy about the mint/chocolate issue. So, you are not alone. And happy birthday tomorrow!
Happy birthday!
I’ve read your blog since the days of The Judith Light Brigade & you are one of my Top 5 Favorite Blogs. Thanks for sharing your life with all of us. You are responsible for my crazy YA reading habit. I only read Harry Potter because you’d gone on about it her so much. And i am SO glad I took your advice.
I’m 36 years old & stay at home with a wild two year old girl in the great state of Kentucky. Like you, I believe that the mint/chocolate combo is the food of the gods.
Oh, Man. The Judith Light Brigade! That’s AWESOME! And so glad there are other adults on the YA train with me
Hi! *waves* I’ve been reading your blog for, oooh, I don’t know. A long time now. Years, for sure. I share a love of Harry Potter and the Pioneer Woman with you and I will feel like the luckiest person in the world if I have a son like E someday. What a great kid (sorry, teen) you have! And what a great job you’ve done raising him! Anywho, happy birthday from Pittsburgh, PA!!
Thanks to Alabama from Pittsburgh! Did you know the Pioneer Woman tweeted me one day? I screamed I was so excited!
Happy Birthday!
I’ve been here since 2005, when I was pregnant with Al. I used to fancy myself a blogger, but not so much anymore. Years ago, I read tons and tons of blogs, but these days, it’s just you and a handful of others, mostly design and diy sites. I’m a school district administrator, I have an almost-kindergartner, and my husband is a full-time nursing student, so there’s not a lot of time for reading and writing online. I still make time to take a photo a day, drool over Pinterest, and stalk people on Facebook, though.
I don’t like any ol’ mint and chocolate thrown-together combo, but Andes chocolate mints are pretty wonderful.
Thanks for keeping it real. And have a wonderful birthday!
What about Junior Mints?
And drooling over Pinterest? My FAVORITE pasttime lately.
I found you through Brit’s blog – but don’t ask me how I found her! Happy Birthday! I’m assuming you’ll be going to the midnight show tonight? My family and I are going tomorrow sometime. When we first started reading the books ( between the release of three and four) my oldest daughter was 11. She was convinced she would get a letter from Hogwarts. She’s 22 now and will be coming with me, my husband and our 17, 11 and 8 year year old tommorow. So many memories – of the books and the movies. So bittersweet. Oh, and you can never go wrong with mint and chocolate together, imho.
We have midnight tickets tonight AND I’m taking Nikki with my husband tomorrow.
And yay for Brit! Love her. She’s one of my Mom Idols.
Happy Birthday!!!
I don’t remember how I got here, but I am glad that I came!! I really enjoy your blog!
I am a stay at home mom living in NC. I have 3 kiddos – 2 girls 1 boy (12, 9 and 6).
Mint/Chocolate debate – I like the combo. Love me some Andes mints, York peppermint patties, thin mint cookies,and more but haven’t tried the ice cream yet….will put it on my to do list for sometime soon.
Hope you have a great birthday!!!
We have a local ice cream place that makes milkshakes out of the ice cream from scratch and I think THAT is my favorite mint/chocolate delivery method.
Happy Birthday!! I hope you have the best day ever. Enjoy Harry! I wish/hope /dream that I am half the parent you are. Your kids amaze me.
Thank you so much, Jen!
Happy Birthday! I don’t remember how I found your blog, but I’m glad I did! I am pretty sure that if we were to meet in real life, we’d be great friends! I’m a single mom to a boy, and your relationship with E is an inspiration to me. If you are ever in the Portland area, drop me an e-mail!
Thanks, Sara. Man, I wish I’d be in the Portland area some time soon. I’m betting it’s not 100+ degrees there right now
Happy birthday! I hope your day is amazing!
I’m a late 20 something finishing up grad school in RI (at a school Emma Watson dropped out of!) – but am originally from Hoover, AL. I read your blog bc I love your stories, pictures, and you are an inspiring mom! I’m def stealing all your mom ideas once I’m a mom!
Ah, Brown. Did we talk via FB about that before? And any idea I’ve had I’ve stolen from someone else, so you’ll be completing the circle of life!
Happy Birthday girl!!!!!!!! I know you and you know me!!! Enough said… I love reading your blog, it gives me a way to keep up with your adventures!! First thing I read in the morning…
Happy Birthday to you too, Allison!
Happy happy birthday!
I think I first got to you via Amalah, years ago. Am a crazy economist type person by day, romance novel lover by night. Chocolate and mint…hmmm. Not nearly as good as chocolate and peanut butter but far superior to chocolate and orange.
HATE Chocolate and Orange. BUT – I totally see the appeal as I really THOUGHT I would love it. I was almost sad that I hated it so much.
Happy birthday! I’ve been reading for years, but hardly ever comment (shy! sorry! it’s weird!). I found you through a link from Amalah’s archives–I was having trouble with miscarriages and found it so helpful to read through blogs of people who had been there (and got through it).
I keep tearing up at those two pictures of you and E–it is just so sweet on so many levels! My son is almost two now and I would be so thrilled if he grew up to be as kind-hearted and fun as E seems to be.
I don’t comment on 99% of the blogs I read, so I totally get it!
Thanks for the compliments! E really is amazing and it makes me happy to be able to share that with the world.
Happy Birthday Zoot! You rock, love your blog! I’ve been reading here for several years, mostly lurking – sorry, and I’ve found myself laughing and crying and cheering along for you as though somehow “we” know each other. (That’s the magic of the internet, I guess). I often read a post and then wish you lived on my street because it would be fun to be friends in “real life”. Thanks for letting me know about things like Cake Pops, Harry Potter shirts from Etsy, Pinterest, and Pottermore – I find the best new things from reading your blog! I first found your blog listed in a blogroll on my best friends blog (TammyTalksAlot) and since then Tammy and I have chatted about various things we’ve seen here. As a sidenote, if you ever need proof of your success, or a reminder of why you’re putting yourself through Boot Camp – just look at the photo from this post, because seriously, you do not look ten years older! You don’t even look two years older, lol! Have a super Birthday, and thank you for years of truely enjoyable reading.
Lynn
Thanks for the compliments, Lynn! And I love that you find good things here because it’s my way of paying back the person who showed them first to me
Happy Birthday! Found your blog not too long ago, and I love it! I also live in the Huntsville, AL area, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE mint/choc combo! Yum.
Hope you have a great day today.
Lindsey – I think I’ve commented at your blog or on your pictures before! And I totally JUST pinned your Raspberry/Peach delight in Pinterest b/c it looks SO GOOD!
Happy birthday Zoot!! I found you years ago through Amalah, maybe? I love reading your words and keeping up with your family even though I only comment sporadically. I think you’re a fabulous mom and you inspire me to be more fun with my daughter.
I love to bake but not to clean up, I love Harry Potter and am SO EXCITED about the last movie, and I love mint and chocolate together. York peppermine patties = YUM.
I hardly ever comment anywhere, so I understand! And I really hate cleanup after cooking. BLAH. Seems like a bad setting in the universe that cooking makes such messes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my oldest friends
I have known you longer than I have known two of my sisters. You are family to me 
Love you!!!!
Teal, that is AMAZING to put it that way. Seriously. I love it. I’m so glad the internet allows us to stay in touch!
Love you too, hon.
Happy Birthday to you!!!! I <3 your blog, read it daily – and have since 2005, and think you are awesome! Mint chocolate chip is fantastic – but not nearly as "cool" as you!
Thanks, Ashley!
Happy birthday! What a lovely day for the final Harry Potter movie to premiere, just for YOU! A friend turned me on to your blog, & since we’re in the general regional vicinity (I live over in NE MS) & have short boys of similar ages (mine’s 4), I stuck around. Also, I live to see what flavor cake balls/pops you will make next. I would probably never attempt them myself, but a girl can live vicariously!
I like to think they schedule the movie for my birthday, hee. My next flavor? Pumpkin! EEEK. We’ll see how they go!
Happy Birthday Kim!! I’ve been following you for a few years, love your photography and style. Your kids are CUTE!!!! I have a 3 year old named Oliver and have been struggling with secondary infertility over the past two years.
Hope your day is great!
Hey Jen – Hang in there. Secondary Fertility is such a weird place to be emotionally because you’re dealing with one blessing while being hurt over not getting another and it makes such weird guilty issues (at least it did for me) so hang in there!
Thanks for the well-wishes!
Happy birthday! I’ve been reading for so long I can’t even remember where I came from. But I stay because I enjoy your honesty with yourself and us, and it helps me in my own life to try and really figure out what’s going on with something I’m doing, not just the surface crap I tend to feed myself. As for mint and chocolate, I love it in ice cream, and not too much else. But then I have very, very bizarre food rules.
Thanks, Cheryl! Talking about it here sorts it out in my life too! And what about MILKSHAKES? Because there’s a place here who makes milkshakes out of the mint/choc ice cream. HEAVENLY.
Happy Birthday!! I have been following you for quite a few years now, not sure how I stumbled onto your blog. I love your posts and your beautiful pictures. I keep reading because we have a lot in common, often when I read your posts It sounds just like something I would feel, say or do. I’m a single mom to a 10 year old boy and live in sunny/hot/humid Florida.
Oh, Man. Is it hotter/sunnier/more humid there this year? It is here and it’s KILLING me. Heh.
Thanks for the comment!!
Happy birthday! I too am not entirely sure where I wandered in from. I stay for the introspection, the cake poppers, and the book talk. And probably other stuff.
Thanks, Pamela. Speaking of books – have you read A Discovery of Witches? It’s my most recent discovery and a lot of my friends loved it. I really liked it but it was hard to get through. I’m calling it, “The book to read if you liked Twilight but felt guilty about it.” Because it’s got a lot of the same love-story elements but also a lot of stuff to make it more of an “adult” book because it talks about science and history
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I read daily!
Thanks!
Happy birthday to you!
Yours is one of my favorite blogs, and you one of my favorite bloggers! You inspire me with exercise & weight loss, and I appreciate your candor and honesty and all around real-ness. I also love to read about your relationship with E, as I am also a mom to teens (who do musical theater!)
I can’t imagine that there is anyone on this planet who disapproves of the mint/chocolate combination. Add in a glass of cold, cold water, and it’s complete bliss!
xo
Musical Theatre kids are AWESOME. And also CRAZY. So, hats off to you for having more than one!
I might prefer cold, cold, beer
but I totally get you on that one.
Mint chip anything is the best. And happy birthday
I love your photos.
AMEN. Although someone mentioned Junior Mints and I haven’t thought about those in AGES and now I want them MORE THAN ANYTHING.
Happy Birthday! I have been following your blog for several years and I love watching your children grow up. I wish I had photographed my children more along the way. i am trying. I most admire your honesty and the fact that you are “real” in your posts! I also love the recipes!
Thanks, Jennifer. It’s funny, I thought that any kids I had after E would feel un-loved b/c I didn’t think there was ANY WAY I would take as many pictures of future children as I had him. THEN CAME DIGITAL CAMERAS! Who knew he’d be the one feeling unloved?
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading for a few years – I think I found you via Amalah like others have mentioned. I have 2 small kids myself, so I read a lot of mommyblogs. A lot of them are funny and/or snarky but I think yours stands out for its warm-heartedness. I was reading over on Babble the other day about who their “top 50″ mom bloggers recommend, and I loved what Julie from a little pregnant wrote about you, because I totally agreed with it. (If you didn’t read it yet, head over there!) I am a huge fan of the HP books but only so-so on the movies. Plus with a 2.5 year old and an 8-month old, I don’t get out much so I am still waiting to see 7-part 1 from Netflix! Anyway, I like chocolate mints (like After
but I do NOT like mint-chocolate-chip ice cream. Weird, I know.
I forgot how blog comments sometimes turn the number “eight” into a sunglasses smiley face. Oops.
Sheila – thank you for telling me about Julie’s comment at Babble. I don’t know much about Babble so I might not have ever found those wonderful words. And sorry about the EIGHT thing. It gets me sometimes too
Happy birthday!
I personally am an arbiter of the mint/chocolate combination. But then, I love mint in any form. And chocolate in any form. So the combination makes my mouth happy.
I AGREE.
I’ve been following for years and years! My brother, husband and two of my bestest friends’ birthdays are today too! Happy birthday!
They must be AWESOME then, AM I RIGHT?
Thanks for the comment!
Happy Birthday! I have been reading for years! I am a 40 yo single mom in WV to an 11 yo boy so I love reading about your relationship with E. It helps to hear someone else talk honestly about the ups and downs with these kids. lol. You are also responsible for my cake popper addiction (the one dessert I can actually do that everyone loves!) and as an avid book/kindle reader I have loved your YA recomends. You started my Twilight and Hunger Game love too! I still grab your and E’s choices now and then and love them. I nod my head in agreement when you talk about your weight loss issues. I have worked really hard and lost 25 lbs since Feb/March with lots of ups and downs along the way. It has been a down 2 weeks and I have gained 5 lbs back. But just as you say, tomorrow is a new day and i will get right back on it! Have a great day and thanks for putting it all out there for us who read, absorb, comiserate and prob dont comment.
I love finding other Young Adult book fans in the Adult world. I used to think I was such an anomaly and would almost be ASHAMED of it. SILLY ME!
And MAN…cake poppers…they have totally given my peers the false impression that I’m some “good” cook. I take them everywhere and everyone loves them and then just ASSUMES that I must be AWESOME in the kitchen. HA!
Awesome!
I got that same t-shirt from Etsy to wear as well! I am a HUGE Snape fan, so I had to get it when I saw it! Sadly, I am working 12-hour shifts tomorrow through Monday, so I will have to wait until Tuesday to see the movie…I am SO looking forward to it! I will be the girl in the special t-shirt seeing the first possible show on Tuesday, by herself. Winner, right here!
HA! I plan on going by myself once this weekend b/c I’m seeing it in 3D IMAX tonight with E, I’m seeing it in 3D IMAX tomorrow with hubs and Nikki, and I want to see it the old-fashioned way once this weekend too. That will inevitably be alone since everyone else will have already seen it with me once by then!
Happy birthday Kim! I hope you have a fabulous day!
I’ve been reading your blog since you were pregnant with NikkiZ, and as long as you’re blogging, you’ll hold a special place in my feed reader ; )
And seriously, I love reading your writing and also everything you “share” in Google Reader. You find all kinds of cool articles and make my day more interesting when I check my reader and find a new story about a craft or a parenting issue or the latest HP news. I couldn’t even handle your recent Thank You Harry post. Tears!
So, who am I? I’m a married mother of a two-year-old boy. I live in South Louisiana. I was a journalist until I crossed over to the paid side of writing (marketing). I used to blog, but now I just read other people’s blogs.
Thanks, Susan. I love that Google Reader thing. I can go into mine and even click “Recommended items” and that’s how I find about one out of every 7 or so things I share. GOOGLE KNOWS ME SO WELL.
Happy Birthday Miss Zoot!
I found you by going through other mommy blogs and got really interested when you were TTC at the same time we were. We now have a 2 year old and when I look at things Wes is doing, I think, “Will’s going to be doing that soon”.
I continued to read your blog because I like the genuine love your family has for each other. I love that E tosses the kids around and does all the silly stuff with them, without complaining – much. =)
About me: I love making jewelry and crafting with the kiddo. We like hanging out at the beach and playing in the sand. Like you, I am also in a continuous struggle with my weight only you’re actually going to boot camp to DO something about it! Oh, also like you, I’m a totally social person until I meet you.
Mint and Chocolate – Only as an Andes mint. I will not have it any other way – I think it’s gross.
Greetings from the Island!
Man, I’m getting so much better in the social arena. Probably the biggest change in the last 2 years of my life is how much better I’ve gotten. It’s hard to believe sometimes, because I didn’t ever do ANYTHING before and someone the other day at my boot camp said to me, “You know everyone in town, don’t you?” And I about DIED laughing because I wanted to be all, “Not since 2 years ago.” It’s a tough thing to get over, and I’ve got a long way to go, but it’s turning out to be much easier than losing that last bit of weight
Hmmm…I think we met at Ronda’s some moons ago.
I once hacky sacked with Sir Tim Rice.
I only like york peppermint patties when it comes to chocolate and mint…though your cake balls the other day were quite tasty…almost converted me.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Bryan. Did you see the comment I left you in GReader yesterday? You cracked me up with your response to Sarah!
Happy birthday! I’ve been reading you for about 5 years — since right after N was born. I think I found you through Rock Star Mommy. I have enjoyed seeing your “evolution” from working mom, to SAHM, to working mom again. From convenience food preparer to adventurous cook. From exercise allergic to marathon runner. Thank you so much for the free entertainment, insight, and laughter for all these years. I love your self-deprecation, your empathy and kindness, your crafty crafts, and your hilarious stories. (I always think of you when I have boob sweat — maybe that’s a little too weird…)
I’m a SAHM (oops, I guess I work now — three mornings a week during the school year at my youngest’s preschool) of 3 young boys (8, 6 and 3). I get twitchy without my daily morning workout. I love to read, then maybe scrapbook if I have time. I ran marathons in a former life (before kids) and would love to try again someday. Maybe.
I would break my no-sweets rule to try one of your cake poppers. I’m sure they would send me into a popper eating frenzy. Eat a few for me today!
RSM and I still talk and I love it! She’s so awesome. And you are NOT kidding about “convenience food preparer to adventurous cook.” I bought veggies to cook from a can for tonight b/c I’m not feeling like cooking and I thought, “This is how we used to live ALL THE TIME.”
Man, I wish I could stick to a “no sweets” rule. Of course, my dessert making tendencies don’t help that.
Happy Birthday! I have no idea how I originally found your blog, but I’ve been reading practically since you started writing. And I think you have fantastic taste in books
I have no problems with mint chocolate chip, although I probably prefer chocolate to mint.
We have known each other forever, haven’t we? Man. I’m feeling old today
I think I might even prefer my chocolate WITH mint then without…although, I might prefer it with peanut butter over mint.
Happy Birthday, Zoot! I’ve been reading for years but rarely ever comment (because I’m shy? Yes, but more often than not its because I’ve just got barely enough time to read let alone formulate a string of legible sentences with two littles constantly beneath my feet!). Nonetheless, I love your blog and look forward to it everyday. Here’s to many, many more birthdays and posts!
I rarely (NEVER) comment on blogs I read either, so I totally understand! Thanks for the birthday wishes!!!!
I have no idea how long I’ve been reading you… since before NikkiZ was born I think? Yeah, that’s probably about right.
I’m a married mother of a thirteen-year old daughter and stepmother to my husband’s ten-year old daughter. I live in Houston, Texas. I work full-time and long for the day when I can go back to school (the husband just started college this summer).
I am also a huge Harry Potter fan and there’s no doubt my daughter and I will be shedding a few tears this weekend (possible before the movie even starts!) – she’s almost as distraught as I am right now – but yay for Pottermore!
Guess that’s about it. I love mint chocolate, both in candy and ice cream. Actually, I love pretty much any kind of chocolate, dark being my favorite, and milk chocolate being a close second.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Donnie LOVES dark chocolate and wishes I’d make half of my desserts with that instead of milk chocolate, but I remind him he could always make some if he wanted
Here’s to a fond farewell this weekend! *sob*
Happy Birthday Kim!!! I’ve been reading you for several years and comment occasionally, so I you might already know I’m here. I love see your successes and really appreciate that you share your failures as well. You have no idea how inspiring you are! Have a wonderful birthday! How thoughtful of them to release the last Harry Potter for you.
Thank you, Carolyn. Inspiring is such a powerful word it makes me want to deny it and fumble with awkward appreciation but instead I’ll just say, “Thank you!” for your kind words.
And yes, I like that Warner Bros gave me such an awesome present this year.
Happy Birthday! I hope that you have a great one!
I’ve been reading your blog for a little over three years. I found you through a comment you made on someone else’s blog. I liked your comment, so I decided to check out your blog. At first, I was drawn to your blog, because Wes is about the same age as my son. However, over the years, I continued reading because you are such a sweet person. I love how nice you are, and that you’re not just nice, but you’re always striving to be better even! I am always working on something about myself, and I’m always trying to be the best person I can, so I really identify with you. I don’t always succeed with my goals, of course, but I do always try.
Thanks, Tara. And if you found me by a comment then that’s really cool. I hardly ever comment anywhere b/c I feel WAY more pressure on other sites than on my own. Maybe I should comment more!
Thanks for your kind words and I do believe that there are major points for trying in life! No matter how successful we are.
I have been following you since 2008 when I started blogging. I am not always a big commenter but always love your posts! You are so insightful and honest.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Jill. And you commenting here makes you a better commenter than I am. I just rarely can figure out HOW to comment anywhere, which is why it’s really humorous I’m asking you guys to comment HERE for my birthday. Heh.
Thanks again!
Happy Birthday!
I’m still here, though I read more than I comment. I found your blog several years ago when I was doing a search for Einstein Bros bagels in Huntsville and stumbled across a post of yours that mentioned they were for sale at Target. I think I read most of your archives that day! Then J, M and I started seeing you at all the HP book releases and midnight movies. I’m counting the minutes until the movie tonight!
I love the chocolate/mint combo. It’s quite possibly the most perfect flavor combination there is.
B – Did you see my casual reference to you in my Dear Harry entry? I mentioned that I still have all of those HP treats sitting on my shelf NEVER TO BE EATEN because they’re too pretty closed up and saved forever. HA!
Can’t wait until tonight! Are you guys doing IMAX?
Oh yeah, and by the way…Chocolate and Mint is a FABULOUS combination! However, my husband HATES it. His exact word for the combo is ABOMINATION, as in “Yuck! Thin Mints are an abomination!” This has never bothered me. You know why? Because what I hear instead is “more Thin Mints for me! Yay!”
That’s like my husband who hates goat cheese and feta and wonders why I buy it for things. “DUH. BECAUSE YOU WON’T EAT IT.”
My name is Jenny. I found your blog by googling something or other, liked it a lot, and now I subscribe in Google Reader. I am 36 weeks pregnant with my first and mint chocolate has been a vital part of my pregnancy.
I LOVE IT! Folic Acid, Mint/Chocolate ANYTHING. That’s my “healthy pregnancy” regiment too. Good luck with your pregnancy and child birth!!!
Happy birthday!
I don’t remember how I found your blog, but I remember liking it instantly.
Something about myself? I live right outside of Lund in the most southern part of Sweden, enjoy books (am just re-reading the Harry Potter-ones in preparation for the last movie), my work, baking, pretending to work out regularly, my man and my cat. And my friends and music and travelling and – well, I guess I enjoy most things. Except mint and chocolate combined.
)
I’ve been re-listening to the books as I adore Jim Dale reading them to me. He’s so wonderful.
That’s okay that you don’t enjoy mint/chocolate. More for me
Happy Birthday!
I can’t remember when I started reading your blog but I’m pretty sure I found you through Amalah. I have one son (in between the age of your younger two) and I definitely can’t wait for him to start reading the Harry Potter books. I am sad I can’t buy the HP books for my Kindle. I am not fond of the chocolate mint combination… Chocolate and cinnamon though is delightful!
After Pottermore launches you’ll be able to buy the e-books through that website and there’s no DRM so you’ll be able to read them on the Kindle. HOWEVER, if you read them on the site, you get to interact with some of the new content she’s going to add! YAY! (What? I’m dorking out, aren’t I?)
Zoot! Happy Birthday!! I found you thru Amalah and I stayed because I love your style. You gave me to courage to try cake poppers, which I LOVE. I am inspired by your down to earth parenting style and how you seem very “normal”. I hope you have a great day!
Thanks, Cheryll. And I know exactly what you mean by “normal” and consider it a great compliment b/c those are my favorite bloggers are the ones that seem normal!
Happy Birthday! I found you “before Nikki” through someone’s link list. Been reading, and enjoying, ever since. Thanks!!
Happy Birthday! I can’t remember when I started following you (its been many years now…), but I think I found you through Amalah. Thank you for your honest, refreshing voice. I can relate to so many things you write about… losing a parent, dealing with infertility, weight loss/gain. I also think you are hilarious! Thanks for always being such a bright spot in my week!
Happy Birthday Zoot!
I don’t remember how I found you, but I’ve been reading you for years – since before Nikki Z was born. My daughter is two weeks younger than Wes, and I love reading how you handle your ups and downs because I go through many of the same things and it makes me realize that we’re all muddling through this “kid” thing the best we know how. Plus my kid isn’t the only one doing XYZ and I’m not scarring her for life! As for mint and chocolate, I love it!! Have you tried the new mint/chocolate Oreo? It’s amazing!
Happy Birthday! I found your blog some time ago via either Amy at Amalah or Linda at Sundry. Can’t remember. Nonetheless, you rock! I hope your day awesome!
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading you for several years on the recommendation of my now 30yo daughter. We both read you every day and love your insights!
Happy Birthday! I think I found you through Amalah, it had to have been at least 6 or 7 years ago. I don’t comment a lot, but I read every entry. Love the photos!
Happy birthday!! I have no idea how I found you but I’ve been reading your blog for about 6 years now. I’m a librarian-in-progress (graduating with my MLIS in December), in a happy relationship, not married and no kids yet but hopefully in the next few years. Love Harry Potter and love those pictures! (And mint chocolate is good in ice cream, not in anything else.)
Happy Birthday! No clue when or how I began reading your blog. Something about me? I am a huge UGA fan and every time you mention Tennessee or Alabama, I get a little queasy!
Happy Birthday! I’ve read for a little over a year, but am never a commenter. I found you from a link on another blog (don’t know which at this point) and am delurking because you asked so nicely
I like reading about your family (and those of other bloggers) because it makes me think about how I’ll raise one of my own when I do have kids.
Happy Birthday! You are sharing this birthday with my awesome Brother Steve and his Wife Loraine! So Happy Day to all three of you. I enjoy reading the blogs of younger women and sharing your tips on parenting (and cooking and life in general) with my own three daughters. Plus I feel like your outlook on life helps keep me young!
Happy Birthday! May it begin the best year yet!
I don’t remember when or how I started reading your blog. I love reading about your kiddo’s, my middle guy is nearly the same age as Nikki so I often find that our parenting stories and trials relate! I love your sense of humor about it! And I bought the ingredients to try cake balls this week!
Happy birthday!! I happened upon your blog this year and I’m so glad I did. I appreciate your candor and I enjoy following your exercise and weight loss journey. I am training for my first sprint triathlon this fall and have lost 10 pounds along the way.
Happy Birthday!
Hi,
I just recently found your blog. Temerity Jane had the link, I think. Something about me….. I was a single mom for 12 years, until I married my husband. He has a son. So now I’m a 40 year old married mom to two boys, Alex-16 and Jeffrey-11. When Alex was born I would have never imagined that I would enjoy my teenager as much as I do. He’s just the greatest kid. It’s been tough having a blended family, but Jeffrey and I are finding our way. He’s a terrific kid, too. We are really lucky….all four of us….to have found each other. Oh, my husband is pretty terrific, too. It’s both of our first marriages, so we’re all new to this! I like to read and take pictures and hang out with the family…espeically camping. I like taking care of us, it’s the best gig ever.
I will be seeing Harry Potter Saturday morning at 9:30…..3D IMAX! Very excited.
Love your story. Love the picture.
Happy birthday!!!
HBD Miss Zoot! Let’s see, I’ve been reading you since…well, before Nikki, I think
I always look forward to reading your blog because you are so honest about everything and I love your book rec’s. You writing has really evolved over the years and it’s been really great to “watch” you find your voice, both as a writer and as a woman. I think you’re pretty dang awesome & wish I lived closer, because I’d totally stalk you until you became my friend 
Happy Birthday! I found your blog years ago, but can’t remember how exactly. My daughter is about six months older than NikkiZ (I think) and my twin boys are about a year older than Wes (I think). My kids often have some of the same fashions from Target that I see Nikki and Wes wearing in your pics! Also, I grew up in East Tennessee (about an hour from Knoxville) so I have that connection as well (Go Vols!).
Happy Birthday! A friend of mine had me check you out while you were pregnant with your youngest and I’ve been here ever since. I enjoy mint and chocolate as a combo most of the time but prefer mostly just chocolate by itself cuz why mess with a good thing.
Happy Birthday!
I’ve been a daily reader since Nikki was born and have 2 kids the ages of your younger ones. And we just added a 16 year old to our household (fostering for remainder of HS), so I’m even more enamored with your blog as of late. In fact, I refer to you as my ‘favorite blogger’ when I’m conveying something I read to my husband. After years of it, he now says, ‘oh, you mean Miss Zoot…’.
Wow, so many comments! I’m going to comment now and come back to read later.
I know you from your blog, but am also a FB “friend.” I think I found you because another blog I was reading mentioned you (how’s that for fame?).
Something about me… would you mind several things? I grew up in Maine, but have lived in Colorado ever since I came out here as a newlywed to go to grad school. I have 3 grown kids (26, 23, and almost 21) and one adorable 7 month-old grandson. I was laid off at the end of May and found another job almost immediately, which is a long commute (1 hour, 45 min when traffic is going smoothly), but they’ve assured me I can work from home several days a week — which I did for the first time yesterday, and am doing agan today!
OK, mint chocolate…. First anything chocolate is *usually* a good thing (there are sometimes bad chocolate combos, or poorly executed recipes, but if it’s got chocolate, that’s a plus). There’s a good reason why the “thin mints” have been the best selling Girl Scout cookies for so long (whether they are *now* or not). While most of the time I prefer my chocolate plain and dark (and low sugar), mint chocolate is a pretty sweet combination.
P.S. I hope you like the FB pic I left for you! Even though it’s not mint chocolate (we’ll just pretend it is).
I read your blog every day. Happy birthday! Now to the requested gift…
A) Tell me how you know me
– I think I first read your blog from some sort of mommy-blogger list. It was a long time ago. I added you to my reading list, and that’s that!
B) Tell me something about yourself
– I am extremely picky about my coffee, but yet also drink it by the gallon
C) Debate the merits of the mint/chocolate combination.
– I hate, loathe, despise and in all other ways detest mint, so a mint/chocolate combination is a sad waste of chocolate!
Hi, I’ve been reading you for years, but I rarely comment. I don’t even remember how I found you, but I’ve enjoyed keeping up with you and your family
I currently live in CO, but am from Austin, TX.
And duh, I forgot to say Happy Birthday!!!
I think I ended up at your site from a comment on Dooce’s, and I’ve stuck around because you always have an interesting perspective, great stories and fab pictures.
I live in Canada, am not a Mum or wife, yet enjoy reading about your adventures with your family and seeing your kids grow, you are inspiring more than you realize.
Is there anyway you can go wrong with mint and chocolate? If there is, I haven’t found it yet.
Hope you have a great birthday! *hugs*
I’ve been reading for YEARS, and have absolutely loved watching your family grow into its current form. I love reading you because you’re virtually always positive, loving, and damned funny. Thank you, so much, for sharing your world.
Happy birthday Kim!
I’ve been following your adventures since you were pregnant with Nikkiz. Oh, adventures in boob sweat!
I like andes mints. Mint choc chip ice cream is ok. York peppermint patties are also pretty Yum. That’s it for my love of mint/choc.
Your son is pretty awesome, but you seem pretty awesome too… so I guess the apple doesn’t fall far?
Have a great day, lady.
I have read you for years…YEARS and I think that the reason I started (Though I can’t remember how exactly I stumbled across your site) coming back was your love of Harry Potter.
By the way….Mint and chocolate? DELISH!
Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Happy Birthday! I started following you through Amalah and you are the person who got me hooked on Pioneer Woman. I follow you on FB, Twitter, and Pinterest–yes, I’m a social media stalker LOL! I really enjoy reading your blog because you are so real and honest. I can identify more with you than any other blogger I read. =)
Happy Birthday
I’ll answer all the questions you asked: I’m not sure how I found your blog way back when, but I’m SO glad that I did. I got pregnant (and managed to stay that way after multiple miscarriages!) a few months after you got pregnant with NikkiZ and then my son was born about a month after she was; my niece is very close in age to E. Aside of loving your personality, I’ve gotten such good advice on books, things that the kids in my life would love…
Something about me… I’m a former (maybe future?) elementary teacher, homeschooling my son for kindergarten, and aspire to make enough money to support my beading habit by selling on etsy.
And finally: Mint + chocolate = true love!
Happy Birthday, im not even sure how I found your site. But I read it daily!! And something about myself…im the only girl and youngest child in a family of 9
Happy Birthday!!! Here’s to the best day ever! =)
I started following you ages ago — I love your fun style and how you freely admit parenting mistakes (that we all make, but always feel like the only one who could be that much of a horrible parent!). =) I love that you share your family pictures with us…and I’m jealous of how beautiful your photography always is! And thank you for introducing me to Pinterest….my new source of hours of time wasting! Oh…and also for Hunger Games. I started the first book based on your glowing reviews of the series…and finished all of them in a weekend. Loved them! =)
And chocolate and mint is the best combination EVER!!
Thanks for all you do and for sharing your lives with us!
Julie
Hello – I’m a long time lurker from London, UK. I’ve been reading since – oh, since E was tiny and before you were married. I love your writing, and really enjoy listening to your stories about your life and family. It’s been a privilege to watch your family grow.
On mint / choc: eh, I could take it or leave it.
Happy birthday! Mx
Happy birthday Kim! I found you sometime between Nikki and Wes. I can’t remember how, probably by following a trail of links. I also follow you on twitter (rlmoore1) and Pinterest (Rebecca L.)
Ok, a little about me. I am a single mom and have been divorced about a year and a half. I live in Kansas, love to read about anything I can get my hands on, knit, and travel when I have the time and money. Reading about your struggles with binge eating and getting in shape has been enlightening. I really need to stop waiting for my “moment” and just keep plugging toward my fitness goals! Thanks!
How I ‘know’ you: when I first starting getting into blogs, I started w/ all the ones my g-friend read- of which you were one; that was around the time of Baby-AndyZ (now he’s so big! And doesn’t go by that name anymore! How time flies!)
Something about me: I’m training for a 1/2 marathon this fall- and you are my inspiration!
Mint = good
chocolate = great
mint + chocolate = gross
Your HP tribute photo/recreation rocks! Yay Kim and E for sharing a passion for books- and a passion for goofiness!
Hi! Happy birthday! I comment occasionally, been reading for about two years. I’m pretty sure I found you on Amalah’s blog.
I’ll confess this, even if it makes me sound like a weirdo. A long time ago, I had a dream I was babysitting your kids, but they wouldn’t talk to me because I didn’t know their real names. So I had to call you (you were at the preschool for some reason) but I didn’t know *your* real name either, so no one could find you. Eventually your husband came home, and he assured me that *no one* knew their names so it was no big deal. Weirdest dream ever for sure.
Happy Birthday, Zoot! I am also pretty sure I found you through Amalah, but that was a LONG time ago.
I’ve so appreciated all your posts about the loss of your dad – I lost my Mom very suddenly to aggressive uterine cancer right around the same time, and the things you wrote were so much of what I was feeling. I always wanted to email you and thank for posting, but I’m a dork.
Happy Birthday. I’m a long-time reader and pretty frequent commenter. I found google reader because of a recommendation by you, and I learned to embrace my love of YA fiction. (Some day I hope to hear that you read the Dairy Queen trilogy.)
I live in Minnesota. My sons are 24 and 21 and I am turning 50 in 4 days.
Mint and chocolate is good but peanut butter and chocolate is better!
Happy birthday! I found your blog via Jen Lancaster’s blogroll. Been a fan for a couple of years now. My kids are the same ages as your younger two. I enjoy comparing notes on parental hijinx and find your easygoing style inspiring. Hope you have a great day!
Happy birthday, cutie. Found you when I first started blogging many moons ago and wanted to see what other bloggers were up to. I’ve been back every day since cuz you’re that good! Goooooooooooooo, HP! love the pix of you two — I really love reading about your relationship with your oldest, it’s a cool thing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kim! I believe I found your blog wayyyy back in the day from a link on My Tiny Kingdom by Anne Glamore. Been here ever since!
Erin! I just finally accepted your friend request on FB. I don’t accept any until I go make sure it’s not someone trying to steal my photos (Had a big problem a few months back with that) and when you left this comment I was thinking, “OH! I need to go accept her! She’s not stealing my pictures
) Sorry it took me so long!
Thanks for stopping by on my birthday!
Haha! Nope, not stealing photos. We used to be friends on facebook, but I lost a bunch of people to some glitch. Enjoy your special day
Hi ! Michelle , read every weekday at lunch , love the old Lance thin mint chocoalte cookies
dang, woman, you haven’t changed a bit!!!
chocolate & mint is just about as good as chocolate & peanut butter. BUT!!! If it’s ice cream (mint chocolate chip, for example), the ice cream must be white,,,and if it’s a chocolate covered mint, the inside must be white. Dunno why, just is!
Happy Birthday
I was trying to explain to the hubby the other day where I first “met” you. I *think* it was Twitter, but it seems like it was before that. Somewhere in there I found you on Flickr, but didn’t follow you because you post a lot of pictures of your kids and I didn’t know you and didn’t want to creep you out. Then, for sure, I followed you on Twitter. That was probably my “add everyone I can find in Huntsville” brainstorm. From there I found your blog. I’ve been reading it ever since. I have no idea for how long. A year? Maybe two? It all kind of runs together these days. : )
And then I introduced myself and the rest is history!
Mint and chocolate. Vital and brilliant. A+
Happy Birthday! I found you through my friend IRL the lovely Amalah way way back in the day before Nikki was born. I read exactly three blogs every single day: yours, Amy’s & Sundry’s. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream but yesterday someone gave me mint chocolate GUM and let’s just say I did not enjoy that. At all. Please visit DC so we can be friends in real life, too. xoxo
Hey Zoot! I have been reading for years!! I found you through Amalah…. and I stick around because I just love you and the way you keep it real. I love mint and chocolate….but maybe not in the form of a cake popper so much…..
Happy Birthday!!!
xoxo
Hi! Found your blog through Amalah – I have a very quite part-time job where I spend most of the time on the internet reading blogs! I am a mom of 2, with #3 on the way. Hate mint, so I don’t like it with chocolate at all.
We “met” virtually and talked on the phone when you hired me to write the American Idol blog for 451 Press. I’ve followed your blog since that time. I may be one of your only faithful male (and childless) followers.
As far as the mint/chocolate combo … can we just say Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies? You’re welcome.
I think I found your blog when you were linked by someone else’s blog…Amalah, maybe? I think you two were the first blogs I started reading regularly. I’m a huge fan of the mint and chocolate combo, this is one of my favorite recipes: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-mint-bars-10000001714574/ and I like mint so much, I put in 2 tsp of mint extract instead of the puny 1/2 tsp! It tastes like what would happen if a brownie and a peppermint patty had a baby. A delicious baby!
Happy Birthday, Kim! I found you through Amalah, too. Nikki was less than one. I thought she was the cutest little thing I had ever seen. I was a struggling stay-at-home mom and I appreciated your honesty about how un-perfect life is…still do appreciated that honesty. Yours is the only blog I read on a daily basis anymore. I can’t tell you how much you and your family mean to me, which sounds really weird since we’ve never met.
I hope you have a wonderful day!! The pictures are awesome!
I am here because you’re adorable and funny and have cute kids.
I don’t really know you but I think I found you through a Google Reader Reccomender.
I have a two-year-old son who is kicking my ass with defiance and tantrums and tears so I’m so glad to hear that Wes is maturing and more manageable in such a concrete way.
Mint chocolate is the absolute bomb.
Happy Birthday, Zoot! I’ve been lurking around here since around 2005 maybe through Amalah? Don’t remember, but I’ve been reading faithfully ever since. Your bootcamp posts have inspired me to start Crossfit – so thanks for that! I have two kids, 8 and 3, and I just finished reading the whole HP series to the 8yo. My favorite ice cream flavor is Ben and Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Cookie – mint and chocolate rocks!
Happy Birthday! I have no idea how I found you but I feel like I have been reading you forever. I love me some Miss Zoot
Did that sound creepy? I promise I am not creepy.
Happy Birthday, Kim!
A) I’ve been reading you for at least 6 years…definitely before Nikki was born. In those early years, you once responded to my question about how many WW points were in a Cadbury Creme Egg (Answer: 4) and we’ve been kindred spirits ever since
B) I’m Canadian, so some of the phrases you use in your writing delight me to no end. Things like “PUT UP the clothes, throw out the TRASH and push the BUGGY at the store.”
C) Chocolate-mint for the win!
I love that pic you re-created of you and E. I’ve been dying to re-create a studio picture I had taken of my three about thirteen years ago. Think you’ve given me the inspiration to get it done.
Happy Birthday!
a) I’ve been reading your blog forever b) Roughly your age, I’m married w/ no kids but have cats and a horse of which I train and compete in 3 day eventing on c) love the mint chocolate combo (my husband doesn’t so more for me!!) I have plans to try out your latest recipe soon
Happiest of birthdays to you! I have no idea how I came across your blog, but it was nearly two years ago I’d guess. My kids are just a bit younger than yours, but Nikki reminds me tremendously of my daughter. I comment sporadically, but I read daily.
Happy Birthday Kim!!! I only know you from your awesome blog. I started reading your blog when you were pregnant with Wes. Actually I can remember the first post I ever read! (This probaly makes me sound like a creepy stalker, but I promise I’m harmless!) It was the post when you were camping at the botanical gardens (?) when you were VERY far along. I came across your blog through another blog I was reading at the time. I just thought that you were so refreshing. I loved how honest you always are and truly strive to be a good mom, wife, person! You are always looking for ways to better yourself and even though I think you are already pretty awesome, your constant dedication to yourself and your family is inspiring. And you are a FANTASTIC writer. You have the ability to capture your thoughts and feelings and put them into perfectly flowing words. And so much of what you write about I can relate to. I had my son when I was 18 in a relationship that didn’t work out. I married when my son was 8 and tried to get pregnant and after a year of trying found out I have stage 4 endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. I know fertility hell. And food struggle hell. And you put all of my feelings here and make sense of them! It just amazes me. Somedays I just nod my head the whole time I’m reading and then I call my sister and read it to her and we talk about how awesome you are.
And mint/chocolate is pretty freakin awesome if you ask me. For some reason I think eating mint and chocolate makes the chocolate seem a little more healthier! hee hee See, I have totally warped food ideas…
Have a great birthday Zoot.
Happy Birthday! Your son is just plain AWESOME! My 4 year old daughter just watched the first Harry Potter and LOVED IT! She is counting down until the weekend when we can watch it again. a) I have been reading your blog for a few years I think b) I am 43 ish
with a 4 year old and an almost 1 year old and c) love chocolate – not so much with mint. Your blog is always a MUST READ when it pops up on my reader!
Happy birthday! I love Harry Potter and things that are chocolate mint.
I started reading you back in 2004 or 2005, I think, following a link from Amalah.
Hey there — I just linked to your blog for the first time right this very moment due to the Harry Potter post on Offbeat Mamas about you and your son. I loved the post, I loved the photo and now I think I might love your blog.
I’m 4ish months pregnant and absolutely cannot wait to share Harry Potter with my kid! I love seeing proof that it can happen successfully.
Mint and chocolate very much belong together. Just like peanut butter and chocolate. Mint, chocolate *and* peanut butter do NOT belong together.
Happy birthday!
Anne (Zaftig Chick)
Happy birthday! I think I also found you originally through a link from Amalah… but lord only knows. This was probably 5 years ago? Long before Wes was born and back when E was still LilZ
PS. Whoops, forgot to ask… WHERE do you get the fab HP tees??
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you have a fabulous day and a fantastic year!
Your blog is one of the very first ones I started reading when I discovered blogs all those years ago. I’ve been reading since before you had Nikki. Sorry that I rarely comment! Thanks for writing all of this time and for sharing your wonderful pictures. I always look forward to seeing what you are up to.
I love, love, love Harry Potter too. I think it’s so awesome how you’ve bonded with your son over the books and movies. He’s one amazing kid! What great pictures to have.
So…a bit about me…hmmm…well, I’m 33 and I’ve lived in Chicago for about 5 years. Before that I lived in northern Michigan. I just got married in May to the guy I’ve been with for 15 years. We had the wedding in Jamaica which was so. much. fun. No kids, just two super spoiled cats.
And I LOVE the mint/chocolate combination. It’s my absolute favorite ice cream flavor. And my favorite candy would be York Peppermint Patties. I’m totally making those cookies and the cookie poppers!
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading your blog since before Nyoka was born, and I have to say that I smile every time I see my reader updated with a blog update from you. Your posts always make me smile, and I love reading about your trials and tribulations as a mom/athlete/baker extraordinaire. And for the record, mint and chocolate are delicious together!
Happy birthday!
I think I followed a link from Amalah around 5 years ago and have loved you ever since. My best friend is named Kim and she lives in Mobile so the Alabama connection intriqued me in the beginning but your wonderful writing kept me coming back for more.
I read every day and even though I comment very infrequently your blog makes me smile.
Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday (and happy Harry Potter day) to you! I “know” you from the time I was writing for 451 Press. I have read your blog daily every since. I, too, have a teen who I have bonded with over the Harry Potter books for the last 10 years of his life so I feel a real kinship with you there. He was five when I read the first two books to him. He and my younger son have both become avid readers and I give about 80% of the credit of that to Harry Potter (and the rest to a wonderful elementary school that encouraged reading). We are actually going to our first midnight premiere tonight. We’ve been unable to do that before because he was either spending the summer with his dad or had band commitments at school so we’re very, very excited for tonight. We’ve been marathoning the movies all day today.
Enjoy your birthday!!
Happy birthday!! I really have no idea how long I’ve been reading your blog. It’s been a long time though.
I love chocolate and mint as long as they are in the right balance.
Happy Birthday!
I ‘met’ you when you were trying to conceive Nikki. I think I found you when searching for blogs on multiple losses (such as I had). Your kids are also around the same age as mine, and I have both a boy and a girl as well. SO thankful to put that part of my life behind me.
I keep reading because I have many similar interests. I look forward to reading in the afternoon.
As for mint and chocolate? My favourite combination!
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading since Nikki was a baby–I followed a link from Fluidpudding’s sidebar back then, and have stayed ever since! Love your blog and love your kids. E is one of a kind. I love him. I think he’s going to be an extraordinary adult.
Have a wonderful day and year!
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading you a long time. I like your honesty and can relate to your struggles.
Congratulations with your birthday. I don’t know how i found you, but i started reading your blog when you we’re trying to get pregnant with nikkiZ. Loved the stories about not so little anymore LittleZ. And your honesty. When you were pregnant after NikkiZ and lost the baby i was pregnant too. I weeped for you and for myself because i couldn’t “share” this pregnancy with you.
I live in Europe, in the Netherlands. I have two boys (three including their father) , work a almost full-time job and i love the idea of doing boot camp like you do but i’m to lazy and they don’t offer them here. I could get up early and go running myself, but… nah… Mint Chocolate combinations, i don’t know. I used to love after eight mints, but haven’t had them for years. My oldest recently had an chocolate-mint ice-cream, i didn’t hate it…
Happy birthday! I have only recently started reading your blog, but I’ve slogged through some archives and love what I’ve found – I honestly can’t wait to make myself some Firecrackers and those chocolate covered mint-chocolate things, MMM!! The mint/chocolate combination is one of my favorites, probably second only to the coconut/chocolate combination. Also, amazing photos, that is so cool!
Hi Kim! Happy Birthday!
I followed a link over from Amalah site about the time you were pregnant with Nikki. I have been reading ever since. I grew up in Tucson and was away for many years and your wonderful pictures and fondness for beauty of our desert made me love you. I also felt connected to you because I lost my father when he decided to not continue with dialysis (with additional medical issues) about the same time you lost your father. You posts on the ups and downs of your grief resonated with me.
Thank you for those posts.
So back to the fun Happy Birthday stuff….I love mint and chocolate, but I like the chocolate to be thin and crispy when in ice cream. Just sayin’
A) Tell me how you know me been reading your blog forever it seems. You once designed my blog page for me. Sadly it is gone as well crap happens and life went topsy turvy and I wasn’t able to keep it up. But it was so beautiful!!!
B) Tell me something about yourself I used to comment almost every day!! then well like I said things went crazy and I wasn’t on the computer as much. Now things are good, I have a wonderful job at a non profit in New Orleans called the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation which is part of the musicians’ clinic and just soaking up all the music I can. I have thankfully been able to start reading some the blogs I used to read daily and yours was the first I came back too!!!
or C) Debate the merits of the mint/chocolate combination. Do you love it? Hate it? Discuss I love and now I want mint chocolate anything. Maybe ice cream. But I am not gonna do it….must be good…..
A)Hmm… I think I got onto your blog a year ago with some entry about work/parenting balance? I remember it was a great essay on one of those hot-button topics, but amusingly what makes me love your blog is generally very different content from what I remember coming for. I came here from… amalah? Sundrymourning? Not sure. Have stayed for so many reasons! Haven’t commented much lately because I’m doing well to sneak in blog-reading time right now, but I am still reading and enjoying! Thanks!
B)Um… the first movie my husband and I will see this year, our first date this year, will be HP… so, yay! But I hate the crowds, so no opening night for us. I was very excited that E went along for the pic – that’s awesome, as is the other on your flikr stream.
C)Mint and chocolate is always good, although I’m not as much of a fan of the whole green food coloring requirement. Weird, I know.
Happy birthday!
(Hoover, AL)
You were one of the very first blogs I ever heard of or read. I love the mint/chocolate combination. I also love that you two did that photo. Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!!!!! How awesome is it that they arranged the release date of HP to make it the perfect end to your birthday
I found your blog sometime while you were pregnant with Wes, and have been far to chicken to leave a comment, but for your birthday I’ll pretend to have the confidence and put myself out there and say Hi!
Hope you have a great day!
p.s love your photo’s, posts and well everything here really
Just delurking to wish you a happy birthday! I REALLY enjoy reading your blog, you are so very normal its refreshing (well except for your crazy boot camp, that is NOT normal) I have loved MANY of your book recommendations and I would love to have the awesome relationship with my kids when they hit teenagerhood as you do with E….
Happy Bday!
Happy Birthday!
In honor of your birthday, I’ll get over myself and just comment already…
A) Tell me how you know me
I stumbled upon your blog a few years ago and am a faithful reader! Doesn’t matter the topic, I always enjoy your site.
(B) Tell me something about yourself
I live in Washington, DC and am getting married in a little less than 4 months!
or C) Debate the merits of the mint/chocolate combination
Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is THE BEST!!!
I really hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Hello and happy birthday! I have no idea how long I’ve been reading your blog or how I stumbled on it, but I’m so glad I did! I do know I was reading well before NikkiZ but I’m only an occasional commenter. I love reading about your life and family and pets and projects and frustrations and give you a huge thumbs up! Know what else gets a thumbs up? Mint + Chocolate!!! I just snacked on some Junior Mints, in fact. And by snacked, I mean ate half a jumbo box. And now I am chewing some gum to avoid devouring the rest of the box.
That is an awesome you’re raising there!!
and happy birthday!!
I found you years ago through Amalah, I think. I have 2 year old triplets and read about 12 blogs everyday just to have a little me time.
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday!
I admit, I have no idea when I started reading you but probably sometime in 2005 when I fell into the world of blogging. I worked at a library and spend many an afternoon browsing the internet because I couldn’t justify reading a book. That’s pretty sad, actually. That SHOULD be a librarian’s job, but it’s not!
I work from home now, for a cloth diaper company. It’s pretty awesome! I have an almost three year old, as well.
I lived in the South for about three months in 2009, and I drove through Slidell once and remembered that you mentioned being there a couple of times. We knew absolutely no one there, so you were the only person I “knew” and that actually sounds kind of creepy! I would move back to MS/AL in a heartbeat but I do love Colorado!
Also, I want my son to be as AWESOME as E is when he’s 16. Kudos to you for having a son and staying close to him!
Happy Birthday, Kim!!!
A) I can’t remember how I found you, but it was long before NikkiZ was a glimmer in her daddy’s eye.
B) I live in a bedroom suburb of Washington, DC, and I recently celebrated my 50th birthday.
C) While chocolate and peppermint in ice cream aren’t my favorite (I adore caramel with my chocolate), I do enjoy Junior Mints and York Peppermint Patties occasionally.
Keep up the good work, Kim! You’ve got a loyal horde of followers.
Happy Birthday, Kim!
I have been reading your blog since 2006. I believe I stumbled upon it through Rockstar Mommy’s old site? I recently had my first child in March. I am a former teacher, but stay home (for now) with my baby girl.
And mint + chocolate = delish.
Happy birthday!!
I think I found you through Amalah, way back when you were pregnant with NikkiZ and she was pregnant with Noah. So I’ve been lurking a long time.
I love how honest you are — thanks for giving us all a peek into your life. 
And as for mint/chocolate: Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with creme de menthe in college that pretty much ruined mint-flavored sweets for me. But before that, I loved it. I still miss loving mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Happy birthday!! I started reading your blog a loooong time ago, I think I found you through Amalah’s somehow. I dunno. It’s all a blur. Anyway, a lil something about me – your birthday is sandwiched in between my wedding (last week) and my own birthday (next week).
Have a great day!
HI!! I am here (and always am, but almost always in a reader). Sorry I didn’t see this until so late in the day. But, now I am thinking I will be close to comment 300, so that is pretty cool.
First off…the pictures. They make me happy deep down in my soul. Especially since you actually had them professionally taken. Just… joy. Also, I am in love with your “Always” shirt! I NEED ONE.
Also, I should toss in a happy birthday. I am also jealous that you get to see the new HP on your birthday. Talk about working out in your favor!
Finally, just wanted to say thanks for linking to my HP post of Henry
It make me happy to see the link 
PS. Mint chocolate. Best combo ever. Have you had the mint dibbs? HEAVEN.
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading you for years now, can’t remember how I found you, maybe Amalah? (who I found while googling the octopus on the Wiggles, NO LIE). I’m following you on Pinterest too and am completely addicted. Hope you have a fantastic day!!
Happy Birthday! I’ve been reading for as long as I can recall, found you through another blogger once upon a time. Amalah, perhaps?
Oh Zoot. Happy birthday. You were my gateway blog. I found you through a random google search back in 2005 and it was through your link page that I found some amazing blogs and made some amazing friends. ( Rockstar Mommy, oh the memories )
So I really have you to thank for where I am in the blogosphere today. Without your blog, who knows what my life would be like now?
Also, we’ve met in person and how many people can say that? Probably only three dozen or so.
And I love mint and chocolate together. Especially in ice cream form.
Happy Birthday!
I have no idea how I found your blog, but I’ve been reading since before NikkiZ was born.
I’m a married mother of two boys (17 and 20) from Connecticut. Jack has tickets to the 12:01 a.m. showing of Harry Potter. He just came to the realization that this is the end (and he’s not happy about it).
And I LOVE chocolate and mint together!
It’s been ages, so I really have no idea how I started! I too may have come via Amalah via Rude Cactus or something like that! But many, many moons, anyhow, and it’s been great to see your kids growing up, and seeing you grow as well! You’re a total rock star, and you encourage me
Happy Birthday!!! And because it’s your birthday, I will answer all THREE of your questions!
A) I’ve been a reader for a loooong time now. I found your blog pre-Nikki… like so many other people, I think through Amalah (who I found through her husband’s local food blog back in the day).
B) I am currently going through a very similar weight loss (or lack thereof) journey as you seem to be right now. Every time you write about your struggles, I want to shout “ME TOO!” Those posts have made me feel so much better, knowing someone else is going through similar struggles. (I could single-handedly take down a box of cereal or pint of ice cream in one night, if I let myself. I think you get that.)
C) I love mint and chocolate together… we even had mint chocolate ice cream at our wedding! I’ve starred your mint chocolate cookie poppers in my Google Reader because I must find some time to make those.
I am just a blogger follower. I stumbled upon you right before you got married and have stayed glued ever since. I have watched you and your family grow, cheered you from the sidelines and really think in person we could be friends. And I love your Chicken Buffalo Dip!!!
Happy birthday, Zoot!
I’ve been reading your blog for years (since Nikki was a baby) and I think I found you through Amalah. I remembered liking your blog especially when I found out you were from East Tennessee (me too!) and went to Catholic school (me too!).
So, my thoughts on the mint-chocolate combo: I LOVE IT. It’s one of my all time favorites. I just made some mint-chocolate cupcakes the other day, and I didn’t have any food coloring for the icing, so it looked white. I kept feeling the need to WARN people that they were mint-chocolate, not, like, chocolate with vanilla icing, because I know there are some crazy folks out there who don’t like mint chocolate. Insanity!
Anyway, I hope you are having a FABULOUS birthday! Love the pictures of you and your son — so awesome.
Happy Birthday!!
My name is Kim, as well. I.. don’t really remember how I found you, but I’ve been reading here since pre-Nikki Z. I love reading your blog, and really enjoy your writing style. Hmm… Something about me… I’m obsessed with Harry Potter and Twilight, and am planning on getting a Harry Potter tattoo (thinking the Deathly Hallows symbol) once I hit my first weight loss goal in 18 pounds!
I LOVE mint and chocolate together. It’s very refreshing. I’m not a big chocolate fan, so the mint really helps me enjoy it.
I’m Erin! I live in Georgia. I want to put plates on my walls after seeing yours
Happy Birthday, KimZoot!!!!
Well, let’s see. I don’t reeeeaallly “know” you but have been reading since right right after you got married I believe and found you through a comment you left on Amalah’s blog (maybe? it could have been Sundry?? or who the hell knows) and have been a loyal Zoot fan ever since.
Something about me…..oh! This is a biggie. I am expecting my very first BABY. He’s due October 19th woohoo!
And as far as mint and chocolate go. Well, I mean, come on. What’s not to love???? (ESPECIALLY if we’re talking Mint Milano Cookies…..oh yummmmmmmmmmm.)
I have to ask, was the photographer totally unphased by your mother/soon Harry Potter photo shoot (I imagine most have seen so many things..um AwkwardFamilyPhotos anyone?..that not much really strikes them as amusing anymore) or did he/she look at you with a lil’ bit of a head tilt?? I LOVE that picture by the way. I think E holding the stuffed (is that…Scabbers??) really sells it.
Happy birthday Zoot! Sending you best wishes from Ireland x
Happy Birthday! I honestly don’t remember how I came upon your blog, but it’s been a few years now. You’re one of my faves to read every day. We have a lot in common with our love of Harry Potter & YA books. I’ve read some great ones thanks to your recommendation so, thanks for that!
I love the pics. E seems like such a great kid. I hope my son {will be 5 in Oct} will grow up to be as well-adjusted & cool as E.
Have a great time at the midnight showing tonight! Hubs & I are going Saturday afternoon. Can’t wait!
Oh…. and I love mint/chocolate chip.
Hi Kim-
it’s Valerie from hsv. I always read and never comment…but since you asked and it’s your birthday. Even though I never leave comments I must tell you how much I thoroughly love reading your posts and looking at all the awesome pictures you take. Keep up the good work! Maybe we’ll see you at the premiere tonight!!
Happy Birthday! I’ve commented a couple times. I lived in Hsv for a while and worked with Ronda and found your blog through her blog, you know when she actually was blogging. I also have 2 kids the ages of your youngest 2 and i think I found you before you had Wes. I enjoy reading about Hsv stuff and looking at your pictures. I LOVE the mint/chocolate combination.
I have no idea if you’re still reading comments, but Happy Birthday! I think I found you from Amalah, but I kept reading because I’m from Huntsville. When I started reading I was living in Macon for law school. I’ve since moved back here. I keep thinking that some day I’m going to just run into you somewhere (not to be weird and stalker-ish) but it hasn’t happened.
I also love HP, and I’m also interested in staying motivated to exercise and lose weight. I really look forward to your blog every day. Many others have fallen by the wayside for me.
Happy Birthday, and thanks for writing!
Happy Birthday!!! You have an amazing son. But you know that already
I found you on Twitter, and hopefully we can meet in person when this Huntsville blogger meetup thing goes down. (That hasn’t happened yet, has it? I’m horrible at keeping track of things lately.) And when I move to the south end of town, I plan on having blogger get-togethers where we can make all the awesome crafty things we see on Pintrest.
Happy Birthday, Kim! Sorry I’m slacking at the text buddy thing.
Happy Birthday! Um, I adore the mint/chocolate combination.
Happy Birthday, Zoot!
I have no idea how I found your blog; it was probably HP-related, though, because I’m rather sure it was around the summer of 2007. But I really liked it, so I kept reading.
A few things about myself:
1) I’m 17 years old and I’m moving to London, England all by myself in September, which is pretty cool.
2) Right this very moment as I am writing this comment, I’m sitting in our sunroom waiting to be able to leave to go to a midnight showing of Harry Potter. I’m wearing a Slytherin uniform and I’ve got a Slytherin scarf and I’ve drawn the Dark Mark on my arm (yes, I AM on Voldemort’s side–always have been for the nine years I’ve been reading HP). And I’m trying so hard to not cry until the movie has at least started, but I am failing SO miserably.
And just like you, I’m going to say…Thank You, Harry. For everything.
Happy Birthday!
I found you a few years ago (Nikki) had just been born via Amalah. I’ve been a daily-checker-in-bad-commenter ever since. I can’t tell you exactly WHY i keep coming back other than to say I love reading what you have to say. And I happen to have a 16-year old boy whose birthday is January 21 so we have that in common.
And as for mint and chocolate? NO WAY! Mint’s sole purpose is for toothpaste or breath mints. It ruins everything else.
OK…so my comment (right above) came out with some weird phrasing. I don’t know where the parentheses around Nikki’s name came from and she certainly was NOT born via Amalah. But I think you knew that.
Hi – I know you from finding your blog way back when you were either pregnent with Nikki or had just had her? I can’t remember! I think you may have posted something about your hair and I found it on Google, as I was always looking for better ways to care for my curly hair!
Then you inspired me to bring my blog over from Live Journal to WordPress, and the rest is history!
I absolutely love chocolate and mint to the point of obsession! Peppermint patties, chocolate chip mint ice cream, etc!
That? Is so awesome!
My pleasure! I think I started reading you while you were TTC and I was pregnant. Your younger children are close to my kids’ ages, so we hit milestones somewhat near each other.
Love your blog and your writing! Please keep it up!
Happy Birthday! I found you via another blogger who I can’t remember at the moment…I find that I read you first thing every morning since I know that you will always have a post! We are in Tucson and I find it interesting when you describe your visits…voyeur, anyone?
I love the photo–my boys are 6 and 15 mos. and I highly doubt they will be as tolerant of my dorky ways!
Mint + chocolate = awesome!
I’m Sarah. I have been reading your blog for a long time and always appreciated your candid writing about struggling with miscarriages. I found your blog at a time when I too was struggling to stay pregnant and now I have a 3 year-old and another on the way.
I didn’t check in for a year or so and one day I opened your blog and BAM! You were in a brand new house that was so pretty and well-decorated and your photos are gorgeous and you are a SAHM and seem so happy and content. It made me smile.
I really appreciate how openly and honestly you write about your life.
Happy Birthday! I love your posts and your weight loss journey is inspiring. Enjoy the movie.
I’ve been reading your blog for at least 4 years when I started googling infertility blogs and yours
and still read
Must have come up. Now I have 3 kids
Your blog daily!
I’m here! I usually read you on google reader but opened a new window just so I could comment. I don’t do that for just anyone. I enjoy your blog and have been reading for a while now. I talk to you on various mediums (Facebook, here, twitter when you’ve been on) and you may or may not know it is me since I no longer have a blog. I sometimes ask you Harry Potter questions. I envy your ability to wake up early and run. Tell you something about me? I often walk into things and trip over my own feet. I like mint chocolate chip and chocolate together in ice cream form. I’ve still never tried a cake pop except the nasty ones from Starbucks.
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY. In your honor, I’m going to see Harry Potter at midnight.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I am an avid reader but sadly just a bad commenter. I usually read through Reader and am not sure how I found you but I thoroughly enjoy the site. Love that E went and recreated that picture with you and love that HP premieres on your birthday – what a great present!!
Happy Birthday, Zoot! So, I’ve been a loyal reader for a good 6-7 years now. I came across the blog via Amalah years back. I stick around for your honesty, humbleness, and inspiration. What I love best is that you don’t present this catalog-perfection lifestyle, which, really, do people actually live like that?! Either way, I rarely, if ever comment, but am delurking to say that you have a fantastic community of people who read along with you daily. Here’s to another great year!
Happy Birthday! It’s my husband’s birthday too…do you get the happy Bastille day comment a lot too? I think you were recommended to me in my feed reader. I kept ignoring it and then one day I went to check it out (right around the time you were doing that trash/recycling experiment) and I’ve been reading ever since. I rarely comment although I have aspirations of starting my own blog someday so I should comment on other people’s blogs! I hope you had a great day
Hi, im Ashlea.
I used to be a regular commenter when I had a blog myself 4-5 years ago, but nowdays I just lurk. I love your posts. I have a 1yr old son, so I can relate to a lot of them. AND I feel more normal after reading some of your honest accounts of motherhood. I love that you bring the good and the bad out to be read by all. Not many people do that.
I now make videos instead of logging, and I think it is awesome! There is a fantastic mothering/pregnancy/TTC community on Youtube, and its so much easier to get to know somebody when you see them talk.
Hmmm, LOVE mint and chocolate. But I am trying very very hard not to think about them. My diet wouldn’t like it.
Happy birthday! Like so many others, I found you through Amalah and have been reading since 2006 or so. No kids, but I too struggle through half marathons, so I’m very proud if you and your fitness accomplishments. Have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday Zoot!
I don’t remember how I found you but you were pregnant with W and unemployed so…it has been a while.
I enjoy your cooking and baking adventures. I love that you keep it real and show the messes that come with cooking.
Your pictures are getting better and better – love them!
I admire your ability to wake up so early and do stuff in the morning. That is clearly a super power.
Happy Birthday again!
I’m Clancy, and you know how you know me! The picture is GREAT. And I hate chocolate mint.
Hey Zoot! I’ve been reading your blog for ages…a few years before you bought your first house. I loved your sense of humor and frequent posting, but also the fact that you were my age were working in GIS. I had taken a lot of GIS courses in getting my environmental science degree, and totally geeked out on the fact that a real person was working in that field. Don’t worry, I still love you even though you changed careers.
I have no idea how I found your blog, but your’s is the oldest that I still read. One of the earliest things I remember (although I think I had been reading for a while at this point) was when you got a girly, cruiser-style bike for Christmas, and posted pictures of you riding it around your apartment parking lot (in your jammies, maybe?). That made me so happy–I was like, I could hang with this chick.
I also liked the way you always talked about E, from very early on. Just the tone that you used made it clear that you had a great relationship with him, so I’m not surprised at all that he turned out as cool as he did. I rode through the TTC and miscarriage years with you. Rather just forget that part, but you gave me a lot of strength, being a miscarriage ahead of me and persevering. I ended up having a daughter about a year after you had Nikki, and a second daughter a year after you had Wes. So in a lot of ways, you’ve been like a virtual big sister!
So happy birthday! And Deathly Hallows midnight show on your birthday night?!?! Could there be a better present for you? Have an awesome time, girl, you rock!
Happy Birthday! My name is Kate and I have no idea how I started reading, but I’m guessing it was through Amalah, since that was the first blog I read and a lot of other commenters came here via her. I’m a huge fan of chocolate/mint in CANDY (like peppermint patties and the like) but I hate it everywhere else.
Happy Birthday! I found your blog through… someone elses’ blog? Years ago? I love the pictures and the kids and the recipes. I’m a recent college graduate, Californian ex-patriot, recently relocated to Oregon. And I got a job in my field of study today!!! Woo hoo!
Happy birthday, Kim! So here goes…found your blog about 6 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest son. Now I have a 2 year old girl and 5 month old “bonus baby”. Oh, and mint and chocolate is awesome. I need to make a batch of those poppers for myself!
Happy birthday! I have been reading here for what seems like forever. I think I started reading when you found my sister’s blog and made a generous donation to our MofD walk. I stuck around because you inspire me to try to be a better person, not perfect, just work on one thing at a time. And I have 2 16yr olds that I think are awesome and I love to see other people that think teens are cool!
I started reading you back when Amalah posted a link to your blog. I just kept coming back to look at your pictures and found myself cheering you on in your fertility challenges and just your posts in general. I guess it is kind of weird that I don’t know you, yet I have basically watched Nikki grow up and Lilz go from a little boy to a full fledged teen. I can say that I hope you know that by sharing your life you have endeared a lot of people to your family. What is even more weird is that I think of this blog every time I put a cart back in a cart rack (which I rarely did before)… You are changing parking lots everywhere one reader at a time…lol
My goodness that was a lot of comments to scroll through.
Ahem.
Happy Birthday!!!!! I believe you may have the most awesome teenage son EVER.
I can’t actually remember exactly how or when I found your blog…. but I’m sure it was sometime around 2007/8ish. I’m almost sure it was a random click through someone’s blogroll (does anyone have blogrolls anymore???).
Happy birthday! I think I found you when I was reading through Amalah’s archives a few years ago. And I stuck around, as we share a deep and abiding love for Harry Potter. I don’t think I can convey how excited I am to introduce Harry to my kids (age 2 & 5, so I need to wait a bit longer to read them the books). When reading your blog I also hope that I will have a relationship with my kids like you do with yours, particularly with E. That’s what I aspire to.
Something about me….something random and odd…hmm. Kids used to call me Webster (like the dictionary) in high school, because I was smart and could spell.
Mint & chocolate do not belong together EXCEPT for 2 places: in an After Eight chocolate, or in mint chocolate chip ice cream. Otherwise? Ick.
I don’t remember how I discovered your blog, but it was long ago. Nikki was a baby, and E was *really* LilZ, not an almost-adult. I love the photos of the two of you, but more than that I love the fact that he was willing to sit for the second one.
I’m another theatre mom, and my 16-year-old daughter (E’s future wife ) also reads your blog. We sometimes talk about your posts at the dinner table.
I love chocolate and mint together. And I hope you’ve had a most wonderful birthday.
I’m not sure how I found your blog, Kim, but I’ve been reading it for several years now, and I absolutely love it. So, thanks for sharing…
Chocolate and mint belong together. As a matter of fact, I went out to dinner tonight and had the mint chocolate sundae for dessert. YUM. Also, what are the chances that I would have that (I don’t think most restaurants offer that combo for dessert) on the day you are asking about it?
Happy Birthday! From one die-hard HP fan to another, have SO MUCH fun at the movie tonight, but please don’t spoil it for us less fortunate souls. It may be another week before I have time to go catch that, YARGH.
Happy Birthday Zoot!
I just realized that it is after 1am in your part of the world. That means that right now you will be watching the final HP film. I’m sure that you will love it. The final scene was awesome but really sad…I felt like i was farewelling an old friend.
I initially found your blog through the lovely banners you advertised on your blog? That was quite awhile ago and I continue to enjoy your blog each evening here in Melbourne, Australia.
I have 3 children (14, 18 and 20) and love reading about the adventures of your family. I completely relate to your struggle to keep up healthy eating habits. And the fact that I adore peppermint choc chip ice-cream does not help me at all in that quest!
Wait! It’s still Thursday here on the west coast! Well — almost…I’m five minutes past. Happy birthday! I’m not sure how I found your blog, and I’m also not sure when I started reading. Before NikkiZ was born. I remember a post where E was playing stand up bass (I think?) and another when you took him to a maroon 5 concert (I remember that because I thought/think that was AWESOME). Ohh and you were creating blog designs for other people as well.
My name’s marissa! And I love mint chocolate ice cream. And your blog!
Happy Birthday!
I’m German, mother of two and have been silently reading your blog for many years, way before I had kids myself, I can’t remember how I found you though – via Amalah perhaps?
I really love your writing (you’re so funny!) and especially the photography, also a hobby of mine. I appreciate that you do not pretend motherhood is always rainbows and unicorns – quite a rare thing among mommyblogs.
But come on! Mint and chocolate? Mint belongs in chewing gum and should not spoil perfectly good chocolate!
Happy Birthday, Kim.
I live in Northern Ireland and I think I forund you through Amalah. I have been reading for years now I think from before you became pregnant with NikkiZ!
Mint Chocolate – Yum!
happiest of birthdays to you, my dearest zoot…though i know it already had to be!
i know you b/c you tried to give anastasia a water birthing, but i decided to give you another chance anyway.
a little about me? well, i am pretty sure you are the one to initially thank for me and my girl’s love affair with all things Harry Potter (including just now returning from our final midnight premiere)…which leaves me FOREVER in your debt. and that’s only the beginning …i owe you, thank you and love you for so much more!
why i return day after day to your blog? that’s easy. it gives me insight into you and your awesome family that i can hardly do without…and never want to. i miss you all terribly, but your blog helps make it easier.
i love you…always.
Happy birthday! I don’t remember how I first got here, so I will say that I *love* mint and chocolate together.
No idea how I found your blog, but I loved it right away.It feels like I am sitting on the couch in your living room because you tell your life stories so well! The funniest part was figuring out that we both live in Huntsville.I had been reading for 2-3 weeks before I put that together. E is the most awesome teen I have seen in a while and those pictures are so good. The mint choc combo is ok to me but not my favorite. My kids are enjoying Hp now a days, so we will see the movie soon. Hope you had a great birthday!
I’m definitely here. And loving all that you do. I hope your birthday was The Greatest.
I’m here and have been here for years (since 2005, maybe?), commenting off and on under a variety of names. Happy birthday!
Mint chocolate chip is the best ice cream flavor ever invented anywhere and I will fight anyone who says different.
You were one of the first blogs I started reading. Before Nikki was born, but after you were pregnant… I think. Maybe when she was bitty. I honestly have no idea how I found you. I think I found Brit looking for quilting blogs (back when she had one kid and actually had time to quilt) and she led me to you. I’ve stopped reading almost any blogs as life has gotten busier, but you and Brit both survived that purge of my Reader. I’ve been reading so long that you feel like friends, and you are always entertaining.
I have a confession, though…. I am not big on chocolate/mint. I know, I know. What can I say? Now, chocolate and nuts or berries. That I am all over.
I’ve been reading for eons….lurking all creepy like.
I think I came over from Amalah, although who can be sure anymore. You got me to read Harry Potter and I love it! It inspired me to buy the 1st book for my very young niece at the time, and it inspired a love of the series for her as well. Now I have found that I come to your site (through my Google Reader) for more book ideas…I had read Hunger Games & Twilight on my own, but downloaded Matched & Divergent after your recommendation (can’t wait to read them!).
I’ve never really kept up with a lot of blogs, but I’ve pretty much always kept up with yours. Thank you for sharing so much with us everyday. (and I am loving the cooking stuff…I am not much of a cook/baker and I love your approach to it!)
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I think I found you many years ago because of your blog designs. I used one for a long time, and when I downloaded it I found your website. Nikki was just a tiny baby. I love watching your family grow up!
Happy Belated Birthday! I just saw this today. I started reading about a year ago, I guess. I think I found your blog because my google reader listed it as a suggestion. I stuck around because you live in Alabama and you like geography (I’m a geography teacher in Alabama). I also appreciate your love of Harry Potter and YA fiction – I read Matched based on your entry about that, and waiting on our library to get Divergent in. On the mint/chocolate combination – that’s one of my favorite flavor combinations of all time. York Peppermint Patties? Yum. Mint chocolate ice cream is amazing. I’ve never made cake poppers or anything like that, but that seemed to be a pretty cool flavor idea.
Wow. I’m a day late here. Not good. Not good at all. FAIL, in fact.
A) I know you cuz… I started reading your blog FOREVER ago and then we shared a room in Chicago and you may have fathered my daughter and I think you’re fabulous and even if I dont’ comment much anymore I read EACH AND EVERY POST you write so obviously… I’m a fan.
B) I’m obviously a very lame friend who spends way too much time knitting these days.
C) Mint and chocolate is an amazing combination. Truly inspired. You know what I tried last night? Mint Chocolate WATER. Yes. WATER. It was actually really good. And tasted like water! But with a little mint chocolate. Kinda hard to describe. But very awesome. Like you!
Happy Birthday!
I’m pretty sure I found you through Amalah too. I think it was right after Nikki was born. Anyway, I pretty much relate to just about everything you write about. I think because our family dynamics are similar. I had my daughter at 18, she’s 16 now. My husband & I got married when she was 9 and we now have 4 boys together… a 5 year old, 3 year old twins and a 4 month old.
I’m loving your Pinterest boards too. I have to restrain myself from repinning all of your house & photo things. And I’m totally making those mint chocolate cookie poppers… good lord! Yum!
Happy Belated Birthday and Happy HP Movie Day! I am looking forward to your complete review of the movie. I didn’t do the midnight showing but I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m one of those readers that spends too much time in google reader and not enough time clicking through to comment. Most of all, I love how you keep it real. I am a fan of the mint chocolate combo but if given a choice of any ice cream flavor in the world I’d pick black walnut. It’s hard to find around here.
Happy belated birthday and harry potter day!
I found you through Amalah when you two were pregnant together and stuck around..I am a single mother going through college like you did and I look to you to provide a patient, and child friendly model of mom. My model is more yelling rushing about omg I have a final dinner has to be made OH GOD…kind of mom…so you help me see that my kids deserve better.
And I like the mint chocolate combo but I’m -waaay- picky about it.
Happy birthday!
I started reading your blog when it was still iamzoot.com, I think ~2004. I was 16 or so, and didn’t have children or any interest in having children, but there was just something about your “mommy blog” (quotes because I feel like the term hardly describes this entire blog) made me stay. I’m still a daily reader so many years later. I’m actually living in Huntsville now, a grad student at UAH. I’m not sure what I’ll do if I ever see you, but I’d like to think that I’d introduce myself. (I’m as socially insecure as you once were.) These days I read your blog as an inspiration. I love the way that you chronicle you and your children’s lives, and I’m so envious of the relationship you have between you and your children. It’s amazing.
Happy Birthday to You!! I’m a long time reader of your blog. A big THANK YOU for all the great reading over the years. My son and I started the Harry Potter series after reading all your great posts on the topic. He just turned 12 and we went to the midnight showing. It was a fantastic time for both of us. I look forward to all your book mentions (Hunger Games!) and many more great stories about your family!
I missed the birthday post until today. Happy Birthday! How thoughtful of them to release the final Harry Potter movie for you!
I read your blog. I’m a new 30 year old with a nearly four year old daughter and expecting my second daughter in five-ish weeks. I’m a recurrent miscarrier, as well. I also struggle with food. I think you are a fantastic mom, and love reading about your adventures.
And mint and chocolate? The best. Seriously. My pregnant-self is seriously craving some mint chocolate chip ice cream now.
Hi Miss Zoot, you have the most open and hilarious style of communicating through this blog which makes me a reader of your blog over the years. Happy Birthday Miss Zoot~~^^
I found you while I was googling a baby- related phrase many years ago.
Me? I have dark hair, 26, and live in singapore, asia.
Not that into mint-choco =P ^^ xx Love vanilla ice cream or butternut pecan xxx
Have a fabulous weekend~~^^~~
Sweetest Kim!!! Happy birthday sister!! Yes, indeed, I am here and read every post just not always on the day it was written! We so badly wish we were near you to give you the biggest birthday hug and be a part of all the fun activities you blog about!!! Thanks for food, fun, festivities, family updates, fears, finds and all the other f’words you want to tell us about!! Love your guts!!! Make this the best year yet!!! Love you!
Hey Kim! I’ve been reading your blog for…a few years now? I haven’t ever commented (am a creeper) but I’m pretty sure I started reading back when Nikki was still in diapers. Mint/chocolate — it’s okay, but vastly inferior to the CORRECT chocolate-based taste explosion, which is chocolate and PEANUT BUTTER. om nom nom nom.
Happy birthday! I hope it was great!
Hi Miss Zoot!
I just keep trying (insert Dorie song from Nemo here). You make me laugh, and remember not to take myself so seriously. And. Junior Mints are the best accidentally vegan candy ever 
I read your blog because you and I have a lot of things in common, and quite often your posts are serendipitous. For example, the other day you had a post about searching for that magical thing that allows us to regain our ideal weight. Yeah. Because I’ve had two kids, started teaching full-time again 6 years ago, aaaand I will be turning fifty on my next birthday. It’s ten pounds that snuck on slowly and seems intent on sticking around. Forever
Thanks for your writing,
Frances
I’m a reader, have been for awhile, and have no idea where I found your blog! I’m early 30s, with a toddler daughter, and a serious love of Harry Potter. We are audio book HP readers, and stayed up all night listening to the last book. And since I am a reader reader, this was highly out of character.
I’ve derailed completely. I read, but rarely comment because I don’t feel like I have much to add, or (more likely) I haven’t yet carved out much of my own internet time, so I read in snitches and then am off running.
Happy (belated) birthday ~ I hope you loved the movie!
ALso mint and chocolate are a fabulous combination, IMO.
Hi, I’m late to this party – Happy Belated Birthday! I hit the blogs I read every few days or catch up on them once a week or so. I follow you on Twitter also.
I don’t remember how I found out about you actually! I’m in my no-longer-early 30s, live in Indianapolis and am currently experiencing the end-of-Harry-Potter blues. I think mint and chocolate is a fantastic combo!
Happy belated birthday! I love your blog, and these pictures are awesome! There is just something about that type of re-made photo that I absolutely love.
This is quite late but I have been reading your website for awhile now but have never left a comment. I love your honesty about being a mom. I especially have loved your fitness and running posts. I am a 35 yo mother of one in the midwest. Keep it up!
Happy belated birthday! (Sorry for that, I”m a little behind in my reader, but when I saw this post thought I’d stop and say hi anyway.) I first found your blog through Amalah’s blogroll, I think. I’ve been reading since you were pregnant with Wes. I kept coming back because you are nothing if not absolutely real. You’re so honest in your posting, and I admire that about you, how you just put yourself out there.
Me in a nutshell: I’m a 29-year-old mom of a 16-mo-old. I’m 12 weeks pregnant with my second. I have an amazing husband, I’m a book editor for Hallmark Cards, I occasionally blog, and I’m a reluctant exerciser (or was until morning sickness wiped me out a few weeks ago). And I adore the mint/chocolate combo!
I almost never comment on blogs because I feel that I never quite no what to say. But, since you asked and it’s your birthday (Happy Birthday!!!)
A) I happened to stumble across your blog about a year ago and I couldn’t stop reading. It’s one of the blogs that I look forward to in the morning (it shows up early in my blog reader, by 8AM most days). I enjoy reading about the way you parent and hope to have similar success with my little girl one day (she’s only 7 months, so it’s a little too early to tell if I’m succeeding yet).
B) I’m a HUGE Harry Potter fan and was ridiculed by my husband for being a Harry Potter Snob during our viewing of the last movie (The girl sitting next to me mistakenly referred to the Room of Requirement as the Chamber of Secrets to her date. I had to immediately turn to my husband, roll my eyes, and complain about those types of people. Sigh…)
C) Mint and Chocolate are wonderful together. An ice cream shop in my hometown made these amazing chocolate covered mint chocolate chip ice cream pops. It was a ball of mint chocolate chip ice cream which was then dipped in chocolate and allowed to harden. Amazing. I haven’t had one in years and I have no idea if they even exist anymore.
Happy Belated Birthday!!! I’ve been reading your blog for years although I’m not sure how I originally found it. About me…I’ve been talking to my boyfriend in Argentina (I’m from New Zealand) online for a year…it wasn’t internet dating, we were talking as friends and just fell in love…and I just went and met him and I just came back and it was everything I hoped for and more, so we’re gonna work out how we can be together now
Also I love mint chocolate!!! It’s always been my favourite, I just introduced my boy to it and he loves it too…
I haven’t really been online for the past five weeks since I was busy being the head of a summer camp with 400 kids, but here is a belated Happy Birthday from me!! I’ve been reading your blog since before Nikki was born, I have no idea how I got here, but I just adore your family and your regular updates.
Which is one of the reasons I spend way too much time daydreaming on pinterest.
I grew up in Washington, DC, but have lived in Austria for the past 9 years, which is where my parents are from. I am a children’s psychologist, my hobbies are baking and photography. My boyfriend and I are finally moving in together in a few months and I can’t wait to have a whole new apartment to decorate
As for the mint and chocolate combo, I love Junior Mints and After Eights but that’s pretty much it. Weird.
Hope you had a wonderful birthday!!!