Writer's Block

Man, I have been having the worst writing, picture-ing, and blogging block!! I have no idea what's going on, but I just cannot get myself to blog lately. My kids have been up to a lot, and I feel bad that I'm not documenting it because I don't want to forget how cool they are right now. I promise lot's of new pictures and videos are coming soon.

Zane has become my little buddy, who I can play with, laugh with, joke with, barter and make deals with, and live in an imaginary world with. We talk NON-STOP all day!! His curious and growing mind never stops coming up with new ideas, questions, stories, games, connections, and such smart thoughts to share. Because he tells me everything about everything all the time, I have to be mentally present to respond to all his talking. It's so fun and great, but is exhausting for sure. I have written down a million little updates and sayings lately that I will also post soon.

Emerson somehow gets cuter and also wilder everyday. She is so happy and energetic and seriously never stops. I can make her laugh sooo easily and I can also make her cry or throw a big temper tantrum sooo easily. She copies and follows her big brother around and is getting a little better at playing nicely with him, except when she screams, "Nooo!" when he's just trying to help her or look at her toy. We're working on it. :) Tons more updates on Emmy are also soon to come.

In other words, I love my kids and now I just need to get to work on writing about them. :)

Playing Together

I love when Zane and Emerson play together and laugh together. The other day they were both being super giggly and fun, chasing each other, wrestling, and playing. And of course what better way to play than in your underwear or diaper?

Running Around Together from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Emmy Sitting on Zane from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Emmy Chomping on Zane from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Silly Girl

Emmy seriously cracks me up...

Chase from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Imitating Us from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Recently...

I think I'm starting to make a habit of letting pictures and videos pile up and then blogging a huge amount every few weeks. So, here's a bunch of pictures from the last couple of weeks...

Here's Zane's soccer team. I like his and Ellie's matching smiles. :)
He got a medal with his name on it and wore it for about 2 or 3 days straight because he was so proud of it. He deserved it for how many times he "fell" down on the field while going after the ball. :) j/k
The red team playing on the playground.
Every time I turn around, Zane is stripping his clothes off. He loves to be only in his underwear when we're home. We literally walk in the door usually, and he starts taking everything off. He also does it at friends' houses, and tried to do it at our hotel in New Orleans.
Emmy's hair has gotten wild - she's all over the place so she has to have hair to match that I guess.

We had a family "Movie / Pajama Party" the other night. We pulled our guest mattress down from upstairs and brought every pillow from the house together to make a huge comfy place to lay. We watched "Follow That Bird," a Sesame Street movie from when I was a kid (one of my FAVORITES!). It was good for all of us because Emmy loves Elmo, Zane likes Sesame Street and actually follows movie lines now, and a good memory for Zack and me. We made it dark and had yummy snacks and they actually watched it for the first little bit but then Emmy started catapulting off the couch into the pillows. It entertained her the rest of the movie. Notice Zack's Super Mario pajama pants. :)
I like how intently Emmy is watching the TV. :)

Since Emerson's hair has been out of control, I decided to finally battle her to put it up most days. Zane has been helpful in standing right in front of her to entertain / distract her for me and he hands me the rubber bands and spray bottle when I need them. Luckily, if I put it up well enough she can't pull it out even though she tries. From now on, Mommy wins the hair fights!!

Here she is gulping the water from the spray bottle.




A rare family photo at church... Both kids were conquering suckers, but at least it occupied their attention.
Zack's new workplace and youth hang out center is called "The Hub." It is an awesome place for people to come and play ping pong, foosball, pool, air hockey, watch TV (NFL Sunday Ticket) and movies on the huge projected screen on the wall, play video games, etc. Zack has his youth groups there and all sorts of other cool events for the community. He even got to decorate however he wanted, which means lot's of posters, sports pendents, and stickers. It's been amazing to see an idea that Zack's had for a long time become a reality.

Zane and Emmy absolutely love being at The Hub. They have endless things to play with, and an endless amount of teenagers to play with, have pillow fights with, and run around with. Here's them hanging out eating pizza on the couch and watching a movie.

Here's a picture of our playgroup eating lunch the other day. We started our playgroup right after Zane was born. It started with me and about 3 or 4 other friends with our babies sitting in their carseats. Well, since then it has grown to about 6 consistent moms with about 12 kids all younger than Zane. :)

The Good Life

I just had such a good day today and felt refreshed and reminded of how much I love being a mom and wife and how much I love my two sweet little monkeys and my amazing husband.

As a stay-at-home mom, I've had days when I've felt burned from doing the same sort of things everyday - dishes, laundry, changing diapers, grocery shopping, mealtime and cleanup - 3 times a day, baths, cleaning up, playing, packing to get ready to go, soothing, breaking up arguments, keeping two kids engaged, did I mention cleaning up? And some days I miss being able to shop without having one kid crying and the other hiding behind clothes. Sometimes I miss taking a quiet shower by myself while not worrying about what's happening outside the door. Some days I miss teaching and other days I miss having an organized, tidy, and clean house and car. Some days I miss being on time to places. Other days I miss going to movies whenever I want.

But every single day, I'm reminded of WHY I chose to stay home with my kids and WHY I am so lucky to be able to spend time with them and WHY I love it more than anything ever. I get to read all my favorite kids books all day everyday. I get to see first steps, first words, first rolls, first tantrums, first everything. I get kisses, hugs, and snuggles for no reason. I get to crack up at my hilarious kids and I get to laugh with them too. I get to go to pools, parks, museums, malls, and my best friends' houses to play. I get to stay in my PJ's as long as I want and can wear my sweat capris everyday. I get to teach my kids how to be loving, fun, caring people. I get to teach them a lot of other things too. I get to go on walks and find rocks and sticks. I get to watch Sesame Street and Veggie Tales and Monsters Inc. I get to watch my two munchkins explore and experience new things and I get to see their minds and imaginations grow. I get to watch them wrestle with their Dad. I get to be the first to see them every morning and the last to see them every night. I get to shower them with love all day long.

So, on days like today, when I look around and see how happy my family is, playing together, eating together, laughing together, I thank God and feel 100% sure that I wouldn't trade what I have and what I get to do for anything in the world.

Different Voices

Zane talks in different voices constantly and is really good at staying in character. If we accidentally call him Zane, he usually corrects us and says, "No, I'm Alvin" or whoever he is at that time and then refers back to us with the name of who we are supposed to be. He also talks for all his stuffed animals and other toys in all different voices.

Here's what I like about this video:
1. His cowlick sticking up in the back of his hair
2. Trying to tell me the characters name is "Clarabelle the Cow" and me not knowing or understanding.
3. How he tries to do all the voices at once in the beginning
4. Daisy Duck's voice :)

Voices from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Catching up on Pictures

Our life lately...

Playing on the ipad together. Yes, Emmy loves it too and sometimes they can actually play together without fighting. Sometimes.
Here's a picture of Zane's first homework assignment. I let him think of every answer by himself and he helped me find pictures and glued everything on with me.

If you can't read it, it says his favorite place is the park. When he grows up, he wants to be a fireman, a doctor for doggies, and work at a bank. His favorite things to do are race against other people and use his imagination. If he had one wish, he would wish for a new fish and puppy. (He drew those himself.)
Zack had to go grab Zane off the field during his soccer game because he was laying on his stomach in the goal with his head resting on his hands. We were cracking up because he wouldn't get up or move.
We let Zane have a celebratory milkshake after his big game. It's awesome because we can say yes to sweets because he only takes a few bites or sips and then he says he's done on his own.
Dressing up, buzzing, and stinging each other.
This is Zane and Emmy playing in our new preschool room at church on Sunday.


At breakfast one morning, running around with Grandpa Jack - matching shirts.
Two different news stations came to the Hub to interview us about our past 5 years of trips to New Orleans. To watch the news clips, click here and here.
To read the articles, click here and here.


Notice Zane laying around on the floor - just like in his soccer games. :)

Children's Museum

We went to the Children's Museum yesterday. Here's Zane and Emerson working together as the checker and bagger at the grocery store...

Untitled from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

Playing in the Sand Dome outside...

Untitled from Josie Weingartner on Vimeo.

The kids got to take care of animals at the vet. :)

Emmy was brushing this cat's fur.