Cutest Giraffe Ever

Here are some pictures from Zoie as a Giraffe this Halloween. She thought this was great. She got to wear a fun costume (which she loved) and she got a fun purple pumpkin that only got cooler when people started putting candy in it.

Just like mommy and daddy

Wearing mommy's shoes

"Helping" push the cart

Dusting
(ok confession, Lorriane was actually the one cleaning)

Wearing mommy's head band

Bee Prepared...coming in March

a new Vercler is on it's way.

Brian, Amber, and Braden had the best shirts on Sunday that showcased their coming arrival.

Let's just say Aunt Laura is really excited.

Joel-love

We have been actively working to teach Zoie the names of her family. She does best with the shorter names. Here is her saying "Joel" with a little treat at the end.

Baking Bread

My friend Kasey M. introduced me to a wonderful book, Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day. It is a great book that shows you how to make bread dough that you store in the fridge and only takes minutes to prepare fresh homemade bread. And it is FABULOUS!! I'm hooked.

I baked my first loaf today. We dipped it in Olive Oil and seasoning (which it hardly needed). Mark and Zoie agree...more tomorrow mom.

You can do all kinds of breads with it and it's so easy. Since you keep the dough in the fridge, it's easy to make it for dinner (not that our loaf made it that long).

My first loaf
Thanks Kasey for the tip...I think I'm the next unofficial member of the marketing team.

Drywall

If you've talked with either Mark or I over the past year, you have undoubtedly heard about two things Zoie and our basement project. Well Zoie is just as cute as ever but the basement project took a massive step forward this week. We hired someone to come put up the drywall and paint our basement (normally we would do the paint ourselves but he offered us a pretty sweet deal, so we took him up on it).

The first picture is the basement living room in the "after state" the next 3 are "before" and the final 3 are "after"

Family room and kitchenette area

Family Room & kitchenette area



Office/bedroom

Bathroom

Family room

Office/bedroom

Bathroom

Her or the floor?

My loving husband comes up to me with a slightly puke covered baby at church and asks ever so sweetly....her or the floor?

Zoie had not quite chewed up her entire last carrot. She of course gaged on it and hence gave us some of her lunch back. Thankfully she isn't sick or anything...just needs to chew and swallow her food before she plays.

I chose the floor.

4 years ago (and a couple days)

Mark and I celebrated 4 years of wedded bliss on Friday. We had a wonderful day

I first got up with him in the morning before he left for work (he gets up at 4:30, so yes usually I stay in bed). Then Zoie and I met him at Jimmy John's for lunch. Finally, Brian and Amber watched Zoie while Mark and I went to the Melting Pot for a fabulous dinner. I of course took absolutley no pictures from the day...but it was wonderful.

Happy Anniversary baby! I love you.

Thanks Uncle Joel

Zoie's Uncle Joel bought her this little black and white bear at the Gateway Woods Sale. Zoie is fortunate to have so many aunts and uncles who love her. We sent Joel a note to say thanks but thought we'd share here.

Yum Yum

Probably the issue that I'm the most lax about that annoys Mark a bit is Zoie's neatness (or lack there of) when she is eating. Since I'm the one who would be most likely to spoon feed her, I pretty much let her go at whatever she is eating and figure I'll clean her up later. She can feed herself pretty well which allows me the pleasure of enjoying my meals warm.

Here are a few shots for fun

Ice Cream Snickers Bar

(yes she ate the entire thing)

Spaghetti and Green Beans

Getting the last of the spaghetti

I don't even know what she is eating here but she looked cute in the hat

Brownie bowl spoon

And the ever popular banana

Cousin Emmett Comes to Visit

Matthew & Renae also came of course

Zoie is very excited that her cousin Emmett is going to live nearby as Matthew and Renae make their move north. While they were looking for houses and awaiting their move, they are spending some quality time at our house.

Zoie has had a few jealousy issues with the new baby around but she's doing better. Here are a few pictures of fun times with Cousin Emmett.

Unzicker Family Reunion

Part of the Lindberg family visit was the Unzicker reunion. This is Grandma S. (Mark's mom's mom) family. Mark had to work so Grandma kindly picked Zoie and I up and off to Wisconsin we went. You know you have a great "in-law" family when they let you come to the reunion...sans the actual relative.

The reunion was at a resort with an indoor/outdoor waterpark in Wisconsin Dells. It was lots of fun. We stayed in this amazing condo which was the central hub for the activity...thanks Grandma.

Here is Grandma with most of her siblings (Dallas couldn't come)

Grandma and her kids (minus Joan)



The pool table in our condo

playing cards

On the bus to the waterpark

Our "room"

At the waterpark

Our little family

Happy Birthday Short Child- Brookfield Zoo

To celebrate my sister Amanda's birthday, we spent the day with the "girls + Braden" at Brookfield Zoo. We then met up with Brian at Adoke, a Japanese Hibachi grill. It was a fabulous time but I think the pictures will demonstrate that.

The water/fountain play area was Zoie's highlight of the visit. I didn't know the thing existed so I wasn't exactly prepared. But we just stripped her down to her diaper and off she went. As you can see the look of happiness on her face, she loved it!

My lovely sisters and mom.

Aunt Amber loves Zoie enough to share her treat.

Dinner at the Adoke...lots of fun and yummy.

Lindberg Family Visit

What a month August has been. I haven't posted much on the blog because of all the things we've been doing. I have a string of events to post about. I haven't really put all there was about South Carolina but we'll save that for another day.

Mark's family came to visit in the beginning of August. We met them at the Gateway Woods Sale. After an eventful long drive back to our house. Let's just say the van had some brake issues....issues that involved fire while we were in the middle of nowhere Indiana. Those bottles of water purchased at the gas station before we left Leo turned out to be a really great investment.

The family then stayed at our house (Ben and Joel went over to Brian and Amber's) for Saturday and Sunday night. It was a wonderful visit and a great opportunity for Zoie to get to know her Lindberg family a bit better.

Here are some of us waiting on the curb at this random gas station off of Route 30 while Mark drove my father-in-law to an auto parts store.

Zoie loved her aunts and uncles. By the end of the visit she had successfully said "Joel" and a version of "nana" aka Hannah.

Zoie snuggling with Aunt Lydia. She loved being carried around and played with.



Our kitchen isn't large enough for the entire family so we had to set a table up outside.

Here is Zoie enjoying her breakfast just before we went to the Gateway Woods Sale.

A fun shot of Joel.

We had a great time and hope they can visit again soon.

We love you!!!