Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Love is a wonderful thing.

Life is obviously busy for Jason and I. Full-time working parents to a 1, 2 & 3 year old. People often makes comments such as, "I don't know how you do it", "You seem to be so put together", "You make it look easy". I have to laugh, because in reality, most days I'm hanging on by a thread. A thread I otherwise would not be attached to if not for the fact that my unkempt and jagged fingernails happened to be snagged on it....I'm so dramatic, aren't I? In this sprint of life, with so many obligations and responsiblities, it is often easy to put our marriage relationship on the back burner to fulfill the needs of our own children and careers...and before you know it, we coexist in the routine of life without a ounce of time or effort invested in each other. I know this is common in most marriages, and no marriage is blissfully perfect. However, in our realization of the feeligs of disconnect recently, Jason and I have made more of an effort to connect with one another randomly throughout the day. It's hard to believe that we are fast approaching our 10 year wedding anniversary...and even more amazing that we have been together for over 18 years. We thank God every day for the match He has made in us!

>>> "Kazmaier,Jason" 4/24/2009 8:26 AM >>>
My Wife
Let me count the ways I love her.
1. (censored...teehee)
2. She has a wonderful desire to keep the home in order and in style!
3. She works till exhausted taking care of the home the best she can.
4. She always puts her children's needs and wants first and they love her for it.
5. She keeps her husband accountable when he needs to pick up some slack.
6. She is always willing to cook when there is the time and resources. (though often doing anyway even when there is no time)
7. She takes care of the finances, works hard to make sure she's on top of them.
8. She has a wonderful talent and healthy desire to do photography. (And it'll make us some dough!)
9. She takes care of her health by religiously running every chance she can. (Has a tight hiney too!)
10. I know that she loves her husband and family very much by the personal sacrifice she gives each and every day.
Thank you baby for being such a good wife and mother!
I love you today!!
Husband


From: Emily Kazmaier [mailto:ekazmaie@nkcsd.k12.mo.us]
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 9:32 AM
To: Kazmaier,Jason
Subject: Re: My Wife

My turn to count the ways...
1. (censored again)
2. He takes initiative to help with the house...even becoming a dishwasher when the real one is out of commission.
3. He works hard at work to provide for his family despite his wife incessant complaining and whining about his late hours. She is really proud of his work ethic and proud of what he does.
4. He always puts his children's needs and wants first...and they run screaming in delight when he gets home because they really truly love him.
5. He keeps his wife accountable for her "fly off the handle" un-called for behavior. Often giving her the reality checks she needs.
6. He is often willing to go on late night runs for groceries, Dr. Pepper and chocolate recognizing that a happy wife is a happy life.
7. His piano playing always impresses his wife.
8. He is one of the most level headed and gentlemanly persons I know.(except when he's playing his game...ahem)
9. His family's needs always come first...there is nothing more sweet than watching him get rough and tumble with his boys and nothing more tender than watching him cuddle and snuggle his baby girl.
10.He is by far, the love of my life and I feel like the luckiest woman alive knowing that I got to him first!
I love you today!!! Wish we were snuggled in bed together watching a flick on this cold, rainy day.
Em

Monday, April 27, 2009

Curlz!


I never imagined her stick straight hair would all of a sudden grow out to be a head of curls. I absolutely LOVE IT!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Never a dull moment..

Thursday was unseasonably warm. We spent time after I picked all of the kids up from preschool and daycare at the park (like we do most days). About 20 minutes in to playtime, Jonathan started screaming, "I HAVE TO GO BROWNS!!! I HAVE TO GO BROWNS!!!" as he's grabbing his behind. A group of boys playing Frisbee and the rugby boys all look in our direction and start laughing. I'm not sure many people in this world understand what "browns" are...a very uncommon and creative term coined by Jonathan himself, but embarrassing nevertheless. Later that afternoon, our next door neighbors had their hose out and invited Jonathan to play with them. I told him that he just needed to take his shoes, socks and shirt off and he could just get the shorts he had on wet. As quickly as I said it, I turned around to notice he was BUCK NAKED standing in the middle of the garage for all the world to see. About 20 minutes later, I ran inside for a minute to grab something, only to come back outside and see Jonathan hitting Nicholas atop the head with the toilet plunger in the middle of the cul-de-sac. Ewe.

Fudge Rounds..my own box.


I am no model of health. I run to eat...and eat...and eat. And what I eat is rarely healthy. I have tried in vain to change my habits...but some habits never die. Jason has recognized this fact early in our relationship. His late night raids of the pantry or refrigerator after I have gone to bed usually leave him disappointed. What happened to that package of Oreos? What happened to the peanut M&M's? Where the heck did all the Dr. Pepper go? There's usually only one culprit. Me. I can do a row of Oreo's in one sitting. I can eat 3/4 of a bag of M&M's and down 4-5 Dr. Pepper's a day. It's shameful. Never was my addiction made more clear than tonight when Jason came home after grabbing some groceries. I looked into the bag and found, not one, but two boxes of Fudge Rounds. I asked Jason why he bought two...his response: "Well, I figured I'd buy my own since I know you'll polish off that box before I even think about wanting one." True.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

MUD? He'll find it...





Nick doesn't watch where he's going when he's distracted by other things. Yesterday, despite my plea's of warning, it was a rugby game at the park that caught his eye as he fell and practically rolled in a mud puddle. Boys.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Sydney's "A Flip Zone" Birthday Party

Sydney, who Jonathan plans to marry and have 12, perhaps more, kids with (...0r so he says!), turned four years old this weekend. Sydney is the daughter of my lifelong friend, Jennifer. We went to school together beginning in kindergarten, later Holy Rosary Catholic School and then finally graduated from Clinton High School together. Jason went to school and was childhood friends with Phillip, her husband and Phillip and I ran Cross Country and Track together. Two high school sweetheart success stories! Sydney had her birthday at A Flip Zone in Lee's Summit and the kids had a BLAST!














The Birthday Girl!


Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Easter 2009

We had a great Easter weekend this year in Clinton despite the weather Sunday not being so "springy". Saturday, we took the kids downtown to the Easter Egg Hunt on the Clinton Square. The weather Saturday was AMAZING! The boys played most of the day outside in the backyard and later, went to the Huenfeldt's Farm with all the boys in the family to see farm animals and drive "Tug" the tractor. Saturday night we enjoyed the company of cousin Lydia, Allen and little Alexandra. Sunday morning, after the kids woke up to their Easter baskets from the Easter bunny, we attended Mass at Holy Rosary (well...we tried. The kids were a handful...we didn't walk away feeling very fulfilled!). We were joined by extended family & friends for Easter dinner and had a cold, wet Easter Egg hunt in the yard. Despite the disappointing weather, it was a wonderful Easter with family. Baby Kate
Nick loved Easter dinner...Turkey, Ham, Brisket, Potatoes, Rice, fruit, beans...yeah, it was a FEAST!
The Cousins (Nick, Daniel, Kate & Jonathan)

Kate with a duck.

The Easter Egg hunt (cold and rainy) at the Miles house.

Wow...none of them are crying?
In our Sunday Easter best.
The boys were lucky enough to go to the Huenfeldt's (Cousin Miles' family) farm to see animals and drive a tractor!


Kate and Jonathan with ducks...Jonathan LOVED the ducks...as did Kate, but Kate was not so gentle!
The mad scramble!
It didn't take Kate long at all to figure out what to do do with her bucket and eggs!
Cousin's (Daniel, Miles, Jonathan, Kate & Nick) at the Easter Egg Hunt (Downtown Clinton Square)

Friday, April 10, 2009

Trying to Catch-up!

Okay...I've been SOOOOOOO busy lately I've once again neglected my blogging. Blogging is my form of scrapbooking...and I have just turned my 2007 and 2008 blogging into a blogbook on blurb! I'm so excited to receive the finished product in the mail.

Okay, so what has been going on? Well, Jason bought a new car. His 11 year old black four door Honda Accord served us well for the last 10 years. It went to NY & back with us and commuted through downtown from Olathe to N. Kansas City and N. Kansas City to Olathe for many years. He went car shopping on his own...and what did he come home with? A new BLACK FOUR DOOR HONDA ACCORD. I had to laugh...not much of a departure for my man of habit.

I ran the Olathe Half Marathon last Saturday morning. It had been originally scheduled for March 28th, but the nasty weather postponed it for a week. It was a VERY windy and cold April morning and I ended up finished about 14 out of 400 women, 3rd in my age group with a time of 1:42 (7:49 per mile). You can see some pretty painful looking photos at: http://www.backprint.com/view_user_event.asp?PID=bp%18yG&EVENTID=48968&BIB=2479&S=230&PWD=

With as windy as it was, I was surprised. This was the first time I've run a 1/2 since having three kids and it was my 3rd fastest 1/2 time out of the 11 I've run. I just LOVE my neighborhood running ladies for helping to get me out of bed to meet on the corner at 5am every morning of the week...I know I wouldn't have the discipline if I were flying solo every morning. We have all decided a ladies weekend & the Chicago Marathon is next on the list!

We spent last Saturday afternoon at Villa Ventura with my Grandpa Mac and enjoyed an easter egg hunt. We also had a visit in Eudora & spent a little time with Jason's grandparents.

I've been working on my photography A LOT lately. I'm so excited about how quickly business is picking up. I have 5 sessions already scheduled over the next 6 weeks. I recently took photographs of a six week old cutie, Bradley! (http://www.emilykazmaierphotography.com Proofing, Password: Bradley) In preparation for the session, I cleared my memory and sadly lost pictures of my kids with Grandpa Mac at the Easter Egg Hunt at Villa. :-( Very sad.

Okay..that's the best I can do in making up for my lapse in posting. Our family is excited to head to Clinton for Easter festivities tonight! I'll try to to better and get blogging about that early next week! :)

Friday, April 3, 2009

Hop-A-Thon



Jonathan is participating in the MDA's (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Disability Awareness Program at Liberty Montessori. He and his classmates will hop during a two minute time period. Each students is hoping to get support through donations for each hop, a pledge or a flat donation! This will occur on April 15th! If you wish to support Jonathan and his hops, please let us know! He's practicing....and practicing... :-)


Can you really deny this face?

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

New Adventure

Over spring break, I interviewed for a full-time position working for the eMINTS program through the University of Missouri (As a Jayhawker...I should be ashamed) teaching for the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (boy, that's a mouthful). I found out on Monday that I was offered a position starting August 10th. It's been a bitter sweet acceptance as I have been happy with the North Kansas City Schools. The thought of leaving a place that has been so good to me over the last 7 years makes me invariably sad. I am excited, however, about this new adventure not only because I believe in this program (as I have worked as an adjunct instructor), but because it will also afford me the flexibility and opportunity to spend more time at home with the most important people in my life (Jon, Nick & Kate).