If you really know him..

Then you might just get a kick out of this

most amazing

tomato.

This is dedicated to my

most special

Husband,

Sam!

I want a Wedding! Period! End of story...

I should not be allowed to attend weddings anymore. All I do is covet every single beautiful piece of the day. Every. Single. Time. This had to be one of my all time fav's. As bad as that sounds because I have been to a few. To say the least. The Bruno family had us as their guests to send off their son and his future wife to Italy..to get hitched. This was the big send off pre wedding festivities. And it was beyond words. I even had my ol' Sammy back that night. He was fun fun fun people I tell ya. It's good to get out once in a blue moon and let loose with the hubbs. And get all fancy and stuff too.

Batter up

This morning Carys and Sam headed out to the back yard to whack at a few balls. Ummm that didn't sound good, oh well, you get the picture. Press Play...

Caught cha

I love love love looking through my camera and finding the little moments Sam finds special with the girls. It's rare when he picks up the camera but when he does, it's precious.

Thats's my Man!

Whipping out some amazing cooking skills for his ladies tonight. Papa Luke's Clam Chowder! Thankx honey, you're the best!

Tuesday Night Funny

Starring: Sam

Sam's birthday Night

28 years ago on Monday April 20th, the man of my dreams was born. Yay for me! We celebrated Sam's birthday with the family on Monday night. Denise was in town so that made it extra special for everyone there too. Midst's the cake, good eats and amazing company, I just thanked God for him (Sam) in my life. For being such a tender hearted dad, hardworking man and a very very forgiving husband. ;) We enjoyed him and thought you would too.

The Big 5 yr.

Happy Anniversary Love! We made it! A follow up to this post to come.(Click on photo above for larger viewing) But for now, Sam and I celebrated early @ Roy's @ Spanish Bay last Sat. Here is some snap shots of the evening! I love you...

Sam ' The Man '

Most of you would gaze upon this pile of so-called stuff and think, 'Come on Phillips, clean up your table already', but for those who know my husband well another thought might cross your mind....... Like Yup! Sam must have won a bunch of 'FREE' stuff at some raffle or something with his luck. I mean,his luck is kind of ridiculous at times. Like the time he went to a golf tournament and told me he was gonna win 1st prize in this poker match. I said Alright (with plenty of Zoe sarcasm in my voice) and he came back to the hotel room 3 hours later asking for the keys to the car because he actually won 1st place and a 54" TV along with it.Like I said, Ridiculous! Or the time his luck actually rubbed off on me, I have the worst luck by the way, and I won 10,000$ in some random sweepstakes. True story. So the other night, he comes home from a benefit dinner with a 5 gallon bucket full of stuff (Granite Rock golf jacket not pictured) and says he got so embarrassed from them calling his name so many times from a raffle drawing he entered, he wanted to stop going back up there to get yet another free goody.This man is a machine when it come to luck.

Today is more special than yesterday

I love the day after Valentines day. This day, 5 years ago, Sam proposed to me. And he had a great idea of capturing the moment on film @ the Wharf of Monterey CA in one of those fun photo booths too! I remember being so sick (I was totally pregnant w/ Carys) that I ruined his plans of doing it the night before (Valentines Day). So he popped the question the next night. I had to do a little digging this morning to find these pic's but I found them! Yes! What a sweet memory forever embedded in my mind. How far we've come, well, we have had a wild ride but I love him, I do, I love him. And he gave me 2 amazing little girls and a life I do not deserve. Thank you Babe from the bottom of my heart.

Anotha' day anotha dolla'

This little munchkin was actually throwing a fit every time Sam would near the door, hilarious and so very sad all in the same breathe. Poor girl, she knew something was up today.

Pro's to 'Return to AZ' mission:

1. Seeing Carys' face when she sees her friends again.

2. Spending some quality time with the girls

3. Seeing my 'friends' again

4. Seeing our home again

Con's to 'Return to AZ' mission:

1. Can we say tired tired tired already of DRIVING

2. the cost of gas, hello!

3. dealing with our flaky renters. uggggggg.

4. being separated from my family

I think Sam and I have survived one of the most nightmarish years of our lives together as a married couple this past year. I was thinking today that we started traveling last year at this time and have yet to stop. Yuck! This morning the girls and I are off to AZ again to 'handle some business' (as dad would put it). Carys is pumped and helped me pack all the snacks last night. She is a bit of a pro ,people, to traveling, let me tell ya. This is like second nature for my kids and I. We kinda have a knack for it. Anyhow, don't know how long we will be but are praying that the Lord has an amazing plan for this time and teaches and equips us both to have better discernment for any future renters we come to meet. Pray if you think of it that God will do amazing things with this time and over our travels as a family.

Let the adventure begin.

I caught a couple of moments before Sam went off to work this morning. The girls, although excited to leave and 'trip out' with ma, there will be NO SUBSTITUTE for D-A-D!

MISS YA................LOVE YA....................HOPE YOU GET A HAPPY FACE!

My Rock

I am such a crappy wife sometimes. This is not a ploy to gather round me and make me feel better with, 'oh no your not Zo'. Yes I am. I recently had the chance to go to my 1st Ladies Retreat in So Cal with Reality Carp @ Murrieta Hot Springs. Amazing is all I gots to say! Bad English I know.
And with all the many changes in our lives last year it was truly refreshing and a calming time with Jesus. I listened. And listened. And listened. And it's so interesting that when I listen and Shut up to my Jesus I hear from Him. He spoke to me about many things and one of which was my husband. The enemy has had his way with us for too long now. And I was filled with the Holy Spirit to rebuke that and give our marriage over to Jesus like He so desires for us. I take my husband for granted. He has put up with my spiteful attitude toward him and my life for too long. I give off a bad vibe to him when all the while my heart is screaming, 'Why don't you want to love me?" or " Why don't you want to spend time with me?" Well who the heck would as rude as I can be. No wonder.This is just a way for me to blame him in some way.
The truth of the matter is, I love him. More than anything, well maybe he comes a close second to Jesus, but you get the picture. I don't want to waste anymore time with him. Or my girls. Plus I have been reading my bible more than ever and being pumped by the word and this great book my girlfriend, Lindz gave me. That I want to say I HATE to LOVE.It's just a great way to give glory to God and not succumb to all what the enemy wants to take you down with.
It's a new year and with the whirlwind that was left in 07 and the new fresh life Jesus has for me this year I am ready. I am tired of being such a baby about it!

P.s. all that to say, I love Sam just like the rock. And be Thankful to the Lord for giving me such a tangible example of God's commitment to me. Sam shows me that through all my 'Stuff'.

Been Struggling...

Hello Everyone! Well a couple things:

One, I think I have hijacked this blog and I am claiming it as my own. I thought maybe Sam would enjoy this with me but he has been so busy lately and as I read through the entries, I don't anticipate him jumpin into this anytime soon. SO many apologies if you have been waiting anxiously for his words of wisdom, prob lay won't happen. Sorry to disappoint. But never fear, I am still here. So please check in every now and again for updates by yours truly and I will do my best to keep family and friends posted on the Haps of our little hectic mess!

And since we are talking Bloggin and all, I have made a temporary choice to open my blog back up. Meaning not private. This is only temporary folks. I know how much easier it is to cruise through and read when it's not private and everything but it's just as easy to get a gmail acct and just simply sign in too. So I do enjoy keeping up with you all too but I have too much at stake to keep this open forever to WEIRDO"S and yes people, they are out there. So while this is open, do enjoy and take a little time to get that ever elusive gmail address, even if you never use it, just to sign in here would be perfect. Thank you for your understanding .

Have a blessed Day!
In Him
Zo

Beyond my Wildest Imagination

This has to be the most amazing thing ever. While I was out of town on my retreat weekend down south, this is what my husband did. I was floored. With a whole lotta planning and help from should I list his crew, oh Yes! I should... My sister, Christine and Shawn,The entire Bruno crew and many friends, Sam remolded the back bedroom into a Sewing Haven for me! Right down to the perfect crisp color, iced blue. With new crown molding and wainscoting (s/p)?, new lighting features and an amazing assortment of furniture he created a space all my own. The pictures just do not do justice to this earthly heaven. I later found out he had this planned for a month for this is my early Bday present. And enlisted his army for support and help way back. But the best part of the story is...... while I was gone and he embarked on this project, Monterey Bay was hit with a crazy, and I mean CRAZY storm which knocked out our power until the day I returned. Changing the course of craziness into a battle for the fittest. AnD folks, He won. Putting together the furniture at the Bruno's to borrowing a generator to complete what he intended to finish as much as possible!The stories that came out of this weekend were hilarious. Sam will have to fill you in on his perspective sometime soon. Needless to say, I was blown away by his thoughtfulness and creativity in making me a space to create. I just had to share and he warns it is not finished and he will put finishing touches on it this weekend. He has BIG PLANS.

Thank You Sam !

Here is a BIG THANK YOU to Sam for making a way for me to take a trip to So.Cal for my very first ladies retreat in early Jan. You can imagine how difficult it is to prepare or even make a choice to go when you have a family. But Sam was all for it and I have had my heart set on going ever since Jen Jenkins told me about her retreat that her Awesome church does every year. It was quite a sacrifice this year being that it falls on Sam and I's 4 year anniversary. Bummer huh. But we are used to every year being so crammed with Christmas then 2 weeks later our anniversary then my Bday 2 weeks after that. Yes, it's a mess! So I feel blessed and oh so lucky to have the chance to go and have a true retreat. So as I look forward to all God as for me that weekend, Thank you Sam for being so supportive. I love you...Your Wife

I love you!

Message for the hubbs: Let's go out on a date night asap. I miss you and love you and know you and I are busy but we need "Alone time"..So Please respond asap Love! See you when you get home. xoxo The wife

Scary! Very Very Scary...

This is what I came home to the other night while running errons. Sam, Bay and Carys (not pictured) had so much fun thinking this one up.They all hide and pulled stockings over their heads, turned all the lights off in the house and ran at me screaming, 'RAAAAAARRRRRRRRR'! It really did make me jump at first. But seeing them like this also made me hit the floor laughing hysterically.Bay was the freakyest (word? I don't know) looking one. She is way too tiny to look like a thug!

Dear Sam...

So This is for Sam... I thought it would be fun to give the hubbs a glimpse of what he is missing while getting the pad ready in Monterey.
Dear Dad, Hey it's your girls here. We had a blast in the bath this morning.(Carys) I had fun playing with sis. She really likes me 'washing her'. Really! She doesn't mind the ton of water I pour on her head, over and over again.(Bay) Dad! Yes, I do. Please will someone speak up for me and say Stop it! But I did have fun at Bathtime. I love it. Every morning when mom gets me in my 'Birthday suit' I run like a mad baby to the bathroom door and just wait for the water to start running. I don't know what it is about the water, but I do love it. We miss you and I try and give mom the phone every now and again and say "Dada". This is my way of telling her that I miss you around. (Carys) Yes dad, me too. Mom is cool and all but we connect on a totally different level, you know.Anyway, hope you have a great day dad, I love you sooooooooooooooo much, like this big!
_ Your girls(the little ones)

Disneyland, Dads Perspective

Amazing...only going to Disneyland as a young kid, I did not remember the excitement it brought...from the real live characters to the rides, I now understand the phrase "I'm going to Disneyland"...At the princess dinner, Carys was sooo excited that my wife cried, it was precious, and I was melting inside with joy...Andria and I traded taking turns on rides with Carys...She was able to go on all but about 5 rides...I took her on space mountain, which I was scared getting off, and she got off wanting to go again...nemo was awesome...the worst ride ever had to be...its a small world...I think even Baylie would agree with that...Baylie was a great girl...she was amazed by all the characters, and loved the rides she was able to go on...can't wait until she is Carys age so we can go again and see her excitement...as you can see...to my surprise...Disneyland was great...we will go again...I loved the whole family vacation...I loved watching my wife with the girls...she was as excited as they where...I had a blast getting away with my three girls...we will get away more often...DAD

Yes, this is a current picture, man boobs, cottage cheese and all...I figure if I get teased enough, it might encourage me to get in shape...moving on...loosing my job has been humbling and an eye opener in many ways...I now can relate to the blessings and stresses of being a stay at home parent...Andria does a great job, much better than I, so our trade in responsibilities will be temporary...If you didn't know, she has taken a part time job at the local coffee shop while I hunt for my next employment...Overall, I see the blessing that come with loosing your job and am trying to keep a "glass half full" type attitude...The Lord has already brought several opportunities and now I struggle with knowing which to choose...What a place to be...To Him be the Glory...As Andria and I discuss and pray on what to do next I hope to take advantage of the free schedule and grow closer to my wife and kids...the corporate world demands too much time and while I worked at Empire I felt that I lost out on many family moments...My wife has been a great support during this time and my biggest fan...she was ready to barge into the Presidents office and tell him he made a huge mistake in letting me go...it was great...that's enough for my first blog...to those who read this, please keep us in your prayers...God bless...