22 months and finally over 20 pounds!

with Sophia at the zoo: 

Zara seems only to remember that the Daddy gorilla "kicked" the Mommy gorilla who was holding the newborn gorilla.  The "daddy" gorillas (there were 2 of them) both advanced aggressively towards the Mommy (nursing a baby gorilla), so the Mommy had to make a protective gesture...  it was a tense moment!

ZaZa eating daddy's ribs at our gymboree BBQ!! and our matching dresses below!

Three short weeks 'til we see Aunite Becs and Uncle Anthony at Rehoboth Beach.  The scooter has been returned and in the shop.  Zara's been swimming at palisades pool.  She just got over her double EYE and EAR infections.  Bike rides and Zoo visits almost every day.. finally feels like summer!  Today we are excited; going to see Sitina's on her first Birthday. 

 Zara... or ZaZa as she now calls herself, has discovered the fun of birthdays events; seems to HER that we sing, blow out candles and then get to eat "Ice Cream and Oreos"  Not sure why she doesn't say Cake, but her usual shriek includes, "APKA and AVAVAs" which means the aforementioned!

Scooter essentially stolen TWICE

What a week, Poor Munch had a double ear and eye infection with fever.. here she is in the doctors waiting room... it may seem sadistic of me to snap the cell phone shot while she was so distraught, however they make you wait so long there and i was looking for distractions- 

for her and me!   

And anyway, she has way too many cutiepie pics, so i figured this shot will show the face she shows no one; the face i get to see when she doesn't get the "round cheese" and 

ONLY gets the string cheese!  What a cause for alarm!

  We also went to see Cathy Easter and Family in Baltimore; Zara was in heaven there.  We also returned the loaned crib since i acquired a toddler bed for Zara!  

It was also Nooka's 2nd birthday on Sunday as well, Grandma and Grandpa Zarr missed the party since grandpa was at his 50th Clark Univ reunion! 

 Lastly, the cops woke me up in the middle of the night!   Zara was taken from her bed (by me) at 2am to go on a silly jaunt around the neighborhood to meet up with the police who had recovered my scooter.  It had been stolen from our street a few hours earlier.  However, since I was alone with Zara there was no way i could bring the bike home, so the police and I moved it from the alley to a more secure location & locked it up.   Upon returning in the am to retrieve it, i discovered it had been stolen again and hasn't been seen since!  

"bye bye moped"

Mothers' Day Week!

What a week: Yesterday was Mother's Day, we didn't hear from Christina, as we have in the past.  Before the day was over I did send a picture and text simply saying, "without you we wouldn't be celebrating mother's day...thank you isn't enough" 

We also visited Missy and Sitina last evening for a little time together, they both look so wonderful together- what a perfect family they make.

Above is a funny snap of Zara cheering at Florence's birthday.

 Below--playing with Kate...check out her new sweater from Sitina! 

The highlight was going to Summer's bridal shower 

where Zara was supporting Summer in all her present openings!

Chocolate Strawberry mouth

Lauren and the Munch at Summer's shower, what a perfect affair.. still dreaming of chocolate covered strawberries...yumyum!

Mike & Summer almost married!!!!!

Helena in DC

Zara wearing Aisha's gift, super cool soccer flip flops!

Pizza lunch on the porch with Helena and her old Boss's daughter's family who just happens to live on our block here in DC.  Talk about 6 degrees...

Our super expensive pool!

here is Helena, a girlfriend from my past-  Tunisia 5th & 6th grades and girl scouts! 

Zara loves birthday parties!

When she heard everyone start singing Happy Birthday to max, she came a-running from the tango room, (see above) with a little yelp! 

 I really think she understood it was time to eat that amazing Choo choo cake 

Jill made for Max's 2nd Birthday!

The tango room used to be Max's grandma's tango dance room but since been converted to the Play area.  If you look closely you see me taking the picture, BUT far more exciting is the fact that you can see Helena sitting on the stairs near me!  

Helena and I went to school together in 5th and 6th grade in Tunis, North Africa.  She happened to be in NYC for business and seflessly took the bus to Tenley Town  to be with us for the entire weekend before returning home to her fours children in Sweden.  

Funnily enough, I actually mentioned Helena a few posts earlier b/c she was with Aisha in Holland too.  The three of us back in school were the closest of friends.  

Helena brought perfect gifts for Zara .. you can see 

her necklace that she hasn't taken off yet!

The Munch loved the pretty Helena!

Max with his Choo choo cake face!

Zara with her new accessory- the swedish necklace.

A Special Note for Aisha; who is laying in a hospital bed in Holland as i write this.  "We are all thinking of you and so relieved the surgery went so smoothly.  Our love to Kiara!"

Aisha is doing great after a major surgery and the doctors hope this will improve her mobility and relieve her pain so she can get out of that wheelchair! 

 Her positive attitude is paramount to her super fast recovery.  

We have spoken several times and she even got to speak to Helena and me at the same time from my DC!  How cool is that!?

The Red Bud tree Blooms

Zara & Daddy on our porch!  

Apparently this picture was taken before the arrival of Daddy's new Monstrous metallic blue 4x4 truck... otherwise one would not be able to even see any part of the house!

Zara thinks she can clip toenails all by herself!  you go girl!

Jeanette took this picture just above, She and her family drove down from NY and 

we spent alot of time with them visiting the museums; really great days!  

It was our Zara's first visit to the Smithsonian of American History.

the Gallic Stopover

The arrival was late so we all had pizza and a huge slumber party!

just before departure, slightly delayed to a flat tire...a quick snapshot! 

Caleb missed our photo op... asleep in his car seat.   Matt's sister, Beth and her family were returning from their spring break in South Carolina;which has been a 19 hour drive there, yet luckily for us, broke the trip in half on their return!  What a treat to see them all! 

 pretty sure Zara was in heaven with 7 cousins!

Maddie the oldest girl, but third oldest overall!

Little Caleb a few  months older than Zara, he is the youngest Gallic- well so far!

and here is mr. Jacob!

Shawnie the oldest- man of the house and serious athlete

Laurie- the youngest girl-- so far!  She organized all Zara's toy bins, what a sweetheart!

Nate- the wild thing!

Laurie again!

Stevie- all the girls like him!

Birthday parties and family time!

with Aunt 'Ne-at Karina's birthday party on Saturday morning- it was almost 80 degrees!

With Grandma in the laundry basket... in Granny Zarr's Kitchen!

Greg smiling after the Rangers win over the DC Caps- and Steve Falk as well- after all he drove all the way from NJ to go the play off game!  Since the boyz were at the hockey match, the girlz ( renee and zara) lounged in the sun, attended parties and ate bons bons... 

Zara's latest loves

Zara loves to play with dolls and look at real live babies now!  Lucy, from down the street, 

comes for visits and so does Cooper- as seen above!  It was almost 70 and pure sun today; so the front porch was a busy place!

 She is also infatuated with basketball & soccer and the razor skateboard thing that the pre-teen boys play on next door.  I tell her over and over she is not old enough to play with the big boys; its heartbreaking because she seems so excited by their every move- whether it be pogo- sticking jumping or skateboarding.

This year... Last year.. same red tulip!

Zara's visit from the Easter Bunny...

....in the form of a cookie