Video

10 Years of AllyZabba

by Jill

Christmas day, 2005. Sitting around the Christmas tree with my husband, 3 year old and 11 day old life was crazy and wonderful. My sister and I had been playing around with the idea of starting a business together. We both enjoyed sewing, so maybe a quilt shop would be fun. After thinking about it, we realized that the quilts would be too expensive…no one would actually buy them. However, the business bug was stuck in my head. Under the Christmas tree was an envelope. To Jill From Rob. Inside the envelope was a gift certificate. Rob would register a domain name and build a website for me to sell my crafts. Later that day, the idea for AllyZabba was born. Were we crazy to be doing this now? 2 small children, one of them not even one month old! Whatever. Let’s just jump in and see what happens. Over the next few weeks Rob built the site and I started sewing blankets.

Christmas day, 2015. Sitting around the Christmas tree with my husband, 13 year old and 10 year old life was still crazy and wonderful. This year our family has the chance to live abroad for one year. This is super exciting for all of us. We will live in a new environment, meet people from all over the world, travel, explore and experience life like never before. Knowing that this change was on the horizon we needed to make some plans to be away. One huge obstacle was my business, AllyZabba. I couldn’t run it from across the pond, so really the only option was to find someone to take over the reigns.

Amazingly, finding a new owner wasn’t as difficult as we thought. Our long time friends, David and Laura, said that they were interested in running the business. This was a perfect solution. They are the perfect team to take over where Rob and I left off. We couldn’t be more excited for them to take AllyZabba and make it their own.

Over the last several days we have reminisced about the early years.

Remember when we got our first order from someone we didn’t know!?Remember when I used scrap material to make patchwork burp cloths! Those were cute but a lot of work! Remember when I used to wash every blanket in dreft baby detergent? Gift baskets were a fun experiment.

It has been such a great 10 years. We have made mistakes and we have had great successes. Our customers are pretty awesome. The majority of our success is because of them. They come back again and again and they tell their friends about us. We couldn’t be more grateful for them.

Now it’s time to press ahead to the adventure that awaits across the pond in 2016.

Ode

Ode

by Jill

My oldest has been working on an assignment for her english class. The topic was, write an ode to an elder who means alot to you. She chose Pappy, my grandfather. She asked me to read over it for a final edit before she printed it out. Amazing. I sat there with tears streaming down my face. The picture that she creates with her words is remarkable. For anyone who knew my Pappy, she has captured him so perfectly with her words. If you didn’t know him, let me introduce you….

Remembering Pappy

In the silence of Pennsylvania Furnace.
A story echoes,
Come there, stay there.
Remembered through time.

A man; born under the untamed moon,
Remembers the life of wild times;
When war reigned and he fought.
The man was an ox,
Strong forever.

As he aged things slowly changed,
His eyes became a fault.
Nothing with a touch of something,
The corner of the world he could still see.

He learned in the war,
that time was a gift.
He became a friend, with his “mouth organ”
A language he knew; and knows forever
showing that he was still strong.

In the beginning he was a broad winged bird.
One protective and bold.
Still loving and sweet,
He changed my world and never stopped.
He taught that nothing hurts more then not getting back up.

Video

Trying Something New

by Jill

Last summer when we registered BigZabba for 7th grade she had to choose her electives rather quickly…like with just a few minutes to choose. How was she supposed to choose without any knowledge of the classes or teachers? She could choose up to two electives. Pretty quickly she decided on engineering (which was a super cool class but that’s for another post), but the second elective was a harder choice. She really wanted to try playing the viola in the school orchestra, but having zero experience with a stringed instrument, or the alto clef, the principal was unsure if the teacher would allow her to take the class. Much to our surprise, the teacher said that if BZ wanted to try learning the viola she could enroll in the 6th grade orchestra since those students also had little experience, and she may feel more comfortable being with students who have similar playing ability. While BZ wasn’t totally thrilled with being the only 7th grader in the 6th grade class, she understood why that was best. In addition to her daily orchestra class she had a weekly lesson with a viola teacher and by January she had improved so much the orchestra teacher recommended moving her up to the 7th grade orchestra class.

Now here we are at the beginning of 8th grade and I can’t believe how much she has learned in just one year. It has been amazing to see her excel in such a short amount of time. This last week we attending an orchestra concert and were so proud. We are so thankful for her orchestra teacher who was willing to take a chance and give BZ the opportunity to try something new.

 

Video

The Magic Flute

by Jill

One of the many things I love about our local elementary school is the many “extras” that are offered. There are many opportunities to participate in music, art, technology and many field trips. This week I had the pleasure of watching my girl participate in an opera, The Magic Flute. The San Francisco Opera Guild came to her school and worked with the kids. They held auditions, made scenery and rehearsed. It was a great experience. LZ (LittleZabba, my youngest daughter) played the part of The Second Lady. She was so excited to get to participate in a play with professional actors and actresses.

I have always thought that she would be a natural as an actress, and I think I was right. While she was a little nervous to perform in front of the school, she didn’t let her nerves get to her and she played the part of her character perfectly. I am pretty sure I was the one clapping the loudest when it came time for the cast bow.

As we were leaving school she said,

I’m sad it’s over.

Image

The Little Things

by Jill

Our family wish list for our new home and neighborhood and several things on it. We knew that we wouldn’t be able to find a home that had all these things, but it was fun to dream. A few of the items that we did not get are, a tree house and a jack-n-jill bathroom for the girls. Two of the items that were on the list were a wrap around porch and a red front door. Rob said that we could always paint our door, so it didn’t really matter what color it was. But, to our surprise, the house we fell in love with had a wrap around porch and even a red front door. It was so reassuring and comforting for us to see how God was providing for each of us in such specific ways.

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Granted Wishes

by Jill

When we decided to move we made a family wish list for our new home and neighborhood. One of the big items was – horses. The girls really wanted to be near horses, or ride them..anything to do with horses would work. Amazingly, we now have an equestrian center right across the street. The girls have been taking riding lessons for the last several months, and they are loving it. It has been such a treat for them to have this experience. They are learning how to care for horses and they are becoming more confident in themselves and their skills. I am so thankful for this amazing gift God gave my girls. Such a big wish list item, and He provided.

Changes

Changes

by Jill

Hello there. A couple things have changed in the last few years. In a nutshell, we moved to San Francisco and learned to love all things Star Wars.

We are slowly adapting to the ways of being a Nor Cal resident. If you are trying to blend in with the locals, there are two ways that are guaranteed to blow your cover. Don’t mention that you were on “The 101 freeway” (instead, say you were on 101). And, never say anything positive about the Dodgers. Also, we now have 3 trash receptacles in the kitchen; compost, recycling (glass, paper, plastic), and trash (anything that can’t go in either of the other bins).

One other large difference is the level of activity that takes place here. Biking (mountain and road) are pretty huge up here. When we go to school the number of families that bike to school together is pretty phenomenal. We are not talking about any old bikes for the biking families. These are cargo bikes. Bikes with an extra “bench” seat in the back for the kids to straddle while mom or dad pedals, while saddle bags are strapped to the sides for all your essentials. I have even seen a bike with an infant car seat bolted to the back of the bike. Nothing is going to stop the biking family from pedaling through town. We in Nor Cal are very green in all ways and it has taken some time, but my family is starting to get on board.

Until next time, May The Force Be With You.

Have Fun

Have Fun

by Jill

This is a note BigZabba left on LittleZabba’s bed for her to find when she woke up. LittleZabba wasn’t feeling very well and BZ wanted to cheer her up.

Wake up sleepy head! Today is my birthday! I am doing my chores. Please don’t be sad today. Put a smile on your face. Today is my birthday so I order you to have fun. Sadly we have school but when we get home we will party! I am so crazy! Smile in my room no frowns allowed! Have a great time at school. Talk with your friends and have fun! I will play with you when you are home. (When I finish my homework!) E might come before we play but that’s okay! Maybe you can start your chores when you wake up. Then, I can throw a party! Oh ya! oh ya!!! I am so happy that today is my birthday! Smily power is the best power! (I am so glad you are feeling better!) Have the best day!

First Day

First Day

by Jill

After our move this summer, the first day of school was a big hurdle for the girls. BigZabba had attended the same school, with her very best friend, since kindergarten, so this was going to be a big change. She was nervous to start over with a new school and new friends, but she maintained a very good attitude about it. LittleZabba was excited to go to school. She was thrilled to finally have her own backpack and lunchbox. She loved that she was going to be able to eat lunch at school, just like her sister.

Over the summer BZ met a little girl at the park. She was going to the same school and entering the same grade. BZ really liked her and hoped that they would be in the same class. With 3 classes it didn’t seem likely that the one person she met would be with her, but it didn’t hurt to pray about it. The night before school started both of the girls had nervous energy. BZ had a bunch of questions about what she should do to meet people, what could she say, how should she act..etc.

School morning came and everyone was up early. Breakfast was eaten, chores done, phone calls made to the Grandparents, and there was still extra time. So we took lots of school photos to kill some time.

 

Soon it was time to walk to school. As soon as we got to BZ’s classroom she was thrilled to see the girl from the park. They were in the same class! She was so excited. She told me that at that moment all her nervousness left. (I love this photo. I can see the happiness in her eyes. She doesn’t look worried or scared at all.)

With her anxiety behind her she walked into her class and 4th grade officially began. She had a great day and couldn’t stop talking about her teacher (she is so funny, she is very nice…) and she told us all about the advice and help her park friend gave her. We are so thankful that the first day was such a success and that the initial transition was so positive.

LittleZabba is so independent that we weren’t too concerned about her journey to kindergarten. She breezed through the first day and was super excited to go back. Her teacher is very friendly and seems like she has a lot of energy for a room full of 5 year olds.

To wrap up the first day the girls came home and made calls to the Grandparents to let them know how the day went. Everyone was very glad to hear that it went so well. However, the day couldn’t be complete without a session with the best friend. We were unable to get together, so we improvised.

Being able to see her best friend was like water to her thirsty soul. The love each other so much and it warms my heart to hear them talk through their days together. I pray that even though they are apart their friendship will remain strong. They are sweet friends.

Here’s to an amazing year!