Audobon Zoo Caravan

It went like this:

8:00 a.m.

5 vehicles

8 adults

11 kids

14 hours

{collectively}

1st Ever:

Stellys/Kleinpeters-Take-the-Audubon-Zoo-by-storm-Day

 We were only at the 2nd exhibit & the boys looked like they were ready to throw in the towel...

 Izzy got smart & got a piggy-back ride.

Nonny & Lovee stopped for a rest.

 Oh, to be a bird on the shoulder to hear that conversation....

 Now here's where it got interesting:

The Dinosaur exhibit was fabulous, fascinating, frightening (to a young person).

They roared.

They moved.

They spit.

Yep, spit.

Paw Paw had to step in & help the girls get to know this creature.

Then they got brave & stepped in on their own.

 OK, so this tree was awesome.

Awesome.

I bet thousands of kids have climbed this branch over the years.

Our kids were no different.

Little monkeys.

 Even Izzy shimmied up that thing like she was descended from apes.

{Sorry Mom, that was just a joke...}

 All the kids rode the carousel several times before we headed to the cars for the quiet trip back home.

Easter

This Easter was a gorgeous day.

The kids woke up to their little baskets full of goodies.

We let them take their time to enjoy their loot this morning.

Time for a tortuous brother/sister picture.

Suck It Up.

The on to Josh & Ann's house for our Annual Easter Crawfish Boil.

Jealous?

I know you are.

Just admit it.

It's OK.

I would be too.

After we got there, Izzy began running fever & not feeling well.

Chris took her to MeMe & Poppies to lay on the couch for a nap so these are the only pictures I have of her all day. Poor Baby.

Sophie was so excited about the Easter Egg Hunt!

She kept picking the eggs up saying, "Thith ones for ma Ithhy."

{Translation: This one is for Izzy}

After we ate, Ann had all kinds of fun games for the kids to play in the yard.

Sophie was in her prime in that crawfish sack!!

The adults all did the egg-on-the-spoon relay.

My Dad cheated. Stinker.

The 3-legged sack race was so much fun.

Caleb & Bubb cheated!!

Three generations of CHEATERS!!!

Sophie wanted to race with me so bad. I didn't know how it was going to play out but man did we have a good time.

We finished up the afternoon with Sophie missing her sister so we packed up & headed home with some tired little chirrens.

Good Friday Traditions

Colors, Colors, Everywhere.

Good Friday traditions have gone back several years for us.

But this year was so much fun!

We had tons over to dye eggs at MeMe & Poppies.

Every chair in that kitchen was full.
Every cup that could hold food coloring was filled with water & vinegar.

Poppie kept with tradition & served his delicious fried catfish & even I couldn't help but pick.

The day was warm enough for the kids to swim & boy did they have a blast!!

The Dads were worn out from all of the hard work.....

Shhhhh....Easter's almost here....

Swimming Party for Alexander

Our kids are spring babies.

This means we don’t get many opportunities to have swimming birthday parties.

Until now.

Don't get me wrong, it was still in the high 80's but for those die hard swimmers, the pool was all fun & games!! Some got it for a while, played & then get out & warmed up in the sun. Their little teeth were just a chattering.

Thanks to global warming, el Nino, la Nina, whatever, it actually was warmer this April than it has been in a looonnggg time.

{Thanks Al Gore. I’ll give you credit for my boy’s 6 year birthday party.}

MeMe made a Power Rangers cake upon request but the gift of the day was Transformers.

 

We can swim!!!

Alexander’s list was a mile long. We had family, we had friends, we had classmates.

Who knew when we’d have another swimming party opportunity?



Even though to most it was too cold to get near the water, we all had fun. It was a fabulously gorgeous day & my boy was so pumped to have so many people come hang out for his big day.

Play & Pray Easter Egg Hunt

oohhh, Our Girls are Easter Egg Huntin’ Mommas

This morning was no different.

We had our annual Play and Pray Easter Party at our church.

All our best buds were there. And they were just as ready as we were to hunt for the loot!

Watch Out! They were on a mission!!

They had so much fun! And I even let them have all the candy and treats they wanted…GASP!!

Kindergarten Easter Party

This morning was Alexander’s Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt.

All the parents were encouraged welcome to come along.

Chris & I packed a lunch & headed to the park.

When the buses dropped off the kids it was mass pandemonium.

 

  Once all the classes were organized they were off!!

Off to find the 12 eggs we had pre-filled & sent along a few days prior.

Once they found 12 eggs, they could sit on their blanket & eat away……

Whoohoo sugar rush!!

This is all of Alexander’s class with his teachers, Mrs. Triplett & Mrs. D.

Swimming Silly

It’s the beginning of a warm April.

We’re taking full advantage of the glorious weather, letting the kids swim, swim, swim.

When the water registers a warm enough temp, it’s all on!! They swim their little hearts out!

My Boy is Six

My son turned six today.

Six.years.old.

When did six years pass by me so quickly?

Was I snoozing?

I feel like some parts were stolen from me.

Stolen away with a blink of an eye.

Not stolen, like in a negative way.

Stolen, like in a, “did I pay attention enough” kinda way…

Did I pay enough attention to hug when it was needed?

  Did I pay enough attention to encourage, build up, speak softly, etc, {etc, etc, etc….} when it was needed?

We woke up to the usual pancakes with a candle & sang Bubb “happy Birthday.” Gotta love the spidey candleJ

At lunch I packed the Sisters in the car & we went to eat lunch in the cafeteria with him.I don’t know who was more excited, Alexander or the Girls.

 

After school we met up with all of the family to eat at Chris' Bubb’s favorite restaurant Buffalo Wild Wings.

The night ended well, with my Six Year Old snoozing to dreams of Transformers dancing in his head…..I fell asleep determined to snuggle, hug, kiss & take more time for the little things.

Before another six years passes within a blink of an eye....

Two Years Ago Today

I was looking for something in my April2009 folder & came across these.

Seriously?

Wasn't April 2009 just yesterday?

My babies.

Not babies anymore.