Trip to Sunny Farms

This morning, Mrs. Kay & I teamed up to take our girls & niece, Mary Elizabeth, on a Play & Pray outing to Sunny Farms here in town. It’s a small farm with horses to ride & animals to feed, a big tractor for hayrides & a fun nature walk.

The kids all got to ride a sweet red named, Sunny. Ahem, I think the farm was named after him since he was probably as old as me.

Anyhoo, Izzy & Mary E. rode Sunny the sweet gentle old nag horse.

Sophie was only riding the non-living horsy on the farm.

Oh, and she would also “pet them, Momma. Not ride them.”

I think this was Sophie’s favorite.

After the kids got to ride the horse, they also loved on the other animals on the farm.

Each child got their own feeding bowl & the goats were herded along the  bench to eat feed out of the kids’ laps.

While the last of the kids were still feeding the goats, a man brought out this extremely obese ginormous rabbit. I swear that thing weighed more than Izzy.

We went on a hayride down to a trail where the kids did a nature walk & saw different trees, a fox hole & a deer brush.

The day was so much fun. My little hens were so excited to get out of the fresh air and into their second home at the mall food court where MeMe got them two rides on the carousel!

4th of July via Instagram

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....

An Early Spring?

Wow.

Is the weather warmer?

Warm enough for swimming, you ask?

All we need is 70 something degree weather.

And we're at the pool, Baby!!

Shivering bodies, purple little lips, chattering teeth and all..... 

Of course we had to sit out in the glorious sun snuggling watching the kids.

Somebody had to do it.....

 

What?!?!

Huh?!?!

Crawfish, you ask?

Why sure, Don't mind if I do!!

First boil of the year & those suckas are huge goodness!!

It was a kick off to spring PARTAAAYYY!!!

 Once the kids were able to warm up playing in the sun, they got back in the frigid waters for another dip!!

We ended the great afternoon warming up in sun-warmed towels eating popsicles.

Our Inaugural Church Fair

Our amazing church had their annual fair this weekend.

It was our 1st time going.

Alexander could hardly sit still in the car ride over.

His whole Kindergarten class had been talking about it all week.

They had been out to recess the past two days watching the crews set up the rides & games booths.

It was soooo exciting.

I have to admit I was pretty pumped, too.

What kid doesn't remember his times at the carnivals as a kid.

The bright lights twinkling from all the rides.

The signature carnival music playing from loud speakers.

The food. The music.

THE COTTON CANDY!!

It was a trip to see the looks on the kids' faces when they realized they were going on the ride by themselves. Priceless.

Alexander took the Sisters' hands & led them through the line like he had been chaperoning them for years. My heart skipped a beat.

Of course, some of the rides were not for the "shortest of our group" so they required an adult.

Chris lost won the toss up.
Nice.

The bumper cars were Sophie's favorite.

Imagine that....

Bubb & Izzy doubled up against Chris & Sophie.
You can tell Izzy was having fun!

We went back on Saturday morning so the kids could enjoy the games since we only rode the rides on Friday night.

Aunt Crystal & Clayton & Tiffany came to hang out with us. Clayton schooled Alexander on the fishing game:-)

They all won a prize.

Alexander's parting words on the way to the car:

"This was awesome!! I can't wait for next year!!"