Foam Zone

I took Emma Claire and Wilson to the Birmingham Zoo today - and boy was it a BEAUTIFUL day - 90 degrees - isn't it still April????? I could just about do a different post on all the different areas of the zoo - but in normal fashion, I hunked it all together in one with about 234 pictures!!!! Not really, but REALLY, I DID take 384 pictures today - JUST AT THE ZOO!!!! Crazy.

Where in the world is Emma Claire????

My children love animals - all of them! The zoo is heaven on earth - they were running from place to place - with excitement in their eyes!!!

Even with all the fun with the animals - the Foam Zone was definitely the HIT - but at $2.50 per child for less than 10 minutes, not quite a rip off, knowing how much fun they had, but not completely worth it either - I wonder if you can rent those things for a birthday party or something - NOW THAT WOULD BE FUN!!!!!

Yep, Wilson tested the goose and he snapped at his finger - right after I read the sign to him!!!!



Wilson laughed.

I have to tell on Emma Claire here, simply because she rarely EVER gets in trouble out in public places like this, especially by someone other than myself. But, she wanted to pet these sheep SO bad. They were in a roped off area most of the time, but occasionally one would creep out into the water spray. One time, Emma Claire saw it coming and went after him. He saw her coming and turned and ran the other way - well, EC commensed to chasing him - and the lady said, "Hey little girl! No chasing the sheep!!!" - I don't know why that was so funny to me - I guess it had more to do with the fact that it was EC doing the chasing and not Wilson.

The petting zoo part was the next favorite thing - neither child wanted to leave.



Check these next 3 pictures out..... Wilson couldn't just pet the goats on their backs....he had to get right in their faces and talk to them first - maybe he was intoducing himself or something, "Hey, Mr Goat, I am going to be your little boy-brusher for the next 2 minutes....I know you've been brushed 200 times already today, but just lay really still, it won't hurt a bit!"

The carousel was fun too....I think this may have been Wilson's first time on one, though I might be wrong -

The water fountains were a hit too, Emma Claire took full advantage of them....Wilson had fun jumping in the puddles, but I never did see him run through and get his body wet. He's never been much for cold water, even when it involves a fun time - I think it has to do with his low body fat and always being cold!!!!! Wilson doesn't normally LOVE the pool during the summer until about the week before school starts back in August - THEN the water is finally warm enough for him!

The Tigers were the best seen animal today - they were right THERE in FRONT!!!!!

Giraffes are such beautiful animals!

The butterfly camp opens in 1 week - it's always fun - sad we missed it!!!!

Wilson was a little apprehensive of the train ride at first, but once it started going, he looked at me and said, "Mamma, this fun!!!!"

(this is actually a great picture of Wilson's exotropia in his left eye - it's turned outwards, not focusing on whatever the right eye is looking at)

One funny I about forgot to mention. After they got through in the water, we were in the dressing room/bathroom changing back into dry clothes and Wilson had to go potty. SO, I took him NAKED (as if that alone wasn't enough to bring a few chuckles out of some women and children) over to the bathroom side and helped him use the potty. After he was done, I turned around and headed out the stall, while telling him to come on and wash his hands. I got to the sink and turned around to pick him up.....

NO WILSON!!!!

I ran back over to the stall we had been in and a sweet lady was going in it at the same time and we both saw it....

The toilet was flushing and Wilson had his head.down.in.the.toilet.

I kid you not.

We both let out a groan...

I whisked Wilson up and did my best to explain to him how dirty that was, all the while hearing the lady laugh and say, "Boys will be boys!"

Braided Perm

This morning, Emma Claire got a shower before school. I didn't have time to completely dry her hair, given that I try to be at work at 7:00 every morning, so I braided the front part in 2 braids, added bright pink polka dot ribbons (we DO live in the South, by the way!!!) and she was off!

Tonight, when I took her hair down, I started laughing....not at her, but at the flashback that was going through my mind....

Me, 1987, begging my mom, every night, to braid my hair in teeny tiny braids and let me sleep on it, so that when I woke up, it could look something like this....

Except all the way around, of course.

I promise she did not go to school or church looking like that - here's proof!!!!

Catching a bike ride in the dark after church!

Please tell me you wore your hair like that AT LEAST ONCE, if not everyday (I only wished), like me!!!!

Tuesday night, was the big rivalry soccer game - Emma Claire and all her girlfriends - GO WILDCATS GO!!!! against THE BOYS and one little girl - all their best friends and Emma Claire's cousin, Patton! It was a great game - I do believe they tied, though we were NOT keeping score - yeah right :~) Those boys hung right in there!!!! Ha Ha !!!!

Guess who started walking like a CHAMP last week!!!???? Go Henderson!!!!

But he still reverts to crawling when he needs to get somewhere FAST!!!!!

I'll leave you with a dirty kiss....

Me? Kreativ????

I wouldn't say so, but apparently Sara and Ivy disagree - Thanks you two!!!!!

This is what you do to share the award:

1. Post the award on your blog, and link to the person who gave you the award.

2. List seven things you love.

3. List seven blogs you love.

4. E-mail or comment on those blogs to let the people know you've given them the award.

Here goes...in my not so creative ways....

7 Things I Love:

1) Jesus, My husband, my children (Necessarily in that order - at least that's what I strive for) Much easier said than done, especially with 3 very small children!!!!

2) LOVE my church and all my friends there - not sure what I would do without them

3) To eat (pretty much anything, especially sweets) and drink liquid poison (aka Diet Coke)

4) Exercising - yes, I REALLY do!!!! (Running, weights, tennis) - just wish I had a little more time to enjoy it!

5) A clean house - and I actually love doing the cleaning - just not at the expense of my children or husband!!!!

6) Facebook and Blogging - I cannot tell you the last time I watched a tv show - seems like whenever I get a free moment, this is what I do. Trading one evil for another, huh?

7) My Canon Rebel SLR

8) Mornings

9) Watching my children play together

10) Anything with fruit in it!

Oh yeah, only 7 - well, whatever.....

7 Blogs I love (I mean...REALLY, do you think I can narrow it down to 7? - Have you seen my list on the right side???) I'll try!!!!

1) Rachel

2) Leigh

3) Allyson

4) Lindsey

5) Darby

6) Andi

7) Abby

and many, many, many more - just take a look!

To the Man I Love

Tonight, as I was coming in the house from my tennis match, Will was going out to take out the trash. I went upstairs to my bedroom to undress and Will came into the closet and said, "Todd just called and he's at the Emergency Room, his dad just had a heart attack and died."

I thought he was joking.

And then I saw that look in Will's eyes, the tears on the brink.

Todd and Will are the best of friends. He's that guy that Will calls when he wants to go see a "guy" movie. The two of them go to every away Alabama football game and basketball tournaments. He's a great friend. My heart goes out to him tonight. He was so close to his parents...one of the "good" guys. Todd, you are in my thoughts and prayers. May God give you peace to get through this storm.

The rest of this post is dedicated to this man, who I am so in love with. He is that guy. The one that a friend calls when he is grief-stricken in the emergency room and doesn't know where to turn. He is the guy you call when you're moving furniture and need another hand. He is the guy you call when you need assistance putting together a playground for your child. He is the guy you call when you need someone to take care of your dog when you go out of town for the week. He is the guy that will literally give you the shirt off your back, and then give you $50 to go buy a new one. That guy is the love of my life.

He is the most gentle, patient, loving, kind-hearted, humble, witty guy I know. He is disciplined and noble - never had a drink in his whole life - and was a KA for 4 years at Alabama - go figure? He is a friend to all - believers and non-believers - he truly walks the walk AND talks the talk - though very quietly and humbly.

He is the best father to our children I could ever ask for. He is a hard worker, both in the office and at home, an honest man. He loves our children to the point of nearly passing out any time he hears bad news about their health. REALLY. He is silly with them and patient with them, he's consistent in disciplining them and loving them twofold after the fact.

I could ask for nothing more. He is my soulmate. The one my heart longed for. He is a child of the Living God.

I love you, Will.

Bubble time!!!

Yesterday, Wilson only took an hour nap - which is not the norm for him - he is usually a 3-4 hour napper!!!! At first, I was not very happy, but then I let go of what I was doing (ironing, vacumming, laundry) and decided to play with him outside. I honestly cannot remember a time when I played with just Wilson one-on-one, sad huh? Emma Claire often gets one-on-one time to special things like plays, movies, play-dates, etc - being the oldest and the only girl. Henderson has gotten his share of one-on-one time so far, simply b/c he is a baby and there are times when I stay home with him while Will takes the older 2 out. But Wilson? He's falling into that middle child stereotype. I am a middle child - I don't think I was hindered by this at all, but I don't recall much one-on-one time with my parents either.

So, Wilson and I swang (is that how you say that?), hit tee-balls, pulled weeds together, blew bubbles and layed on a blanket in the beautiful sunshine - just the two of us!!!! (Henderson was still napping) It was glorious - he is truly the sweetest, most fun, exciting, say it how it is, little boy I know!!!! Truly, life personified!! Now, he can turn on you in a second and be a viper, but most of the time he is a sweet little guy. His vocabulary has astounded me lately, and it cracks me up the things he says. I've noticed lately that he tends to repeat everything I say to him and I think it's just his way of learning new words.

Wilson is very sensitive to others' needs and affectionate - he is also OBSESSED with the human body - maybe this explains the trouble we had with potty training - he likes anything about the human body - poo-poo included. Really, if you're ever naked around him and will poke and prod EVERY part of you and ask "what's that?" EVERYTIME!!!!! It is quite hilarious. I remember when he was just walking - he was obsessed with bottoms - we would literally stick his finger right in your bottom if he saw it - now I know that may be too much information for some of you, but just picture getting out of the shower and THERE HE IS -- you'd better run fast - and he would chase you - so determined! He even gets after Emma Claire and Henderson when they're bathing!!!! We've gotten on to him about it enough that it's not a huge issue now, but the other night I saw him do it to Henderson in the bath and I began remembering how he used to be!!!! Hopefully these little things about him, will pay off and he'll be a great physician one day!!

Today is Emma Claire's last day at the beach, but I won't see her until lunch tomorrow. They are driving back late tonight and she is going to spend the night at her Nana's house and stay with her while I work in the morning. Yesterday, they met some friends at Bay Point and she had a blast hunting for crabs along the bay - her heaven - anything involving critters!!! Then last night they went to a restaurant where they had kids' karaoke - I heard she was a microphone hog and had fun singing BINGO and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!!!

This afternoon I am keeping Ellen's youngest, Stanton (11 months), along with Wilson and Henderson. I've set up a pack-n-play in Wilson's closet (nice and dark), so I'm hoping they will all nap A.LONG.TIME!!!! - keep me in your prayers!!!!