Birthday, Zoo, Spring Break

This is a little out of order. Because of the Home Makeover! I have not been able to blog lately. I wanted to share our Spring Break adventures and some other things going on.
We had our Spring Break the week of March 15. Friday night, Jeremy and I spent the night painting the kitchen. Exhausting! Just a fresh coat of paint really makes a difference. Saturday morning we woke up (well, the kids woke us up) and got ready to head to Birmingham. My Mee Maw turned 89 (love you, Mee Maw) and our little niece Caroline had her first birthday party at the zoo.

Ella Grace looking at the owl.

Major, Uncle Chris and Hunter checking out the chincilla.

Caroline having a bite of cake with some help from her mom.

Caroline and her cousins Lily and Jacob from Caroline's mom's side, Caroline's brother Austin, Ella Grace and Major

Austin on the carousel

Major and his key locker from Mee Maw

Major, Granddaddy, and Austin, Uncle David and Caroline in the back

Uncle David and Caroline

Granddaddy - remember this when your back starts hurting in a few years.

Ella Grace and Daddy with the Lorikeets. Major and I went in, too, but he was not a fan when they sat on his arm!

Major petting these good lookin' guys

Major, Ella Grace and Hunter

After the party, Jeremy headed back home and the kids and I headed to my parents. We hadn't been there long and the one thing the kids pray every night for it to "not happen" happened. I can hear Major saying it not "God, help us not to throw-up anymore." We hadn't been there too long, when Ella Grace said she wasn't feeling well. After a couple of tries on the potty, she did it. Poor thing. She just laid around the rest of the evening.

Let me interject, here, another big thing that happened. Jeremy & I got a little English Bulldog in 2004, soon after we moved in to our house. Roscoe used to stay inside with us and we loved him. He was very strong, very energetic. Roscoe continued to stay inside with us after we had Ella Grace. Jeremy was on night-shift back then and I remember having to take him out when it was so cold (Ella Grace was born in January), leaving her inside asleep, and rushing him so I could get back in to her. Brrrr! When we found out we were pregnant with Major, I said he HAD to go outside. So, a team of family and a neighbor built our fence and out he went. Major is allergic to dogs and the kids were terrified of him. So, Sunday, March 14 we gave him away. It is such a bittersweet thing. I miss him, even though I really didn't go outside and interact with him, but he was barking at the trees and annoying us all the time. I know he is probably living it up right now - back inside in a warm bed. (And I'm sure our neighbors are thankful, too.)

Back to the story now:

Sunday, she was up and ready to go! We headed to church, then back to Mom & Dad's. Jeremy came up and after the kiddos naps, we drove over to Jeremy's parents. We spent Sunday night through Wednesday with them. Monday we went to the park. The kids had such a fun time. It was cold and wet, but they ran, and came down the slide and laughed and it was the best! When we left the park we had lunch at Chick-fil-A. Yum! After forcing the kids to eat something, they got to play again! (I love indoor playplaces!)
On Tuesday, my crew and Jeremy's mom drove to the science museum. There was a special visitor there that day! And we got to meet her!

Grandmother and Major

Ella Grace and Backpack

Major and Dora, Boots and Backpack

Boots, Dora, Major, Mommy, Ella Grace and Backpack

(Ella Grace would not get any closer to Dora. She wouldn't even sit in my lap!)

Major givin' some love before we left

Major with his tat playing putt-putt.

Guess who?!

A little t.v. action

During an animal show - here a turtle

I'm diggin' up bones... (can't you hear Randy Travis now?)

On our way to the pond we had to stop to see the horse.

This was pretty much the extent of our fishing adventures. No fish caught this day.

During some breaks and naptimes, Jeremy's mom has been teaching me how to sew. I haven't had a chance, yet, but all I have left to do is sew the buttons on Ella Grace's dress. When I get finished I'll take a picture to show!

We left the kids with my mom and dad while we continued with the Home Makeover!.

Home Makeover! (part 1)

Yeah, after six years in our home we were ready for a facelift! The last half of Spring Break Jeremy & I spent painting the interior of the house. We painted our bedroom and bathroom, living room and Ella Grace's room, as well as the trim. Jeremy had painted the kids' bathroom before SB, we painted our kitchen the Friday night SB started, then he painted Major's room that Saturday night.

After all that was complete - our new floors came! Yippee! (As stressful and as hard as this is, it is SO exciting!)

This was a before picture of our kitchen (I think I took this one with my phone).

As they guys were getting stuff from the garage and moving around I "sneaked" (as Major would say) and took a few pictures.

Almost done!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

They did all of this yesterday and came back today and did the grout work. I'll take a picture of that later when I can actually get in the kitchen! They also did our bathroom yesterday/today. Since it is on the other side of the house I can't actually get to it to see what it looks like!We are scheduled to start the living room on Monday. Hooray!

My Simple Pleasures

After reading of some blog frirends' simple pleasures, I began to think about those things in my life that I most enjoy. Here are a few:

watching a movie with my husband

the smell of children, fresh out of the bath with baby lotion on

listening to a fun song in the car on a beautiful day

watching my children play a made-up game

having lunch with a friend

celebrating answered prayers

understanding why God laid a special friend on your heart

a Coca-Cola (from a bottle)

fresh fruit

a good book and some quiet time

a good work-out

snuggling with a little one

enjoying playtime at the park

the zoo

a fun vacation

Show Us Your Life - Favorite Charities

On Kelly's Korner - Show Us Your Life, this week is Favorite Charities.



My favorite charity would probably have to be that of the Alzheimer's Association. My paternal grandfather, and Jeremy's paternal grandfather, both passed away after being diagnosed (years earlier) with Alzheimer's.



I remember as a little girl waiting for my grandfather to pick me up from school. When he finally got to me I knew he was upset, and found out later he had been to my house to pick me up instead. It is so hard to watch someone go through this form of dementia. It is a progressive disease, and the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S.



My sisters and I usually give our parents a gift of a donation for Christmas. One year we chose the Alzheimer's Association in memory of our grandfather, Pop.

Letter to a Neighbor

Dear Man across the street:

I wanted to let you know I did see you (again) in your whitey-tighties yesterday when I came home from work. Since we live in a subdivision, it would probably be a good idea to continue to wear pants well into the evening, and especially not make public appearances while it is still light outside. I would appreciate if my children did not see you like this.

And I am glad there was extra room in our garbage can to accommodate the box you put in there this morning. Yes, I saw that, too - my front door was wide open.

Here's to our warm, clothed days ahead!

The eyes across the street