Living for the Weekends...

Our weekends lately seem to be jam packed w/ birthday parties, cookouts, fellowships, etc.

Well, this weekend was no different. Saturday started w/a birthday party at Planet Pizza, which is so much fun. There are rides for the kid & adults.

After the birthday party my niece Vanessa came home w/ us since everyone was coming over later to cookout. At Wal*Mart look who we ran into, Tony the Tiger--you'd have thought he was a movie star!!

Mom, Gram and their troops came over w/ meat for the grill and fireworks left over from 4th of July. While the big people were preparing food and chatting, the little people were swimming, jumping, running, kicking, etc. Lots and lots of fun!!

Sunday after church we had another potluck w/ our Sunday School class, then home for naps. Joe and I usually take this time to mow and such, but since it was raining we had a nice relaxing afternoon/evening chilling in the house watching movies. Sometimes that's just what the doctor ordered, unfortunately my body felt it needed a little more of that. I have just been plain pooped so far this week. Can't seem to get it in gear. Oh well, come September I think we have a free weekend-maybe I can rest then.....*sigh*

Before / After

Every year or so Joe gets the brilliant idea of letting his hair or beard grow out. Although I am not a fan of either I pretty much go w/ the flow. Well when Joe made mention he was thinking of cutting his beard off Friday evening, you better believe I took off running w/ the mere suggestion. 'I'll get the scissors!' And so I did.

Here are the before & after shots.

Ahhh, Much better!!

Rest In Peace Peggie

Please say a prayer for my precious grandmother, as today she has lost a dear friend.

We all loved you Ms. Peggie, you will be missed.

Prayer Request

One of my good friend's daughter Brittany, 14, will be having heart surgery next Monday. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers for the next couple weeks.

Fossil Rim Park

Over the weekend we went to Grandpa's and had sooo much fun. We went to Fossil Rim Park where we saw and fed lots of cool animals. Here are the pics......

Looking for the Buffaloes

Looking for some food...

The sunroof came in handy

Guess they had their fill of food

The Ostriches were Very aggressive, stuck his head right in the window and tried to get the food out of the bag itself

We stopped for a sack lunch half-way through and this is the view!!

Cash made himself right at home next to this guy in the petting zoo

Jasmine up close and personal w/ a Zebra

This big guy was coming in for a bite, but by the time the picture took he was out of the picture. Notice the dark clouds in the background. It started raining right after seeing the Giraffes.

The kid's then started singing Very LOUDLY:

Rain, Rain go away,

Come again another day.

All the children want to play,

Rain, rain go away.

Glad they were able to entertain themselves for the five minutes or so it rained. The rain stopped just as we were reaching the next group of animals.

My camera started acting up about this point of the adventure and I still haven't been able to get it working. So frustrating.

Fun Fact Friday...What Flower Are You?

I Am a Carnation

You are down to earth and grounded. You tend to be more traditional than trendy. Your confidence gets you through anything. People trust you and are very loyal to you.

What Flower Are You?

A Birthday Party & A BIG Spider

Saturday we went to a birthday party which was good and bad. It was great to see old friends (the couple who introduced Joe and I ten years ago). Not so great that Jasmine is a little younger and kept getting her feelings hurt cause some of the bigger kids didn't want her around them . Cash on the other hand was in his own world and having a GREAT time. He found himself a karoke machine and wanted to put on a performance for everyone.

Sunday after church we had a potluck w/ our Sunday School class, which was fun, then headed home. We were sitting outside for a little while when we returned home when I noticed this guy.

We'll call her Harriet
**Initially was Harry, but after looking it up on the internet turns out only the female would be this big**

I was trying to point it out to Cash when a grasshopper jumped into the web and Harriet sprang into action (nearly giving me a heartattack thinking she was coming for us). She scurried down the web and started wrapping the grasshopper up for later. It was all very interesting.


Last night we met our cousins Kaja and Adrianna for dinner at McDonald's. The kids had lots of fun playing. And I don't know what is going on w/ my kid's smiles. They both look almost in pain. Too funny!

Pet Peeve

Hate when I go to the bathroom and there is someone else in there talking on a cell phone in the next stall. I feel like my privacy is being violated (not that a public restroom is private)! When I just can't wait I ask if I can call right back, put it on mute or at least my hand over the speaker. The thought of someone else hearing my flush ooges me out...

Fun Fact Friday...What Dessert Are You?

I Am Cheesecake

Rich, sweet, and simply perfect. You're not boring - you're just the best!

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

HAIRSPRAY

Is anyone else excited about this movie. I love musical's (favorite all time movie is GREASE), love John Travolta-Michelle Pfiefer-Queen Latifah, love dancing. I can't wait for this movie to come out. And Joe even said he'd go w/ me to see it -- ain't that sweet!

IT'S A SUNSHINE DAY

In true Brady Bunch enthusiam, this is what I was singing all weekend. The kid's got a kick out of it and learned a new song.

I think I'll go for a walk outside now,
The summer sun's calling my name,
I hear it now.
I just can't stay inside all day,
I've got to get out, gimme some of those rays.
Everybody's smiling (sunshine day),
Everybody's laughing (sunshine day),
Everybody seems so happy today, in the sunshine day.
Oooh. Can't you dig the sunshine?
Feel the sun and the rays.
Can't you hear it calling your name?

Oh, it's a sunshine day!!

We had lots of fun this weekend which started off w/ dinner and a movie at a friend's house and essentially a sleepover for Jasmine. She had a GREAT time and was especially excited to pick out what she wanted for breakfast - SOUP!

Saturday morning we picked her up on our way to the zoo where we had lots of fun. I believe the kid's favorite part was the stream in the Children's Zoo area. Here are the pics.

My boy's getting a closer look at the penguins

It was hot and humid, Jasmine took a moment to cool off in the Gorilla exhibit

Cooling off and wasting time until Meme and her troups showed up for lunch

(I don't think Aunt Heather plays fair, her splashes are WAY bigger than Jasmine's)

My monkey trying to get a better look at the monkey's


Lunchtime

(they've added a cool new picnic area we took full advantage of)

When you get these two together it is nothing but T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

This picture was taken after they had gotten ahold of a water bottle and started slinging water, anyone within a few feet got a little shower and the two of them were soaked

(but laughing hysterically!!)

Cousins!

We even spotted a few animals not in cages.

**this was not zoomed, I was actually this close to the squirrel and he didn't seem to mind**

I tiny Gecko roaming around in the reptile building

They were on a mission, headed to the Children's Zoo to get wet!!

Good Times!!

Got Crack??

Jasmine was having the same issue, but didn't stand still long enough for me to get a good shot.

Sunday after church we took the kid's to Cici's for pizza then home where we FINALLY were able to mow our land. Our soil is super-soft and there has to be a drying out period after raining before it can be mowed. Since it has rained for practically two months, we were in desperate need. ~~ And I only got the riding mower stuck twice ;) ~~

Fun Photo Friday

Last night we had milk and cookie type blobs (as you'll see in the picture--whatev, they were yummy!).

Milk Mustache

Are those for me...

We even had an appearance from Cowboy Cash....

Family Fun Day & Fireworks-Take Two

Yesterday was a fun day. I've wanted to have a day for the family (Joe, the kids & myself) to do something for a while now. It seems we are always busy running in different directions and I thought we all needed to run the same direction for a day. Let me start by saying, this was not suppose to be that day. Joe was 'suppose' to go to work for half a day, but a flat tire and a couple other issues prevented that from happening. Soooo, the kids and I slept in (I believe I got up around 9am--that's right 9AM!). Had a quick breakfast and headed to see RATATOUILLE. From what I saw it was cute. A little over half way through Cash got a little antsy so Joe took him and they hung out at the video games for a while. Not too much longer and Joe came back saying he had a stinker (literally). So we swapped out and Joe sat w/ Jas while I took care of Cash's situation. After changing him in a bathroom not equipped for diaper changing, Joe and Jasmine come walking down the hall. She said she was tired of watching the movie and wanted to go home for a nap---WHAT, she hasn't taken a nap at home in over a year unless it was purely accident! Oh Well! We went outside and Jasmine dipped her toes in the fountain while Cash watched.

Finally, we headed home. During lunch one of Joe's friends called and asked if they could come shoot off some fireworks on our property. Sounds like fun. Then a little later one of my friend's called asking the same. So, we had a little impromptu fireworks show at our place last night. YIPPPEE!

Here are some pictures.

BTW-it rained at our house throughout the day, so there was no time for the Earth to soak up the rain before everyone came over, as a result everyone had a nice romp in the mud.

Please proceed....

The three amigos

At one point Jasmine informed me she needed to go change her jeans--I don't think so!

**If you click on the picture you will get a better idea of what we were facing. Her whole backside was covered from when she was running at one point in the evening**

Cash on a mission

**Notice Cash's jeans are wet up to his knees. When we first went out he was walking in the puddles looking back at me to see if I was going to get onto him and tell him to be careful. Once he realized it was OK, it was a free for all. Jumping, running, sitting--whatever he could do in the mud was FUN!!**

Does Jasmine look tired or what?!

**maybe she should have taken that nap**

Last night I stripped them on the porch and they made their way to the bathroom for baths in only panties and a diaper....if only I had gotten a picture of that!!

What Personality Are You?

Leave me a comment and let me know your results...

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Fireworks and More

Saturday we had some family over for brisket, burgers, hot dogs and fireworks. The kids had a GREAT time. And we were blessed w/ no rain from Friday afternoon until Sunday....Praise God! Here are some pictures of the fun.........

Alex with a roman candle

Jasmine with a roman candle

Sitting in the back of Joe's truck watching the fireworks

Jasmine 'posing' while holding a sparkler

Cash w/ a sparkler

There is always time for ice cream!

(notice Dally anxiously awaiting the first drop to hit the floor, with that many kids he's sure to get his share....and he did!!)

After a night outside in the country when it has been raining for two months followed by ice cream, we ALL needed a bath. We had an assembly line for the kid's so they'd be nice and clean for church bright and early Sunday morning.