The Zoo

It's been a long time since we've been to the zoo and taking these little tykes was so much fun for me, I seriously got giddy! My friend Ginny used her free pass & then gave us a free coupon for both the carousel and the train!! The joy on their faces over all the 'new' animals was just priceless. 

 Just having a good chuckle with my friend, Henry.

 The glass was too clear for me on these freaky alligators...it's nice and strong, riighht?!

 The train. Rhett did not want to stay inside after about 1 second.

 ohmygoodness...these seals were definitely the most amazing animals of the day. They were incredibly active (we made it for the feeding/show) and just kept swimming back & forth. The kids looved it.

 Look ma, this is what I do when you don't have to hurry me along...I CAN conquer whatever walls are in my path (theoretical and physical ;)

 Bananas do indeed grow on trees.

Hold still. don't fall off. Click--got the picture. Yeah, it's a good one. Ari loves this thing because of "We Play" at the mall, but this was the first time Rhett went on it and wow, it was so awesome to see his little face light up each up and each down. I love being a mom.

I've Been Caught Red-handed...

Durn lipstick (Mom's one and only, may it rest in peace), it just shows everything..."

"We Play" at the mall, preschool age kids can come & do an activity and sometimes get free stuff (like pizza in this case :)

 Then ride the carousel for $.50!

 And last but not least, crawl all over the money-to-ride toys (minus the money)

 This girl loooves to make bread with me & 'pat pat' it and says 'bread na-night' when we cover it to let it raise

Jaydon's 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Moher

 Jyson's 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Zimmerman

Get that bubble, Rhett!

 Story time at the library...chillin on the saddle, yup, we're in farm country alright

 She wanted me to read out loud to her from my book :)

 Our ward organist/professional clown is painting a glitter flame on Tony...did you know Tony attended "Clown School" in his younger years? 

stick boy

These are all pics of the ward party at the park...these last two show a couple of trees (turned au nature l playground equipment) downed by the summer storm we had

 Grabill Days...Jyson in the jump rope contest...he did so well!

And the rest of us...watching him :)

Food. I'm Addicted.

It's no secret. I love food. It's a frequent topic around these parts and I embrace that fact more with each meal I eat :) So much so, that I have to really make an effort to make good, healthy stuff cuz otherwise, I'd be wearing too much of it in not-so-pleasant places on my body.

 Stevia is my new experiment. I'm trying to grow it in a planter box on our deck so I could keep it close to me for watering purposes. However, it's not really meant to be in a box...it's supposed to get kind of bushy-looking and so far it looks like this with just a few extra branches off to the side. 

That's a bunch of yumness right there.

Food makes us happy

 And sometimes sad, depending on who you ask on what day at which meal...hee hee

 Our first Kale and collard greens batch for our green smoothies

 First big tomato, the boys were so proud.

 Our 'new' pear and plum mini tomatoes...our favorite!!

One of these is not quite like the others...

 Our meals look a lot like this lately (homemade bread, green smoothie, Asian salad)

 Since we had to leave our already-planted beets at our other house I had a friend offer us hers...there are some whoppers!

Exhibit A (that is all ONE beet!) No, not a human organ. Eww, you guys are sooo gross...

 My midnight snack.

 Cabbage head of awesome proportions!

Greek-style (yogurt) cheesecake with homemade graham crackers made into the graham cracker crust...CCK strikes again!!