Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day really snuck up on me this year. We didn't have anything planned, but since Andy was home, we decided to have a cook-out with our families. Everyone had a good time visiting and we got to see some of the pics. Andy took while he was in Iraq. I'll put them in a separate post later.

Sibling Totem Pole

Jacob on the porch railing

Aunt Katie, Ellie, and Mimi

Family Photo

The Zoo (again!)

We went to the zoo with my sister, Katie, today. The weather was beautiful and we got to see lots of baby animals. Our pass as definitely gotten a lot of use this year. If you have one and want to go with us some time, let me know.

On the Carousel

Jacob had lots of fun "playing" with this Bonobo

Jacob, Aunt Katie, and Ellie by an elephant

Leaving the Zoo
They just redid the entrance to the zoo, so you park across the street, go across a walkway and use the escalators/elevators to get to the new entrance. It's definitely an improvement from the old one.

Picnic at the Park

Another nice day, another picnic at the park

Jacob

Emmy being silly
She thought it was really funny to peek through the bars and blow raspberries

Ellie

Her smile says it all...we had a great time!

Mother's Day Celebration

For Mother's Day, we had both sides of the family over to our house for dinner. We made homemade burgers and had lots of yummy things to go with it. Nathan's gifts to me (pictured above) had a pink theme: roses, bag, tissue paper, balloon, pajamas, & waterbottles. We were going to take some family pictures, but right before we took them, Ellie tripped off the bottom step in the front yard and landed head first on the cement sidewalk. Thankfully, she is okay, but the bruise and bump were pretty scary.

Birdhouses painted by Jacob and Ellie

Ellie and Mommy

Emmaline being silly

I didn't even tell him to wear this shirt today!

Jacob and Momma

Jacob and Mimi with her plants

Grandma, Jacob, and Emmy

Mema and Jacob

Ellie's nasty bump...doesn't she look pitiful?!

Mother's Day Crafts

For Mother's Day, I decided to have the kids paint flowerpots to give to each of the grandmas. I figured while they were at it, they could paint some for me too! It was a week-long project, but we are finally finished. Jacob and Ellie helped with each step of the process and they did awesome!

Painting the pots

Planting the flowersEmmaline supervised from the back window

All done! Aren't they beautiful?!

Sweet Sunshine!

It is supposed to be rainy the next several days, so we took the kids to the park to enjoy the sunshine. Emmaline is discovering the fun of parks and Jacob and Ellie make friends with whoever else happens to be there.

Emmaline going down the slide
By the end of the evening, she also figured out how to climb back up the slide

Ellie on the huge slide on the hill

Jacob loved spinning...I'm surprised he didn't make himself sick!

Swinging is one of Emmy's fav. things to do at the park

Day at the Zoo

Today was absolutely gorgeous, so we headed to the zoo. The weather was perfect, the flowers were in full bloom, and the kids were well-behaved the entire time. My parents went with us and we enjoyed looking at all the animals while enjoying the sunshine. Hopefully spring is here to stay!

Ellie on the merry-go-round

Emmaline

Mom and the kids by some tulips

Train ride with Daddy

Papaw and Mimi

Jacob

Cox Arboretum...almost!

After the birthday party, we went to McDonald's and got dinner to take for a picnic at Cox Arboretum. We ate and then planned to walk around for a bit since it was nice out. Dinner went fine, but then Emmy had a super-dirty diaper...as in out the back of the diaper and all over the stroller. Due to this, we opted to head home and try again another day. On returning home, we discovered that the cover of the stroller does not come off, so Nathan had the privilege of hosing the whole thing off in the driveway. Thankfully, it cleaned up nicely and will accompany us on our next outing. It was a strange and crazy day!

Before

After

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Since it was relatively warm, Nathan and his dad took the kids kite flying today. They flew kites for a couple of hours, went to lunch, and then back to his parents' house so the kids could play. From what I've heard, it was a great time. I stayed home with Emmaline, who enjoyed all the individual attention she got. Her nap time proved very productive for me as I folded (& put away!) 6 loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed the whole house, and washed dishes. Nathan even brought home dinner so that I didn't have to cook last night. It was a good day for everyone!

Gabrielle

Jacob

Spring is in the air

Afternoon at the Park

We were supposed to take Emmaline to get her 2-yr. pictures taken today, but she fell and scratched her face yesterday, so we're postponing that until later in the month. Since we had a free day (no school work and no therapy), we took the kids to lunch at Chick-fil-A and then to a park. Emmaline fell asleep on the way to the park, so I read a magazine in the van while she napped. On the way home, we stopped at Ritter's to get dessert and take it home. Apparently, I wasn't supposed to have any because part of my smoothie spilled in the van and the rest ended up all over the kitchen floor when Ellie was reaching for her sundae. Here are some pics. of the kids enjoying the windy day at the park:

Ellie

Jacob behind bars

Monkey-elle

Jakey-boy