Zoo Trip 2011

We finally made it to the zoo this year.  It has been so hot this summer, so, we decided to wait for slightly cooler weather.  We couldn't have picked a better day. 

Watching the monkeys with Daddy

 We ran into the Dunlaps, and of course I had to take a picture...Take 1...

Take 2: Oooops!  We lost one!  Where's Jax?

Mills loved the giraffes.  They are mommy's favorite too!

Mills said, "Ewephant!"

This beautiful cheetah was pacing in a very disturbed manner.  As a matter of fact, all of the cats were that day.  We wondered if something had gotten them upset.  Thank goodness we were on the other side. ha!

Mills and Daddy checking out the puma, who was having a stare down with them and the snow leopared across the way.  They were both on guard.

Happy Feet!

Mills petting the donkey.  He says, "Haaay Donkaaaaay!"

Jax is getting up close and personal with the timber rattler

The grizzly bears decided to show off and play a little bit while we watched

A Few Fall Crafts

These are by no means perfect, but I have been working on a few small fall projects for our home.
I have always wanted a burlap banner for our mantle, so I found one on pinterest that looked simple enough to try. A little paint, burlap, and jute cord...voila.



Next I tried to make one of those burlap hanging pumpkins.  I had no idea what I was doing, but it will have to do for this year.  I need more practice.  Maybe next I'll try candy corn or a ghost...or something.

My "B" didn't turn out so great, as I moved the stencil while sponging the paint.  Oh well.

Post-nap Playtime

It's beautiful out, but I must admit that I am ready for cooler weather.  Until then, we'll continue to enjoy....

Grilling out...

Looking cute...

Coloring...

Climbing...

Hangin' around...

Playing a little bit of golf....

Coloring some more (don't you just love that post-nap bed head?)...

and most of all, doing our own thing!  You've gotta love a dog with a mind of his own...

Heritage Festival at Ames Plantation

Where have we been? Good question! Busy, busy, busy. So much to blog about and so little time. I must start by saying that I had an awesome post planned for Mills' participation in our Heritage Day Children's Parade, but unfortunately, I left my memory card to our camera in my computer. So, no pictures = sad mommy. Now, lets get down to business!

We were fortunate enough to be invited by the Cranfords to drive over to LaGrange this morning to the Ames Plantation Heritage Festival. It was an unplanned trip, but an awesome one nonetheless!! I am so glad that we went. It was a huge festival with tons to see and do. We drove up and were directed to park, then were taken to the plantation by a school bus. Mills thought it was grand!

If you have never been to Ames Plantation, I assure you that this is something to see.  It is definitely on my list of things to do for next fall.  The plantation was covered with people.  Food booths were every where.  Barbecue, Amish cheeses, breads, jellies and jams, home made ice cream, and fresh squeezed lemonade and a little bit of bluegrass set the mood.  There were tons of folk art demonstrations such as stenciling and tatting. We saw tobacco being "dark smoked" in the old smoke house, alpacas, and the biggest logging horses that I have ever seen showed their stuff.  They were huge!  The old red school house hosted story time for guests.  It was my favorite building of all.  I told Christi that that's where I want Mills to go to school. ha!  She and I were also lucky to find a booth selling home made goat milk soap.  The scents are heavenly and I have already tried it out.  Love it!

Our first stop was a small Civil War camp. We were just in time to see the first cannon go off. I love this!

Everyone, hold your ears!

Mills enjoys his "gos dogs" (hot dog)

No electricity needed!  This simple single piston engine  = amish homemade ice cream!

Isn't that the life?

Whoever thought a broom could be so pretty. They were hand made and came in all sorts of colors. Awesome!

Mills picking cotton

Bringing his cotton to mama

And then, it was off to gin it! How cool is that? Yes we have a child harness...don't hate. ha! Mills loves the thing!

Mills with E & P- ginning their cotton

Watching how it is done

 I could post pictures for days.  Can't wait until next year!

Where were you?

I can remember exactly.  I had just started my second week of dental hygiene school at.  I was sitting in class with 28 of my awesome new girlfriends, learning the basics of teeth.  We were given a quick break, when suddenly, one of my classmates from Connecticut received a phone call from her aunt who lived in NYC and worked very close to the World Trade Center.  I can remember everyone chatting away, ignoring the fact that her cell phone had rang, until we heard her say, "What"  Are you kidding me?  Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh!  Are you okay?"  Little did we know at that time that another plane was on it's way to strike.  I did not know what this meant, nor did anyone else for that matter, but I remember thinking that it was such a tragedy and new that things couldn't be good.  That was before I knew it was a terrorist attack. 
We continued class, but my classmates informed our professor that she had received the call and that she had to keep her phone on vibrate (this was before texting), because she had several family members in NYC.  Lo and behold, she did receive the second call with confirmation of a second plane and a terrorist attack.

Several of us went downtown for lunch to Huey's.  Downtown Memphis was like a ghost town.  Most all of the businesses, federal buildings etc. had closed.  It was like total evacuation.  We had two hours to spare, so we, out of boredom, walked to the Peabody Hotel only to find a lot of people sitting in the lobby watching tons of TVs that had been set up.  This was the first coverage that we got to see.  It was unbelievable.  Our country was in complete shock.  I have to admit that I was scared and just wanted to go home.  Our afternoon class was not cancelled, but I am pretty sure that no one's mind was on what it was supposed to be, so it may as well have been. 

On that day, our country was changed forever.  We were changed forever.  So many innocent lives were lost. Many husbands lost their wives, many wive lost their husbands, and many unborn children will never know know their fathers.  Lives of those who were prepared to die for others such as our first responders, were lost.  As an American, every time I see the footage of this tragedy, my heart breaks.  As the wife of a firefighter, I am always brought to tears.  What if we had been living there? What if E had been one of those?  Those were our American brothers and sisters, and those guys in turnouts, they were Erik's brothers.  I am honored to have such a hero in my life and every night, I pray for his protection.  I pray not only for his protection, but for my sweet brother-in-law, Cameron, as well...all of them, I pray for all of them!  I am lucky to have these two heroes in my life!  They are awesome.  Many of you have no idea what they do every day, what the see every day, and how this tragedy and others affects their hearts.

On this day, ten years ago, this nation UNDER GOD, was attacked, but not ruined, but united.  We will never forget!

Beach Trip

On Thursday, our party of 8 set out for Gulf Shores.  Mills and I, along with Gram, Aunt Morgan, Aunt "Kimmie", Ms. Leslie, Ms. Camille and Ava were ready for sand, sun, new "family" beach pictures, and a lot of sand castle building.  Who knew? Right?  This post will be very short of  pictures, because the rain never let up and the wind was treacherous!  So, no beautiful beach pics like I was able to take last year.

We arrived Thursday night around 8:30ish.  Getting out of the car, I noticed that the wind was awfully strong.  I had never seen wind and waves like I did on Thursday, and by morning it was like a monsoon.  Aunt Kimmie checked the weather and there it was, "Tropical Storm."  Needless to say, it rained without stopping and the wind was like nothing I had ever seen.  If THAT was a tropical storm, I would hate to see what a true hurricane is like.  Lee, you stink!

 

We kept checking the weather and there was no sign of any break.  In fact, it was too bad to even get out of the condo to do anything. 

We went to the indoor pool on Friday and had a lot of fun swimming and soaking in the hot tub, then returned to the condo for dinner.

Mills and Ava Cate coloring

Mills found AC's Buzz and Woody

The two sweeties working a puzzle.  AC said, "Mills is my fwiend!"

On Saturday afternoon, a few of us decided to head out to the outlet mall, until we reached our lobby and decided that it was too dangerous to travel.  In Ft. Morgan, there is water on the North side of the highway, and I could just see me getting to the end of the drive, pulling out and getting blown across in to Mobile Bay.   We stood and watched as newspaper stands etc. were blown over.  The wind was treacherous and the rain was very heavy.  We almost gave up on it, but after an hour or so, it let up a little bit.  So, we braved it and headed out.  We had a great afternoon of shopping and finished the night with dinner at the Original Oyster House.  It never stopped raining, so we looked like drenched rats. ha!

Sunday, mid morning, the sun finally reared its head.  We made a mad-dash to the beach with all of the other vacationers.  The wind had let up...a little bit, but was still very strong.  The atmosphere was full of salty condensation, that covered our sunglasses.  I was unable to get any good pictures, because it covered my camera lens as well.  Bummer! We attempted to build a few sand castles, and Mills had a blast chasing seagulls up the beach.  He kept screaming, "Buddie! Buddie!" (birdie) 

The beach enjoyment lasted about 3 hours.  Then we headed back toward the pool area just before the storm reared its ugly head again.  We had a lot of trouble carrying all of our things back up.  Mills was wearing a monkey harness, which he loved, so that I could keep him within reach, and by the time we got up the hill, the wind was terrible.  I turned around only to see him at a complete stand still.  The wind was keeping him from walking any further and for a minute I thought my feet had left the ground. ha!  When I turned around to grab him, the wind blew him down.  He thought it was funny and I couldn't help but laugh.  Now I know how Dorothy felt as she was trying to get home before the nasty tornado took her to Oz.  It was crazy. Mills' cheeks were even getting blown sideways.  Later on, we all realized that we were all burnt to a crisp, even after applying sunblock.  It must have been the wind and over cast mixed with the sun and salty air.  Thank goodness the little ones dodged a sunburn.  Mills has a nice little tan.  Mommy's back is as red as a tomato.  Thank you aloe vera.  Here are my "salty lens" pictures.

We ended the day with a trip to LuLu's for T-shirts, then headed out for Pizza, which was DELISH!

Heading out early Monday morning, the rain was VERY heavy when we reached Mobile.  The National Weather Service kept interrupting the radio with watches and warnings, but we made it home in record time avoiding any trouble.  It rained all the way to just north of Tupelo.  As we reached Tennessee, the sunny skies greeted us home.