One year old!

Guess what I forgot? It was my blogiversary on July 29. I've been at it for over a year! 243 posts. I've met a lot of great people. That is really the reason I started this whole blogging thing. So thanks to all you "long-time" readers who've been with almost the whole year. You always leave me lovely comments and make me feel great! And you know what else? I've been noticing some new readers lately and that makes me very happy! Even more comments!

We had a pretty low key weekend around here. I finished the school shopping on Friday. Saturday and Sunday were completely relaxed! I pretty much stayed in all weekend. I was wonderful! I did go for a run on Saturday. I only made it about 2.5 miles. It was so hot! I turned around and walked the 2.5 miles home. I'm not sure how I feel about continuing to run. I don't know if it was the heat on Saturday, but I'm going to think on that for a while.

Today was Open House for my middle schoolers. They went to school and picked up their schedules and locker combinations. I don't know how they deal with those combination lockers. I never had a combination locker in all my years of school! In high school, we all had individual locker with keys. How crazy is that? Anyway, they have no trouble with their lockers and seem pretty pleased with their schedules.

School starts on Wednesday. I'm happy. Honestly, I think the kids are happy too. A new school year is always exciting!

The Zoo

A couple of weeks ago, I took the kids to the Louisville Zoo. We are so lucky to live near such an amazing zoo. I spent many days there when I when I was younger and still love to take the kids.

Now get ready for picture overload! This was our first trip to the zoo since I got my Fuji camera. I got some great shots. The exhibits at the zoo also make it really easy to see the animals in their "natural" habitat.

Even though I do not like birds, I did not discriminate.
Some of them really are beautiful.

But they are still scary! Like this bald eagle. This is the male that was guarding the female and her nest. You can't tell me that's not scary!

Mama elephant and her baby

The giraffe exhibit is exactly as I remember it as a child. The only change is that they opened up the back wall and now the lions can overlook the other animals. Just like in the wild. I love it!

The zoo added this award-winning gorilla exhibit about 6 years ago. This is the first time I have seen the gorillas outside!


Here's my kiddos inside the gorilla exhibit. I think there was a gorilla sitting on the other side of the glass right behind them. We always spend way too much time with these big guys!


Here's another fairly new exhibit. I love the meerkats. See how they look right at the camera? People say they pose for pictures and if there are no cameras around they go about their business as normal. How cute!

And finally, my favorites. The big cats! I love them all.



Aren't they beautiful?

How time flies...

2004
(from L to R) Jimmy-9, Tyler-8, Mallory-7, Rachel-7

5 years later...

2009
(from L to R) Jimmy-14, Tyler-13, Rachel-12, Mallory-12

Easter @ Home

RED as "The Bunny"

Easter has always been a whatever comes up kind of holiday. We don't have any concrete plans for year to year. In years past, we have had dinner with family at my parent's, grandparent's and aunt's homes. One year we hosted Easter at our house complete with an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. This year felt like a stay-at-home Easter. It was just the six of us. I cooked a ham for dinner and taught the girls how to make deviled eggs for Big Daddy. He's the only one that likes them!

We also baked and decorated a yummy bunny cake!

Of course, the one tradition that always happens is the dying of the eggs. I started out with 16 eggs to boil and ended up with an even dozen. Three eggs each...just enough to tint their fingers blue! I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few.

Look at that green! Reminded me of the C-man!

I hope you all had great Easters with your families!

Wordless Wednesday

Mustaches

Did I mention that the kids grew mustaches while we gone!

Goofballs!

Sick, sick, sick

The boys have the flu! All of them! JJ was home from school Monday and Tuesday. Big Daddy didn't work Tuesday and Wednesday and Mr T came home from school yesterday and is still in bed. They ran high fevers, had aches and pains and just slept for days!

The girls and I have not (KNOCK ON WOOD) picked it up yet, so hopefully we will be able to enjoy the weekend.

I have been resting my ankle though. Training for the marathon has been causing it's share of expected aches and pains, but my right ankle has been steadily feeling worse. I've been getting some treatment from our Sports Therapist and he told me to take it easy on training this week. I think I can do that! ;) Aside from walking up and down (and up and down!) the steps to baby my sick boys, I have just been taking it easy.

And on that note, I am going to head upstairs with the after lunch ice cream and a round of meds.

Christmas Review

I'm still tired and I have a lot of chores!
Here are Christmas Day and the day after...

Santa came!

Lookin' good Mr. T!

A winter hat direct from Russia for JJ!

Miss Thing kept her back to me all morning!

RED got everything she wanted and more!

Even the kitties got a visit from the big guy!

These were the only nappers I caught on film,
but we all napped on Christmas Day.
The kids were up at 4AM!!!
We sent them back to bed until 6!

On Friday Big Daddy's brother and family came over.
They are in town from Florida
and they brought the warm weather with them.

Ready to feed the fam!

Plenty of treats left to share!

Jo Jo had a little too much ruffage!

My Allie!

So, that's all for now...the washer is calling my name!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

As I sit here waiting for Santa to arrive, I thought I would share some pics from tonight.

The kids draw names between the four of them for a "Secret Santa" gift exchange. We started this a few years ago when we couldn't really afford to have each child shop for each sibling so they each buy one gift instead. They enjoy the tradition so we haven't changed it. They are allowed to open those gifts on Christmas Eve. I like doing that because this makes the very first gift they open from their brother or sister. It makes me very happy and I hope it is a memory they will always cherish!

When they were finished I asked for a group hug photo. This is the closest I got!

We also have another present to open on Christmas Eve.

If you haven't guessed, these two studs will show you...

We all get new pajamas!

So, as you can see, a great start to a Happy Christmas! It is 11:30 and my kids are all four in bed before midnight for the first since...well, probably last Christmas! But we still have a couple hours left before...

(merry christmas!)