houndstooth

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Mormons, Zoo Animals and A Quiet Little Monday!



Sunday, September 23, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0
Miles This Year: 1584
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)


We had an awesome morning at church this morning.  With Romney running for President, many people in our class had questions about the Mormon religion, so we asked a very sweet woman to come and talk to us and help us understand a little better.  It was fascinating.  You can find out more here, but it was very interesting to hear a little bit about this religion that seems to be very misunderstood.  Our class was so interested, we have asked her to come back again to answer more questions.   Cool!



__________________________________________________

Dig in...

We have become quite routine in our Huge Sunday Lunch at Mimi's house.  I can remember growing up with friends who had huge Sunday lunches with the whole family.  As close as our family is, we did not.  We grew up with my Dad taking the four kids to early church and Sunday school.  We sat with my grandparents until we were old enough to sing in the youth choir.  Then, we would come home and he was (and still is) out the door by 11:15 to play golf.  I rarely remember my mother going to church with us, as kids.  She considered those 2 hours of an empty house sacred!!  That was her "church." I wouldn't mind that sometimes, myself!!  ha...

Anyway--I was always jealous of people who had that big Sunday lunch.  Well...jealous no more!!  We get to have what is almost  a Thanksgiving feast every week at Ben's parents'.  We normally get out there before they get home from church, so Mimi will leave something  cooking in the oven and then leave me a list of options on the counter to cook as sides.  Today, we had roasted pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes, fried corn (that Mimi and I shucked and put up this summer), zipper peas, Brussels sprouts, sliced tomatoes, and rolls.  Good grief...No wonder my stinking pants are all getting so tight!!  
________________________________________________

Afternoon Adventure!

We left Mimi's house to go meet some old friends and some new friends at the Zoo!!  Montgomery has a wonderful zoo (if you didn't already know).  
Dub, Tyler, Michael and Roo


We have a new Parakeet Cove, which I am really not interested in...I do not like birds at all!!  We have a new baby Giraffe.  And, we have a new Ski Lift ride that takes you over the park!  

Trying to take a picture while holding onto two children, car keys, cell phone, and flip flops - while 40-60 feet high...not so easy!!
The kids loved it!!  I was more than a little terrified.  There is only a ski lift bar in front of you...

Plenty of room for a wiggly tot to slip right out...ahhhh!!

Michael and his Mama!  Great minds think alike, huh?

Looking at the tiger...

and the rhino...

and the monkeys!
The train ride is always our favorite part at the end of a great day at the zoo!
Dub even got to blow the horn!
 We were about 200 yards out of the parking lot when I noticed total silence from the back seat...
Just a little nap on the couch before dinner!

Ben met us at home (he went to check on game cameras on the farm after lunch) and we fed the kids, bathed them and had them in the bed and completely out before 6:00!  Nice family weekend in the books.

______________________________________________________


Monday, September 24, 2012

Miles Today: 0.0
Miles This Year: 1584
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

My alarm sis not go off this morning.  That happens when you don't set it the night before!  I rolled over at 5:55....ahh--get up!!  get dressed!!  get out the door!!!

______________________________________________

Pretty uneventful day...

...but that's not always a bad thing.  A quiet day usually means that the kids are behaving and learning lots of new things in their classrooms.  Fine by me!


Learning some mad color skillz!! 
Skittles....check!
Making an S with the Skittles


Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better.




Question for today...

Any Mormons out there?  

Does your family have a big Sunday lunch together?

Do you live in a city with a great zoo?

Any good Monday stories?




Monday, September 24, 2012

Bamboo Tourists


Saturday, September 22, 2012


Miles Today: 5.0
Miles This Year: 1584
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)


Nice run this morning.  My back is finally feeling better!!  Whoot Whoot!

_______________________________________________

Bam-Boo!!

Well...we checked out the Bamboo Forest Saturday morning.  It is just s trail through several acres of very old, very large bamboo.  It was pretty cool and the kids LOVED it.  It was not the coolest thing ever, but it was free and kept us busy for over an hour.  Here is our tour in pictures...








Hitchin' a ride!!






Huge Trees!! 



There are A LOT of frogs in the Bamboo Forest
Roo's introduction to BARK!!
The kids had a lot of fun.  It is in Prattville, so the kids thought it was a long way away...road trip for them!!  If you need a little free activity for the kids, I would recommend this one.

_________________________________________________________

Surprisingly Touristy!!  

So...after our little visit to the forest, we decided to stay in Prattville for the morning and be tourists on Main Street.  Dub wanted to stop and see the dam and we ended up wandering around, shopping and eating lunch at Uncle Mick's Cajun Market.   The kids loved the Gumbo!  Ben loved everything!!  If you are up that way, for any reason, you should try it!



My favorites peeps!!

Got back home just in time to tuck those 3 in for their afternoon naps.  

_____________________________________________________________

Gifts!

Once they were asleep, I was able to run some errands.  Good thing--I am about 4 wedding presents behind!  Check--got them all!!  

I decided a while ago to complete ignore Wedding Registries.  It always makes me feel weird for someone to know exactly how much money I spent on them.  It's like an instant judgement.  I'm sorry that generally, I can only afford about $15 a gift, which means that I can only buy you a spatula from Bed Bath and Beyond.  And-in my opinion, if it only costs $15, you should buy it yourself.  I cannot afford to buy your china, crystal or silver (I wish I could, I swear).

So, years ago, I just started going to antique stores and finding something that I love and I want you to have.  A. gift. from. me. to. you.

I got four amazing gifts for four great couples this weekend.  All antique, all loved before and all for $65.  Thank you very much!
_______________________________________________________________

RTR!!!

I left Ben and the kids playing and I ran up to the country club to watch the Tide stomp on FAU on pay-per-view.  I only stuck around for the first beating, er, I mean half.  I was surprised to hear later that FAU even scored at all.  Come on, Bama!!  You can do better than that!

Alabama - 40  Florida Atlantic - 7

Roll Tide!

Watched more football all night!  Love love love fall in the South!
What a nice day.



Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better.




Question for today...

Anyone ever been to the Bamboo Forest?  

Have you ever played tourist in a city 5 minutes away?

How do you feel about wedding gifts?

Any more awesome family day-trips in Alabama that I should know about?










Friday, September 21, 2012

Aaarrrrrgghhh!!!





Wednesday, September 19, 2012


Miles Today: 2.0 (walking...)
Miles This Year: 1575
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)


Man oh Man!!!  Did it feel great outside this morning or WHAT?!?!?!  I love fall...and we are thisclose!!!


____________________________________________________

Awesomeness! 

I am sure you are aware that today is Speak Like A Pirate Day!!  Love that!  In honor of One-Eyed Willy, I made coloring pages for the kids for their homework. 



We got a little carried away with the pirate talk and Big Mama made a real Treasure Map for the kids!!


The first thing on the list was something big, round, and yellow!
Check!
 Next up, touch the stairs...
Done!
 Check the map one more time...
It says to find an old lady with her hair all wrapped up on top of her head!
 When we got to the old lady--there was a prize!!!
New Dinosaurs!!!

Shiver Me Timbers!!  Thanks, Big Mama!!
______________________________________________________

I have Korean class tonight, so Big Mama is taking the babers to Choir Practice at church.  They had to eat early to get to practice on time.


Poppyseed Chicken!!

________________________________________________________________





Thursday, September 20, 2012


Miles Today: 4.0 
Miles This Year: 1579
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)


Um...today is Princess Day at school.  Snow White has a tea party to get to this morning!!


That's the Big Bad Wolf over there!


And SpiderMan, Woody and Tinkerbell
And Rapunzel...my buddy!!
             The "Ball Room" is all ready for our tea party...    

 But first, we have to learn some technology from Mr. Beard!!


_____________________________________________________________

Celebrating with Friends!!

We went to the club tonight for dinner.  We sat with our buddies, and we reaped the benefits of her birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday, Caroline!!
We got ice cream and cupcakes!!  We love a good birthday party.


 ____________________________________________________________

Poor Pitiful...



Once we got home, Roo's breathing was a little labored so we did a breathing treatment.  It has been so long since she has had a problem, I had to plug up the machine and get everything all connected.  I walked to the bathroom to get the Albuterol and when I walked back in the room, she was all ready for me!!  


Such a good little patient.  

_______________________________________________________


Friday, September 21, 2012


Miles Today: 0.0 
Miles This Year: 1579
Goal for the year: 1000 (so there...in your face!)

Roo was up 3 times last night with her wheezing and coughing, so that means I was up 3 times last night with her.  Therefore, heretofor...no run this morning.  Boo...

_________________________________________________

Tours!!

I had 2 tours at school this morning.  I love being busy!  

I got to meet 2 great young families who are very interested in becoming part of our family!  Did I mention I love my job!?!?

_________________________________________________

Weekend Plans...

I am having brunch with an old friend tomorrow.  She is in town for a wedding and I haven't seen her in several months!  Can't to see her!

Ben and I area also taking the kids to the Bamboo Forest in the morning.  It's some random yet rather large, natural Bamboo forest in the middle of Alabama.  I have never even heard of this, but I'll let you know if it is worth the trip to see it.  

The LPGA tour is in town, so we will watching some lady-golfers tomorrow with the kids.  Dub and Roo are both excited to see the girls playing!  This will be their first golf tournament.  Yeah!

Throw in some Alabama Football...BOOM!!!  Awesome weekend!

Anyway...that's my day.  I swear...it'll get better.




Question for today...

What did you do for Pirate Day?  

Did you have a Princess Tea Party this week?  Why not?

What are your weekend plans?

Any awesome family day-trips in Alabama that I should know about?