Zoo Time

I miss the days of playing all the time, of planning what exciting thing we would do the next day.  Both kids are in school and those days are now in the past for us.  So truely for the last year we have stayed pretty close to home, replacing our outings with things close to home.

So on Presidents day, we had the day off with nothing to do.  The kids wanted to go to the gymnastics day at our gym but I really wanted to spend the day with them together. 

So I suggested the zoo.  They were so excited.  I am so thankful that they still enjoy going and doing things like this.

So the kids packed their own backpacks (at their request) with snacks, drinks and one pink Ipod and we headed out.

Our only snag was it was a holiday and the other 2.2 million people who live in Houston also wanted to go to the zoo.  So when we arrived, I was very thankful for the smurfs playing on the DVD player because it took me 50 - yes I said 50 minutes to find a parking place.

But once we got it - thanks to the membership I bought online, I didn't have to wait in the long lines to buy tickets - it was a fantastic day.

It was very exciting to see the differences in the kids during this visit.  Ladybug is reading everything now.  She wanted to stop and find out about everything she looked at and the name and things about it and whether it was endangered or not.  And Batman was not running around trying to see how fast he could get to the next place.  He actually slowed down a lot and would watch the animals and what they were doing and talk about it.  They are growing up so much!

 Kids ready to go with their backpacks.

 Watching the sea lions.  I mentioned we had one ipod with us.  Well Ladybug also wanted to keep time once she found out there was a sea lion show.  She watched her clock every 5 minutes so that we would not be late and miss the show.

 Ahhh, ice cream.  I don't like to spend money at over priced places but these soft serve swirl cones look so good they were worth the $8.  But we only bought two and I enjoyed licking the edges for the kids so they wouldn't drip.  I do believe it may have been the first time for the kids to each eat an entire large ice cream cone!

 The ipod came out while we were waiting for the sea lions.  We had to get there early or those other 2.2 million guests I mentioned would be standing in front and we could not see.  So I let them play for a few minutes.  But that was the only time.

 They have a long reflection pool that they kids enjoyed walking up and down.  And it had a few posing spots.

 The monkey?

 And of course a petting zoo in the kids area.  Another funny thing.  They didn't even mention riding the carousal when we passed it.  They were so focused on getting to the kids animals they didn't even ask to ride.  In the past they would have been begging to ride.  Course I had brought money if they asked, but they didn't.

 Yep it is real.  Loved the eagle.

 My man..

 Sweet girl.

 And a few more of Batman

We had a fantastic day.  Love that we can still spend relaxing and productive days together and not have to worry about all the things we do "have" to do now these days.

Lovin it!

Fun times

A few fun things from the weekend:

 My cute man with his baseball cap on.  He doesn't wear hats so I loved it when he pulled it out and started wearing it. He was in fact about to give me a puppet show with his friend. 

 I wanted a picture of Ladybug with her new bling shirt but Batman wanted in the picture.  I "enouraged" him to move his head to the side so I could get them both in the picture.

 Once again he would not move so she just hugged him.  He didn't like that much either.

 My sweet girl.  We blinged a Baylor Bear shirt for her.  We are green and gold this year.  I have nothing green or gold in the closet!  So here you are.  She is so cute!

 Love this little man.  Baseball hat on backwards, sitting in daddy's big truck, watching out the window and eating cheetos!

 Daddy got a pop up batting station for practices...did I mention that daddy is coaching this year?  Well the kids love it.  They are batting and practicing throwing all the time now.  The practice is showing as you watch them hit the balls to the outfield now.  So cool!

 And here we have western day in honor of rodeo season around here.  For awana, they got extra shares for dressing up.  Batman would not take a serious picture!  My adorable cowboys and cowgirls.

 Not here either!

But I loved this one.  A loud yeehaw with a cowboy hat, pants and the Nike Just Do It shirt.

Lovin it!

Class picture day

Oh I have many posts.....but my full time yearbook job is my focus now (lol) with team mom in baseball following up behind it!!!

So I will leave you with a couple of pictures from this morning.  Today was class picture day.  Here are my cuties!

Valentines Day

Here are few pictures for you.  We didn't do much for Valentines this year.  I had these little red tins and I put a little present for the kids in them about every other day since the beginning of February and then on Valentines they had their final surprise.

 

So funny to me how much Batman loves stuffed animals.  He had named his bear before breakfast and it helped him fix and eat his breakfast.  

Then they had a fundraiser at the school where you could get a bear for the kids, so they each had a bear sitting on their desk when they arrived at school.

 Chris took the day off so we got to spend the day together but we were at the school taking pictures all day.  I am in full yearbook mode and I am not doing anything else till I finish it (Shhh don't tell Chris I snuck a blog in).  But seriously, I think I can have it done by end of next week.  And boy would that be a load off my shoulders!

The kids were allowed to exchange Valentines at school.  Rules around here stipulate no party for Valentines and no candy are allowed and will be sent back home with your child if you attach a treat to your valentine.  So Ladybug went with a sticker puzzle valentine and Batman went with the dinosaur 3D.  

The box above is what they made at Lowes last week.  Sadly I didn't get to go because I had to be at the school for our big fundraiser but they made valentines boxes.  So Batman wrote his name on all his cards with his box.  Love watching him reading and writing!

And here the kids are finding love verses in the bible.  For every verse that had love in it written on a heart, they would get one extra share (up to five) at Awana this week. The kids wrote all their own verses.

Then to finish out the night, we all went to Canes.  It opened not too long ago and I was not familiar with it but everyone loved it.  It is just a chicken place. We went the other day and our kids ate chicken like they never have before.  They loved it and it was very good - a lot to high in calories - so Chris and I split a box.  But we enjoyed it so much we went back for Valentines.  

Fantastic, laid back day. 

Lovin it!

What do you think?

 I keep meaning to try out some of the great ideas I have seen. One of those is Subway art.  I have downloaded and printed a few high quality printable's but I really wanted to try making my own. I found the saying on a piece of artwork on a blog I follow.  It was on a board with vinyl lettering and cost $32.  It was red and white so I decided to change the colors. But I can make my own and print it as an 8X10 for under $2.  Or I could even put in on a canvas.  That's a thought.  But I like it better because I can personalize with my own pictures.

What do you think?

Playing in the rain

Last year we had record droughts. In fact not one softball/baseball game or practice got cancelled because of rain last year.

This year they have already had to cancel several days of tryouts and our huge fundraiser at school had to be postponed this week due to the huge mud puddle that has taken over the whole back of the school.

Both had friends over after school on Friday and the clouds rolled in again and the thunder started. After a huge downpour, they headed outside to play a little bit.


Lovin it!

100 days!

Yesterday was the 100th day of school.  I do believe that the Kindergarten accomplished very little the entire day except for some fun.

 He wanted superheroes on his 100 day shirt.  The only thing we could come up with was stickers.  I searched and goggled and fretted over this shirt. 

 I think it came out as best as we could do.  And Batman loved it.

 They made hats.

 Then all of kinder has a parade around the school.  Other grades lined the hallways and the kindergartners snaked through all of the classrooms in the school to show off their fabulous shirts!

 Then Kinder and first grade had a guest author come in today.  She was very entertaining and they kids loved it. 

 Batman got to hold the dog that is in some of her stories. 

 All the kinder teachers in their 100 day shirts.  The one in the middle is Batman's new teacher.  He has had a sub for the entire year. When it was determined that his teacher would not be returning, they hired a full time teacher in January.  So she didn't have a shirt and just made her own. 

 I stayed and ate lunch with my man.

I loved the this lego shirt.  Lego's!  Why didn't I think of that?

Very fun day!

Softball tryouts

It is that time of the year again!  We love spring ball around here! 

Ladybug moved up to coach pitch this year.  Last year she was the oldest but this year she will be the youngest playing with 2nd and 3rd graders.  So that meant tryouts.   They rate the players so that all of the impact players are identified and they are evened out on the teams so that one team is not more stacked than the others. 

 Ladybug ready to go.

 They had them catch pop flies.

 Catch a throw from outfield.

 Field  a batted ball

And throw to first base. 

She did great.  Then they batted a few times.  The draft will take place soon and we will find out what team we will be on!