Zoo

We feel at home at the zoo. Maybe it's the wild animals. Maybe it's the goose poop everywhere. Any way you look at it, the zoo makes us happy.

Swans welcome us with delightful honks.


We check out the polar bear exhibit under construction.




We see sea lions sun bathing.


A stop at the playground is essential.

Lainey helps Jack up the ladder. Cuteness.

Can you hear him? I still can. Jack always alerts us when the train drives by.


We see the "weird birds" playing basketball. Because they're weird.


We discuss what the animals eat.


About half our time is spent feeding or taking care of Meow Meow.






We play in the cubbies.


And, visit all of our sculpture friends.


When Jack sees a hill like this.......

He finds a sudden interest in the stroller. Smart kid. Lainey let Meow Meow ride with him. Buckled up, of course.


We watch our shadows move when we move. And, dance. And, jump. And, run.


The train comes by and all animals come to life after Jack squeals!


The koi pond is our favorite stop. Frozen over right now. Soon enough, it will be lush and green and crawling with snakes.


We have the occasional protest.......or discussion on which animal to visit next......because kids don't understand that the elephants could be 1/2 a mile from the otters. But, we keep moving.


The deer get fed. It takes 30 minutes for Lainey to finally release the three pebbles of food she holds onto after Jack chunks his handful into the cage immediately. But, they all get fed and return to their naps.


And, then we head home to ours!

Monday Scoop

And......I'm back. Closer to my normal self since Caroline is making some improvements. Sorry for my absence, but it's hard for me to write on the blog when our world is off balance.

So, let's get back to business with some Scoop.

Last week, my friend Jillian and I took the kids to the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens for a walk and picnic.

She spotted the first sign of Spring! So proud of you, Jillian.

Jack found a train. Shocker.



We had 5 kids total present and lost a few for a while. No worries.

Ainsley and Brynn took a ride in the Bumbleride. I love how kids are always so fascinated with other strollers.

We studied the Kansas fossil seabeds. Yep. There's more than sunflowers and wheat fields here.

Sweet Brooke.


An opossum (did I say that right?) showed up behind our house the other day.

The boys were fascinated.

And, he stuck to the stereotype and played dead for us! Awesome. Well.....for a while there, I was brainstorming how to proceed with an animal burial, but he got up soon enough. So, after that it was indeed, awesome.


Lainey is sporting the French braid nowadays. See? All those years of cheerleading and slumber parties paid off.

And, Internet, I blame you for the next few months of hell I will endure due to us growing out Lainey's bangs. You think it's tough growing yours? Try tolerating a toddler doing so and her refusing to pin her hair back.


On another note, why does spell check insist I capitalize "internet"? Does this have something to do with Al Gore?

Finally, here is a video of a monster train track I built with Jack. You may want to refrain from using the volume if you're sensitive to fingernails being scraped on a chalkboard.

That's about what my voice sounds like. WHEN WILL I DROP THE TEXAS TWANG?


Hope you have a good week, peeps. Keep praying for my sis!

File This Under: Maybe He Won't End Up In Prison

Carter entered this poster in a contest at our church. The theme was "A Year of Vocation". I was thrilled to see what he created.....such thought and sweetness tied in to each season. I love the depiction of our priest more than anything! (click on the photo to see more details....the trees changing, the bird being fed, the priest blessing the child)

***Thanks for the prayers for Caroline. She still has a long road ahead. We're making arrangements now for a visit.....anxious to see her. Please keep praying.

Silhouette Family

I think you all know about my love of silhouettes (simple, classic, timeless).

Found this online today......


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

You Tell Me

Morning, bloggies.

Hope yall are having a good week. I have not been on the computer much......neither has Coco.....no, we did not leave our husbands and run away together to the Caribbean like many are suspecting.

Her computer is down and I've had my mind on sweet Caroline, who is in the hospital.

Please say some prayers for her.

I'll be back soon enough.....until then, caption this:

Circa 2008......Jack and yes, that's Lainey.