Family of Five Vacation #1...CONQUERED!

I'm a huge advocate of the MUST-TAKE-A-VACATION-EVERY-YEAR club!  Even if it's just a small hop to a nearby county, family vacations are a MUST around here.  Well, except for the years that involve something important...like, say...having a baby. 

See, I avoided all types of travel when I was carrying a little one.  Past pregnancy experiences = stay close to doctor at all times!

So when this year rolled around, I could barely wait for the last day of school.  I think I was more anxious for the end of the school year than the student and teacher living in this house were.  I've been counting down the days minutes seconds...to put it lightly! 

We wanted to test the waters before taking on LONG road trips.   So we planned a trip to the zoo and a little place known as Kalahari.  What?!  You haven't heard of KALAHARI!  How is that possible?  Google it.  You can thank me later.

The kids travelled amazingly well.  As for the parents...let me just say that my cruise control isn't working!  Driving down the highway for an extended period of time isn't extremely pleasant when the modern convenience of a vehicle maintaining a constant speed isn't available.  Enough said!

Anyway, the zoo was BEAUTIFUL!  Since we were able to vacation before most were out of school, we completely avoided the crowd.  In fact, I was a bit concerned that the zoo was closed since there was all of TEN cars in the parking lot!  An exaggeration...maybe...but you get the point!

As we've found out, Logan LOVES the zoo!  He's all nonstop "WOW! WOW! WOOOOOOOOW!"  Love two-year olds and their excitement with the world!

Yep...he was THRILLED by the coin donation spinning thingy! (Ok, I have NO idea what it's actually called!)

And there were these random animals hanging near the kiddie portion of the zoo.  Merisa and Logan enjoyed displaying their new "looks!"

Oh, these kids weren't prompted to do this!  I guess when you see a giant fish with it's mouth open...what else are you supposed to do?

As for the bebe, he just soaked it all up while enjoying some yummy snacks.  Oh, he also liked his stroller partner!

After the zoo, we left for Kalahari.  As we approached the outskirts of this MAMMOTH resort, Merisa was beyond ecstatic!  Just to fill you in on the magnitude of this place...I'm pretty sure it has it's own zip code. 

Anyway, it's quite enormous!  It's an all inclusive indoor/outdoor waterpark.  Next best thing to Disney!  Just ask Merisa!  Oh, Logan's now a big fan, too!

The kids (and us parents) ventured down countless waterslides, swam in the waves, and relaxed in the lazy river.  Yep, even Logan braved the waterslides!  Both the two older kids are daredevils.  Me, I like to make sure my feet are touching the earth at all times!  Sad, I know.

Here's the only Kalahari pic I found suitable for the internet.  You won't be seein' this mommy sportin' her water-wearin'-post-three-babies-body attire all over the world wide web.  No, sir!

I could go on and on, but I'm guessing I should stop for now.  Needless to say, we had an AMAZING vacation!  I LOVE venturing out as a family!  I feel so blessed!  Life is good!

How Did That Happen?

1.  Over the weekend, Matt and I went out on a little date!  I know...so not like us!  I felt incredibly neckid without the kiddos. Like being lost in a foreign land.  Anyway...as we were walking into the restaurant, we noticed how crowded it appeared to be.  Matt suggested that we might have to sit in the bar where it tends to have more readily available seating.  Immediately, I started fumbling through my purse and informed him that "I'll probably have to show my ID in order to get into the bar."  Without hesitation, Matt quickly responds "Don't flatter yourself."  What?  I don't look like I'm SIXTEEN anymore!  How did that happen?

2. This leads me to my next point.  As I was preparing for our date night, I spent an hour on my hair and another hour on my wardrobe.  I painted my nails and sprayed some perfume.  I looked ravishing!  Okay...that so DIDN'T happen!  I was happy to make it out of the house in clothes that weren't covered in baby puke.  I have no idea if my attire even matched!  Before we left, I did manage to pull back my hair, and to my dismay, I found strands that were GREY!  Much more than one or two!  How did that happen?

3.  As the end of the school year approaches, I'm filled with excitement and sadness.  It's bittersweet.  See, our little girl who was so eager to start "REAL" school (aka: elementary school) is now moving on to FOURTH GRADE!  Did you hear that...fourth grade, y'all!  How did that happen?

4.  End of the school year means a busy summer for this family.  Not only will we be running to and from every activity known to man, but all of our kiddos will be celebrating a birthday!  Yep, three summer birthdays.  I just can't believe they're all going to be another year older.  Weren't they just born?  To top it off, our littlest bebe will be turning ONE!
O. N. E! How did that happen?

5. Once upon a time, I was a HUGE neat freak! I mean...it was BAD!  Seriously! The joke in college was that my future kids would be dressed in all WHITE and drink lemonade poured from a GLASS pitcher all the while sitting around a large, perfectly set table.  Back then, I'm pretty sure I drove people mad with my everything-has-to-be-clean-and-in-its-place-at-ALL-times problem.  Now, I laugh at the thought of buying white clothing and lean towards outfits that are dark in color.  We drink juice from a plastic container and our glassware is behind lock-and-key.  As for a perfectly set table, I hope mismatched plastic plates and silverware jammed into the center of the table count...otherwise, I've got nothin'!  How did that happen?

*Disclaimer:  I hope you can sense the sarcasm where it's intended.  I need to start tagging my sarcasm with a sarcastic smiley, but alas, I don't know how to do that! 

Flower Girl, Ring Bearer, and CANDY...

Whew...I haven't posted in 2 weeks!  How is that possible?  Where did the time go?  I have NO IDEA...so if you know, please share 'cause I'll never figure it out on my own! 

I will say that we've been B. U. S. Y.  I know...who hasn't?  It's fun to be crazy busy sometimes, and other times it's nice to take a break and chill...which is what I'm doing right now. 

Anywho, I'd like to say that I've been away from the computer and working like a mad man on my garden.  But alas, I have not.  My garden is just a patch of dying grass and dirt, but I'm hoping to get it started this weekend.  As for the computer, well...I've been editing away. 

I had the pleasure of playing photographer at a wedding this past weekend.  I was EXTREMELY worried about the whole thing...ya know, scared to death that I might miss THAT shot or have an image so blurry not even Photoshop could save it.  The pressure was on, indeed!

And my mom made this AMAZING cake!  It was just beautiful!  How is it that I am a TOTAL DISASTER in the kitchen when I was raised around such talent my entire life?  I just don't get it!

Oh, did I mention that my kiddos were a part of the wedding, too?  Of course, I didn't.  I haven't blogged in 2 WEEKS! 

Yep, Miss Merisa was a beautiful flower girl.  She's a pro after all...this is her second wedding.  She tag-teamed the flower girl spot last year at my brother-in-law's wedding.  I'm just hoping she won't be the actual bride for another 30+ years!  Wishful thinking?

As for Mr. Logan, he was supposed to be a ring bearer.  Did you catch that?  See...he told me while I was trying to dress him that he had other plans.  He reached into my holds-everything-that-a-kid-would-ever-need bag for his UTENSILS.  And, yes, I do carry child size utensils with me everywhere I go.  Like I said, the bag never ends!  Seriously.

Mr. Logan decided he was hungry. Being the amazing mother that I am, I looked into said bag for some snacks...'cause I ALWAYS have some extra food with me. 

Guess what this mother did?  Yep, I forgot to pack any snacks!  Really?!  Remember...I ALWAYS have snacks...but not this time.  Not the one time that it was hard to slip away and grab something for the kids to eat. 

Well, this little boy refused to do anything until I got him some food.  Luckily, after a half hour of searching, I did find some food.  He ate away, but I could tell he wasn't in the mood to cooperate.  My cousin bought him "special" shoes for the wedding, and my mom made him an adorable vest...all of which he REFUSED to wear!  Sorry, guys...

Instead of acting as ring bearer, Matt held him during the wedding....I was playing photographer and wasn't able to help.  Next, thing I knew....that little boy full of energy was doing this...

Yep, he SLEPT through the entire wedding.  He even slept through most of the reception.  Should've known!  He did wake at one point, which was probably due to something calling him.

See, there was a CANDY BAR at the reception! 

And this boy HEARTS sugar!  I mean, it might even be above tractors in his book, which is almost unimaginable!  We had a blast trying to keep him from devouring the ENTIRE bar of candy...no joke!

He's hiding under the table eating... MORE CANDY!

Merisa, on the other hand, has great control around sugar.  She always has, but not Mr. Logan!

As for the bebe, he was a ham.  He took full advantage of the never-ending attention.  He knows how the lure in the crowd.  Who could resist his chubby cheeks and ornery grin?  NO ONE!

So I'll try to be a better blogger, but then again, summer break is almost here.  When it's warm, we're outside enjoying life.  Okay, more like I run around yelling "Stay out of the chicken barn!  Don't break daddy's eggs!  Get away from the pond!  Don't eat the dirt! That's yucky, bebe!  Don't run over your sister with the gator!" (Power Wheels gator, y'all.  Not John Deere's. What kind of mom do you think I am?  Don't answer that!)  

Seriously, though, I HEART summer!  Enjoy the weather, y'all!  I know we are.

He Stole My Heart...

There's this boy who stole my heart.  He calls me mom.

The day was like any other day...full of non-stop motion.  I scrambled to get everyone ready in the morning.  Made them breakfast.  Brushed their hair.  Found some clothes for them to wear.  Combed through the house picking up a tractor here and a doll there.  Washed and dried mounds of clothing.  Put the laundry away.   Swept the floors.  Washed the dishes.  Colored a picture with a child.  Watched another perform her newest dance moves.  Cuddled for a moment with a sleepy baby.

Then, the bell rang...time for round two. 

Lunch.

The routine started again. I fed the hungry children.  We laughed.  We played.  Siblings ran off to play a game of hide-and-go-seek.  Toys were put away.  More dishes were washed.  More laundry was cleaned. 

Then, the door bell rang.

I opened the door to see a sweet little boy standing there.

A smile stretched across his face. 

I returned the smile, but questioned his intentions.

Without hesitation, he gracefully swung around his little hand so it was no longer behind his back.

There, in his palm, was a beautiful flower.

In the sweetest, most sincere voice ever heard, he muttered...

"Mommy, I picked tis fower for you."

My heart melted. 

The tears filled my eyes.

I wasn't upset that he picked one of our only two irises. 

Oh, no.  His gesture was so pure and loving. 

The hustle and bustle of everyday life was now a blur.  This moment was special.  The reason I love being a mom!

My children are a true gift from God!

There's this boy who stole my heart. He calls me mom.

{Almost} Silent Sunday

Look at our baby!

How did he get so big? 

In less than three months, he'll be ONE! 

Let the tears begin!