Zoo pictures

Here are a few pictures from our trip to the zoo yesterday. We met three other friends and their children there and Elle loved "playing with her friends" more than seeing the animals. Thanks April, Amy, and Kristin for joining us. It was too short as always, but sweet to see each of you and your beautiful kids. Looking forward to the pumpkin patch!

**This was actually last weekend, but a sweet one I wanted to share. Hope everyone has a great fall weekend!

Cruisin' on the Rocket

Elle got her very first bicycle last weekend. Back in May, we debated getting her one for her birthday and decided we would wait until Christmas. Then her best friend down the street got a bicycle for her birthday in July and we knew we were in trouble. We wanted to give her one but also thought it would be a good opportunity for Elle to learn some responsibility and to work on a few things (i.e. not coming out of her room during the night, sharing with Grady, obeying without arguing or complaining, etc.). I set up a sticker chart with various categories for her to earn stickers (thanks for the idea Carrie!). She did so great with this that I am now trying to think of some other reason for us to continue with the chart?! She even memorized three Bible verses that went along with a few of the items on the chart. To help her sleep through the night, she learned, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" -Psalm 4:8. Since last Saturday, we have taken 439 bicycle rides around the neighboorhood. She loves it! Unfortunately, we went with the gender neutral bike so that, once again, dear little brother will get the hand-me-down. She did get some princess tennis shoes to wear while riding!

I started a Nurse Refresher course at UAB this past week. It is a five week long course, three days a week from 8:30 - 3:00. I am planning to start working a couple of shifts a week at the first of the year. Since I have not been in a hospital as a nurse in almost 5 years, I thought I would do myself and my future patients a favor by taking this course. It was also time to renew my license and I needed the continuing education hours plus CPR recertification. The first week was fun although I have to admit, I really did miss the kiddos (and I seriously don't like trying to drive to downtown B'ham at that time in the morning!). Not sure if the feeling was mutual, but it made me realize that I do LOVE being able to stay home with them and I'm going to work out a schedule that puts me away from them the least amount of time. I do need a break and some adult interaction every now and then. I think this will be a good solution. And it probably won't hurt to actually pay off the loans that got me this degree in the first place?!

Friday Road Trip

We went down to Montgomery on Friday to spend some time with my friend Delta and her kids. It was a short but sweet trip and Elle had a great time playing with Ethan. Even though she only lives an hour away, I had not seen her in about 9 months. We were due for some face to face time! Not to mention that she is pregnant with her FOURTH child! Thanks for having us Delta. Here are a few pictures from the trip:

This might be one of the few times she's in camo!

Levi and Grady are just 3 weeks apart

On a side note, I finally got some soy butter for Elle to try (she is allergic to peanuts). It was an okay start. I think it may take a little getting used to. Or she might not like it and I don't have to feel so sad anymore about all the great foods she is missing out on. It did taste very similar to peanut butter so I applaud the makers for giving us peanut-free families a great alternative.

I Won!

I really never win anything, but today I did! I ordered two shirts from my blog friend Darby a few weeks ago. If you posted a link to the shirts on your blog, she entered your name in a drawing for a free one. And I was the lucky winner! Check them out here. Thanks Darby! You made my day.

For the grandparents

Usually I am very good at remembering important dates like birthdays, anniversaries, and special holidays. I think it's a great way to remind people they are loved and remembered. However, at about 10 PM Sunday night as I was laying my head on the pillow, I said to Steven, "I think today was Grandparent's Day". And it was. And we had not spoken to a single solitary grandparent all day. This is my apology post to Elle and Grady's five wonderful grandparents: Mae, Poppey, GiGi, Grammy and Gran Gran. We really are blessed to have some of the most loving, giving and caring grandparents. Even though they all live from 1 1/2 hours to 6 hours away, they all make trips to visit several times a year. And they always bring gifts, which certainly helps the parents' pocketbooks. We just got a new playground for the backyard with birthday money from grandparents. The kids LOVE it! Sorry I missed your big day. Know you are loved and so appreciated!

The princess of the playground

Grady learning to "slide" down backwards. He was so proud of himself!

This is his usual pose lately.

Why your cell phone is not a toy

We went to Wal-Mart for the weekly grocery shopping at 8 AM this morning. It was probably not the best decision but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. By check out time--after we had stopped mid-way to sprint to the bathroom for Elle to go #2 (yes, I had her use the bathroom before we left but it seems lately she likes to save her business for Wal-Mart), after Grady had smashed every bread product in the buggy, after Elle had gotten run over by the cart 40 times, after I had held Grady and put him back in the buggy 10 times, after he had eaten a can of crescent rolls (just gnawed it to death, he didn't really eat it)--we were all done. Grady is screaming so I let him have my cell phone. I do let him play with it at the house so I knew this would keep him quiet for at least 30 seconds. I get him out of the buggy as I'm trying to pay and the cell phone drops in the cart between the groceries and the back of the cart. I think, "It's secure. I'll just get it after I load up the groceries." We finally make it back home and I unload all the bags and I realize my phone is not in my purse. This wouldn't be so bad except I don't have another phone or phone line. I load the kids back up into the car and drive rather speedily back to Wal-Mart all the while praying, "Please, Lord, let my phone be there." We pull back in to the parking lot and my phone is laying on the ground right in front of the buggy in the cart coral thing. Hallelujah! I was so thankful but this is why--even when you are desperate--your phone should not be used as a toy.