My spare time?!?

So, I haven't been blogging much. I'm realizing just how much of a busy body I am . . . between MOPS, BSF, joining a new Bible study at the church, making some time for friends, more MOPS, church activities, helping out in kid's church, let's throw in there being a mommy and oh, a wife! There's really not much spare time. *wink* But I have managed to squeeze in some digital scrapbooking! *grin* Here is my latest layout.


The photos are from New year's day. I'm not sure I blogged about it, but we spent the day with Lolly and Pop. I didn't have many pictures, but couldn't pass the story of Pop "rocking Kate to sleep". As you can see only one of them fell asleep! *wink* Love that Pop!

Kid's say ....

Setting:  In the car last night, coming home from a party at the church.  Little Lion in the back seat, Mommy Lion & Daddy Lion.

Little Lion:  Too bad I never got to find that girl . . . 

Mommy Lion:  What Girl?

Little Lion:  Oh that one girl who's hiding from everyone.

We thought about turning around, but figured we'd let the other parents have all the fun for a change!

Setting:  Exactly one hour into a two hour rest/nap time.  Daddy Lion hears noises from down the hall, and goes to find Little Lion in the bathroom again.

Daddy Lion:  (Little Lion) what are you doing?????

Little Lion: Going Potty

Daddy Lion: How many times have you been up to go potty.

Little Lion: (without even stopping to think) Three

Daddy Lion: Get back in bed.

Little Lion: Ah Man! (in his busted tone of voice)

OCD

I think most people know I have this tendency in me. And seems to come through most loud and clear during creative attempts. Well, yesterday was no different. I spent more hours than I want to confess to openly working on the following pages. But I must say I do like them! *grin*

Before & After

Today, not unlike any other day, Little Pumpkin awoke with some WILD hair! And I had just the template to use for a before and after page! *wink* Love it when you take pictures solely for the purpose of scrapbooking/blogging!
So here is what I put together while she napped and Daddy Lion took Little Lion to a b-day party! Loving it!

Here is another pic I got of her afterwards. She is holding her blonde "Ahh-eee" doll. *smile* This smile is just so wonderful and so hard to capture!

Happy Saturday!

What I learned . . .

So last night I had a tutorial session with my creative genius friend, Cheryl, via the phone. I don't think I've ever been on the phone for an hour and half before! Not consecutively anyway. (Mark may disagree.) *wink*

The subject matter is nothing new, but check out what I accomplished today.


Thanks again Cheryl. I can't wait to schedule our next session! *smile*

Saying Goodbye . . .

. . . again.

On Monday we met Papaw and Ms. K at the airport to say good-bye. Papaw had been on R&R from Afghanistan for the holidays. It was a very good visit which made it all the harder to say good-bye again.


You can just see the wheels turning in Little Lion's head! I so love his compassion and concentration!


Now, please tell, why can't she sit and smile like this during a photo session!?!


Here they are watching for the plane to come in.


One last bear hug for Papaw! Little Pumpkin was a little cautious with Papaw at first. (We had not seen him since June, so you can imagine he was a stranger to her.) But once he offered her food . . . boy, she was his the entire time he was here.

We look forward to our next visit.

Back to routine . . .

So this week has been getting back into the routine of things.  NOT so easy. . .  at least the whole getting up before 7.  *wink*  It was so nice having Mark home to get up with the kids!  

Little Lion returned to school Tues & Thurs.  We had BSF on Wed.  PlayDay at the church this am.  It has been nice to have the security of routine again, plus great getting to see my friends again!  

I got a great new camera for Christmas (actually two)  I finally (after much research) decided which one I was keeping and now . . . there's nothing going on to take pictures of!  *wink*  Actually I had all intentions of taking it with me to PlayDay today.  Just forgot.  I was doing good to remember the kids and lunches!  *smile*

That's it for now . . . I'm headed outside to play with the kids before the rain comes!  

Maybe I'll take my camera out too!  *wink*

Gators and Friends

Warning:  Lots of pics to follow; apparently Gators have lots of friends!

So, last Friday some sweet friends from church invited us to join them at at this nearby "exotic" animal park.  When we pulled in my expectations sank, however, I was pleasantly surprised and we had lots of fun!  Thanks Ms. A and Mr. M for the invite!

There were lots of gators!  They were not very active since this is hibernation season, but you did occasionally see one swim by or go under the water.

They are just scary looking!

This one swam right up under my feet.  I sheepishly will admit, there was a tad bit of terror in me.  I was just waiting for him to leap out of the water with his mouth open wide . . . I guess that's another animal all together!  *wink*  I think it's all in their slow approach!

I think they may have gotten a discount on this one.  (I'll credit that line to Ms. A!)  I don't know what was up with his lip, but he was one mean deer (or antelope, or gazelle or whatever phylum he may be).  He was not letting any of the little ones get fed!  You know me out for the underdog!  
Little Lion and Russell feeding the Axis deer.  The poor camel was begging, but they said he slobbered too much to feed him!  WHAT!?!?  I thought they were boys ~ don't boys like slobber and dirt and yucky stuff!?!

Apparently the Axis deer was well liked!  Even Little Pumpkin feed him by herself!?!

Little Pumpkin and AJ.  This didn't last long . . . they are such sisters at heart ~ always fighting!!

The Highland Cattle.  (I think that's what they were called.)  Anyway, this will be what we are going to ranch when we become cattle ranchers someday!

Aren't they just so cute.  Kinda like a golden retriever Buffalo!  I liked them the best.

As the sun came out, more gators came out of the water!  It was actually quite entertaining watching the struggle to get out.  I think they are use to a gradual dip!

These pics come compliments of Ms. A and Mr. M.  Thanks for catching these moments I missed!  

This zebra was 6 months old and so soft!  Way cool to have pet a zebra!

The excitement was just too much for the man!  *wink*  Really the sun just felt too good!  We are talking 70's people!  I don't think mother nature realizes it's Jan.  However, as I type this I'm freezing!  (Okay, I realize I'm technically not, but remember who you are "talking" too!)

SO glad they got this one!  Daddy Lion was out loading the car when the sales clerk said you wanna see a baby gator!  That is actually me holding it!!!!  Deep breathes I know amazing!  It was so cold and I expected it to be way more slimy.  (They probably are when they're in the water.)  Anyway, the top of him was quite hard, kind of like a turtle.  Learn something new everyday!  

Hope you enjoyed your virtual tour!  *smile*  Come visit and we'll love to take you there!

Happy New Year!!!

Okay, so I'm a few days late . . . but I'm done with Christmas.  (I forgot my camera when we went to my Dad's the day after, so we'll have to wait and get copies from him!)

I wouldn't recommend putting this many young divas at one table!  We learned the hard way!  *wink*  

Little Lion and his sweetheart, Aligator!  They really don't see much of each anymore, but her name always is one of the first to come up when asked about friends!

Little Pumpkin and Miss. S.  They were two peas in a pod; enjoying some BOZ!

Sweet Little Lamb ~ she loves her daddy!  

Mr. D introduced us to sock wars!  HOW FUN WAS THAT!!!  Come on over, we'll teach you!  *wink*  hehehe

So here's part of the kids; we're missing 4 in this pic!  You'll have to go check out Mer's post to catch some other great pics from the evening!  Lots of fun.  We were home by 10:30 with a sleeping Little Pumpkin, but Little Lion made it 'til the ball drop!  We even braved the cold (it was!) to catch some fireworks.  

Hope your 2009 is full of blessings!

Christmas night - at the Z house

Our final destination on Christmas day was the Z families house.  The V family joined us along with my sister.  The kids had a gift exchange.

Miss S got Little Pumpkin some play dough.   (She was very mad that I did not let her open it!)

Little Lion got some more Legos!  A police helicopter!  He was so excited too.

Chia Lu calmed all the tears with some play dough and toys!

Mr. S and Tia S.
The V family Matriarch and Patriarch!  

Chia Lu and Chu Chrys.  So sweet of them to open their house!

Tia S, Tia (my sister), Daddy Lion and Mr. S during the game!

We also had a "Chinese" gift exchange.  Not sure if that's political correct.  Anyway, the concept is everyone brought a small gift and we drew numbers then took turns picking gifts.  (You were allowed to steal from each other.)  

Well, we found out who are true friends were!  I had wrapped a small framed picture of our family.  No one wanted it!  Then the very last person exchanged the picture for the gift card to Lowe's Daddy Lion was holding!  The kicker was, we had put a gift card to Starbucks behind the picture!  Too funny!!!  So we'll be at Starbucks soon to get our pastry and smoothies since neither one of us drinks coffee!  *grin*

Christmas day - Lolly & Pop's

The chaos begins . . . again!

Little Lion with his first transformer!  He loves it Tia.

Little Pumpkin with a Harmonica?!?  Thanks Auntie! *grin*  You know sweet little C will be here before we know it, and I'm thinking she'll wanna be just like Pop!  So I can see a nice drum set in your future!  *wink*

Yay!  Bean bags!!!

Little Lion couldn't be outdone!

Little Pumpkin working on her first masterpiece on the doodle pro.  Thank you Lolly.

The favorite though, yes, the stool!  She has used it everyday!  Especially in the kitchen helping Daddy Lion and Little Lion cook.

The next few are Pop's great idea for Christmas pictures!  I spared you the ones with the cat!  *wink*
Am I the only one having fun in this picture?!?  Oh, well.  Merry Christmas . . . and still more to go!