Rogers Zoo Trip

What a great day we had today. We were supposed to go to the zoo with my parents on Thursday but we woke up to a very soggy day. So we had to postpone our trip. So this morning we woke up to a sunny day and decided today would be a good day to go before daddy has to go back to work and the kids go back to school. So we met my parents at the gate and were ready for some FUN!. They actually were not able to stay long because they are trying to get ready for their trip to Canada in October and have some shopping to do. So they left and we went on. I have to say, it was hot but not as hot as it usually is in August here in Good Old Columbia, SC.
And I think the animals liked it too. A lot of them were walking around and doing stuff animals do. The brown bears were playing together; the elephants were walking around and the big tortoises were also on the move. They even got to touch a real snake. There was a zoo keeper in front of the "aquarium" holding some kind of snake and they all got to touch it. Even Josiah did it. The kids had a blast, especially Josiah. He especially liked the penguins. He was walking around saying "Penguins, just like my Penguin". (Daddy and Josiah have a game they play right before bed where Terry throws the Penguin to Josiah in his bed and Josiah throws it back. They have a blast playing that game). I think the kids sat on every statue there is in the zoo (as you can tell in the pictures). After about 2 1/2 hours of walking around the zoo we decided it was time to go. (I think we pretty much saw everything anyway). Mom & Dad had given us some money to take the kids out to lunch. We were going to go to CICI's pizza in Irmo but when we got there, I think two daycare buses were unloading and we really did not want to deal with that. So we drove around Irmo a little while to see where we wanted to go and ended up driving back to Lexington and eat at Carolina Wings. The kids loved that because there were TVs every where. The nice thing was, we missed lunch hour so it was nice and quiet. The kids enjoyed their food. I did too, but I think I like D's Wings better.
Thanks again Opa & Oma for a nice day. Maybe next time you guys can go with us:)
Enjoy the pictures everyone.

Stealing Strawberries.

OK, so this afternoon I was in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch and cutting up strawberries. While I was cutting them up, JoJo comes up to me and asks me where the stool is. I told him it was in the bathroom. So he goes up stairs, gets the stool, brings it down stairs and puts it right next to me where I am cutting the strawberries. He climbs up, takes a handful of strawberries, gets down and starts eating them. I don't know how many "trips" he took to the kitchen to get more strawberries but he LOVED them. I guess Jesse and Josiah are my "strawberry boys". My other kids do NOT like them.

Count Down To Kindergarten.

Jesse got to be part of the same program Riley was part of last year, which is called "Count Down To Kindergarten". Let me tell you, it is a wonderful program. His teacher, Mrs. Walsh came over to the house each Thursday of the month of July and worked with him. They did all kinds of things like reading books; recognizing letters; writing in his journal; doing a puzzle and LOTS more. It is a state wide program and I think RBE has a certain amount of kids able to do it. Well, Jesse was part of it. He loved it. He loved that Mrs. Walsh would come to our house and work with HIM. He remembered Riley doing it last year and wanted to do it.

So yesterday was the "end of the year party" at EdVenture. You can get in for free and they had all kids of vendors there giving "stuff" away. The kids had a blast. Last year they actually had food there but this year they did not. But it was still a lot of fun. Josiah had a blast too. Although he was not too fond of the characters walking around. He especially did not like "Eddy" in the big room. For those of you who have never been there, Eddy is a big "boy" in the middle of the museum and the kids can climb on him and see what the body looks like on the inside. It is a lot of fun. But for little kids, it is really scary. It took me a minute to figure out why he did not want to go any further. He kept saying "Mommy, this way". I finally figured out he was scared to death of Eddy. He just held on to my arm and started shaking. So Terry took Joel, Riley and Jesse up while Josiah and I just waited until they were done. He did like the fire truck and the beatle they have. He climbed in there and had lots of fun. He also got to sit in a real school bus. He is really getting to be a big boy.

Look at Joel trying to eat "the pig".

Josiah wants to get away from Eddy.

This is "Eddy".

Inside "Eddy's" head.

Say "Cheese" (if you dare)!

Another funny face by Joel Rogers.

Playing at the Piggly Wiggly store with the Pig (He was funny).

Another one bites the dust!!!

Yes, this is number 3! They are all falling out like flies:) We really tried to get her to pull that tooth but for some reason she is so scared to pull it herself. So finally Terry told her she had to choose,"either you pull it or I pull it". It took her a minute to think about and finally she said (very quietly), "Ok you do it". And he did. If you look at her mouth, it looks like she has only lost two teeth. That actually worries me a bit- does this mean her mouth is too small and we have to pull a bunsh of teeth like we had to do with Joel? I don't know, I guess I need to take her to the dentist.
I have a feeling this will be it for a while for her although Jesse's bottom two teeth are now lose too. So I think he will be the next one. We will see how he does with pulling his own teeth. Joel told me the other day, "I wish I had a lose tooth. I love pulling them"!

Our uncle Kerry is the COOLEST!!

This past Sunday Uncle Kerry came to visit us from Rock Hill. I don't think I can express to you how excited the kids were. In the middle of church Riley turned to me and said, "When is it 2:30"? (This is the time he said he was going to be here). I told her it would be a while. After church we had to stop at the store to get some lunch and she went with me and inside the store again, "when is it 2:30"? Me: "It will be after we eat lunch and after JoJo goes to bed". Riley: "OK, but I want 2:30 to get here soon because Uncle Kerry is coming". She LOVES her uncle Kerry. So, while we were eating lunch he called and said he was running late and would not get there until about 5:00pm. She didn't care (surprisingly)...she just wants him to be there. I think she was just excited that he called.
Unfortunately I was not there when he got there (I had a meeting at church) but once I got home they were showing me all the things he brought them. Joel and Jesse got a Parachute Man that you throw up in the air and the parachute opens up and comes down slowly. Very cool toy- they even took it to the pool yesterday. Riley got bubbles which she immediately had to show me how they worked. And JoJo got a squeaky rubber ducky- which he also loves and so does Nelie:)
After dinner, Joel wanted to show him his "ugly stick" (his fishing rod). Well, what made things even better was that uncle Kerry has the SAME "ugly stick". WOW, that is awesome. So they had to show off their "ugly sticks" and try to catch some fish in our little pond. Poor Joel, he still has not caught one fish. But has not given up! Uncle Kerry did tell him that he really wants to take him fishing sometime at a "real" fishing spot. So hopefully they can do that soon.

Jesse being his "silly old self". Don't you love that face?

Poor JoJo, he was out there for 5 minutes and the mosquito's got him all over.

He is like his mommy. So daddy took him in. Poor kid:(

"THANKS UNCLE KERRY, FOR COMING TO VISIT. WE LOVE YOU"!!!

These two pictures were taken last night in the front yard. Terry wanted me to put him in the grass like that. I guess this is the ONLY piece of grass that is actually very luscious. And when we put him down in the grass he kind of just "sunk" down. Pretty cool:)

This picture I just took for fun. I just love the way it looks with all four of their heads like that. I just wish Josiah would have looked at the camera. Oh well, I'll have to try again soon.

Poor Riley woke up this morning around 5:45am and came to me saying she was not feeling good and felt like she was going to throw up. The "loving" mommy I am, was about to shue her back to bed because it was just too early but Terry got up and got the famouse bucket. And right when she got it she got sick. (OK, I felt bad). She did this about 4 or 5 more times and then she was done. We actually had plans to go see some friends that I have not seen in a long time and I had to cancel. I was really looking forward to this but we needed to stay home. She is fine now. I don't know what it was but just hope the others won't get it. Hey, next week Terry is off so maybe I can go visit my friends with no kids. That would be nice and relaxing:)