Spring Break...Day Number 3

OK, Monday was Strawberry picking and playing at Gibson Pond Park. Tuesday we got to take our neighbor to her doctor's appointment:) and watch a movie in the afternoon at home. Wednesday was another big day...we went to the zoo. Since we just got our membership renewed we thought it would be fun to go-and we had to pick up our membership card at the zoo. So we met some friends from church, Leigh and her boys Luke and Colt and Holly and her 2 year old daughter, Ross. Holly has her own blog, "The Life as a Thrifter" blog. Holly is one amazing lady. So crafty, so thrifty and an awesome mom. I have to say, Ross is one of the most adorable little girls I have ever seen (besides Riley, of course). 

Joel was the official photographer at the zoo today. He took some very good pictures. Here are the Kangaroo's hanging out in the grass and enjoying a beautiful day in South Carolina.

The elephants were all hanging out in one spot. And one of them was really close. The kids were so excited to see them up close. I mean, we could see the eyelashes of the elephants:)

They just opened this new exhibit called "Sky High Safari". Joel was dying to do it but we had to say no this time. There were so many people there and the line was pretty long too AND of course it cost more money and I didn't bring my wallet. So we walked passed it and walked to the giraffes. That is always fun because they got to feed them.

This is Holly and Ross. They are both so cute. Ross is such a girly-girl...very cute:)

We had to get a group picture (minus Joel).

And then of course when we got to the barn, everybody had to milk the cow again. I think its so funny how this wooden cut-out always is the BIG hit for our kids at the zoo:) and evidently Leigh's kids too:)

Leigh also has a pass to get the free train rides. So the kids had a blast with that. Of course Josiah and Luke got into one car. Colt went into another one. And Riley, Jesse and Ross stock together in another car. Riley was the "care taker" of Ross. She did an awesome job. She is going to be a wonderful mommy one day.

Finally, while the little kids were playing on the playground, the big kids (Joel, Riley and Jesse) got to climb the "wall". Joel loves doing this. I think he got up that wall in about 30 seconds. And then slid down even faster.

Both Riley and Jesse are good at it too. They are just not very excited about going all the way to the top. So they stayed pretty close to the ground. But they still had fun:)

Another Group picture (with Joel but without Ross). Although Joel got kicked in the head by JoJo. (This is the reason for Joel's funny face).

We (Leigh and I) were ready to go home but the kids really wanted to go see the pinguins and the snake and fish aquarium. There were SO many people there. And if you have been to this zoo, you know what I'm talking about. These rooms are crazy. So we told the kids to grab a buddy and stay with them. Jesse got Colt (which worked awesome!!! They have the same personallity.

Riley and Luke were partners. Evidently loves girls:) so that was the perfect match too. And Riley likes to be the "mommy" so that worked for her too. She would take him to the different exibits and read that the little plaques said. I think she will be a great teacher one day:)

And then Joel had Josiah. Those two have become pretty close over the past few months. Joel is very protective of his little brother. Its really nice to see.

I had to include this picture..although you can't see it as good. Its a snake with a VERY big belly. I think they must have fed him earlier that morning and we are thinking it might have been a bunny or something like that.

And Finally... the picture I ALWAYS have to take when we are at the zoo. The kids standing befind the fish tank and pretending to be swimming with the fishes. I think the first time Terry did this, was BEFORE Joel was born. He would do it when we were at the zoo with Christopher and Emily.

 I'm so glad we have memories like this:)

Spring Break...Day 1!

Monday was the first "official day" of Spring Break for the kids. We (I) didn't just want to stay at home and lay around. So I have been trying very hard to come up with some things for us all to do but doesn't cost us (much) money. So for the first day we decided to go to pick strawberries. When Josiah and I went strawberry picking a few weeks ago, all the kids were pretty dissapointed that they didn't get to go (even though Jesse is the ONLY one that eats strawberries). So we loaded up the van at 9am and drove to Gilbert to pick strawberries.
As you can tell from the picture below, there are fields and fields full of strawberries.

And these strawberries are not small like this one...

They have LOTS of big ones too:)

Jesse was SO excited to be there:) He LOVES strawberries!!!

Look at that smile:)

Our pickings:)

As you can tell, we have LOTS of strawberries. We are almost done with the first bucket (remember, Jesse and I are the ONLY ones that eat them). I think I am going to try to make some strawberry jam with the other bucket. Those always make WONDERFUL  teacher gifts.

I think the kids had a wonderful day. On our way home from picking strawberries, we stopped at one of our local parks, Gibson Pond Park. We first just sat on a little bench for a few minutes and just enjoyed the crisp spring weather and God's beautiful creation.

There is a waterfall at this park and the kids love to go there and just walk around the rocks and get all wet.

So we all took our shoes off and got wet:)

Josiah especially had fun in the water. He thought it was so cool to get wet.

I have to say, this is one of my favorite pictures I took. Just Riley and Jesse enjoying themselves.You can just tell on their faces that they are having fun.

Beauties:)

I have to say, I had fun:) Joel and I were sitting on one of the rocks just watching them and he said, "Thanks mom, this is the best Spring Break". I love it when they are happy, even when its something so easy and basic!
Who needs Disney World?!?!

So stay tuned to the rest of our spring break:) Lots of fun plans ahead of us!!!

Raking Leaves

We learned that mom has a LOT of oak trees in her yard. It was amazing. We told the kids the day before that we were going to Oma's house to rake her yard. And let me tell you, they were not looking forward to it. And honestly, I really wan't either. But if you saw her yard, it was looking pretty bad. you couldn't even see her drive way or even the grass. So...we told the kids that ALL of us were going to help and that the less we complain the more we would get done. We started raking at 11:30am and the picture above was taken probably about 15-20 minutes into it. We made one big pile of leaves so the kids could jump into it. You know every child LOVES jumping into a pile of leaves. Ok, maybe not EVERY child because Jesse decided that he really didn't want to do that.

I am loving these pictures:)

 Max even came out to help bark at us!

Jesse's job was to take the garbage bags to the side of the road.

He did a very good job.

Max over seeing our job skills.

I had to add this picture so you can actually see SOME of the leaves in the yard. And yes, I told mom to go inside and relax while we raked her yard but she wanted to help too. So her job was to be the pooper scooper.

  Nap Time!!

You get tired from all that raking.

I just had to share this picture.

She's got her daddy's eyes.

I have to say, they all did a wonderful job.There was some complaining but not a lot. They knew we were there to help Oma. It took us about 7 hours but we got it done!!!

77 Bags, 7 hours later and STILL smiling!!!