What's More Springy Than a Trip to the Zoo?

Hiya folks!  Are you as excited about the Spring thaw as I am?  When I woke up this morning, the day's outlook was leisurely.  As I was getting ready for church, my wonderful Sister-In-Law called asking if we wanted to take an afternoon trip to the zoo. Well, I'll just say she needn't ask me twice!

HOLLA!!!

So, Kristy and Josh joined Rob, Caroline and me at The Birmingham Zoo.  I know there are waaaay better zoos out there.  As someone who loves to visit a zoo, I plan to see a couple of the "great ones" before I complete my bucket list.  But I am so proud to be a resident of the 'Ham (okay a ham-suburb) so I just love TBZ!

Apparently, so do the kiddos!

The Bham Zoo is proudly hyping up the upcoming grand opening of their new Trails of Africa exhibit.  It has been years since TBZ has had an elephant.  New waterfalls and wading ponds, as well as a 14-acre recreational area, will welcome the pachyderm.  For now you can just enjoy this:

Can I get a "What, What"?  Can I get a "Roll Tide"?

One of my favorite areas is the Social Animals (i.e. the Monkeys and Primates).  They did not disappoint us today.  In fact, the male gorilla was very active.  He was just walking back and forth, posing for pictures, etc.

At one point, I asked Rob to say "cheese".  This is the face I got instead:

I think he likes the monkeys, too!

Because the Zoo's layout doesn't exactly follow the layout of God's great earth, right across from the Savannah is the Middle East.  Once we saw this:

...we decided the boys simply had to do this:

Fun times!

The Zoo recently lost its beautiful white tiger.  It does still have lions and a Bengal tiger.  I'm a little worried about the tiger.  He looked so thin.  Someone throw that cat a nice steak!

Rob, who loves Madagascar, was super excited because first we saw Alex (the lion).  We had previously seen Gloria (an unphotographed hippopotamus) and Melman (the giraffe).  Once we rounded a corner, here was Marty!

Awesome! 

Have I mentioned how much fun Caroline was having? The day was almost done; however, no trip to the zoo would be complete without this:

Train Time!

On our way out, we passed a large gaggle of gorgeous flamingos.  Question: do they really, always prefer standing on one leg?  Looking back to my cheerleading days, they reminded me of bright pink liberty-performing gals.  Gosh, that standing leg must have a strong quadricep!

Okay, that's all for now.  I had a great time.  Hopefully you will take the time to support your local zoo.  They are great educational outlets.  Many of the species are endangered and are treated wonderfully so that our children's children will be able to observe them for years to come.

Under The Big Top

Ladies and Gentlemen...Children of All Ages...The Morris and Jones Families went to The Greatest Show On Earth Today!  It was great!

The excitement was bubbling over before we could leave the house.

Like what Caroline is wearing?  You can read all about it here.

Alright, so we left super early for the circus in order to attend the Pre-Show Meet and Greet.  Too bad we didn't realize all 10,000 other circus attendees would have the same idea!  Both Rob and Caroline got hit with severe sensory overload as soon as we got there.  However, we did manage to have one quick meet and a very brief greet before taking our seats.

I love, love, luuuurve this picture above.  Rob is the best. brother. ever...

I'm not scared of clowns and I usually don't understand how/why some people are.  But you should know the whole time we were sitting with this guy, he never spoke a word.  His smile changed sizes and his lips would open and close, yet not one word.  Freaky?  I think so...

I mean, must it be completely impossible to take a normal-looking picture with the 2 most beautiful children born?  Neither can sit still and look happy simultaneously.

Speaking of beautiful children, my nieces, Lauren and Micah arrived shortly before showtime.  Okay, Micah is going through this phase where she doesn't want her picture made.  So you will have to trust me when I say she, too, has natural beauty.  But her love for cotton candy is as close as a smile as I would get today.

Caroline was awestruck and Rob, though I didn't take a picture, literally sat on the edge of his seat the entire time!

I wasn't sure how well my pictures of the actual circus would turn out.  I simply haaaadddd to snap a picture when they shot a burning man from a human-sized cannon thingy. 

And the elephants may be my favorite part of the circus always!

Not sure what Caroline's favorite part of the circus would be, but she will certainly "dream" of this day for a while...Ha! Yep, she fell asleep shortly before intermission.  Good thing she didn't require a ticket, huh?

Well, this year's circus has come and gone.  Looks like the kiddos had fun:

Lots and lots of fun:

Once more with feeling, peeps:

...aaaaaaaaand we're outta here!  That's all the ado this family Bobby can stand for one day!

Feelin' Crafty (and bloggy)

Hey there!  How y'all doin?  So, I just got that old familiar (crafty) feeling today.  I've had it for a while, but today it got the best of me.

It has been a while since I have blogged and it has been an even longer while since I have sewn, so I thought I would share with you all.

Oh yeah...if you can't tell from the fabric, I'm making something for Caroline.  Want another clue?  Well, here's the main fabric:

A'ight, at this point I just have to share a funny dialogue I had with the Mr. when he got home:

Me: Won't this be cute?

B: Hmm, I don't really care for that.  It's almost hideous.

Me: At least it's for Caroline and not Rob!

B: Let's both be honest, you wish you could have and would have made that for Rob!

Me: (to myself) Yeah, you're right.

I guess I should be saying "thank you" to fate that I am only just now getting comfortable around my Singer.

Because the room has the best light, I cut fabric in my kitchen on my table.  As you can see above, Caroline is a permanent fixture atop the table. I mean, seriously...Get. Down. Now!  Moving on...

I would love to have a fancy new machine.  I also would love, love, love to have an embroidery machine.  But I love most that my trusty Singer is a Wiggins/Morris family heirloom and the thing works like a charm.  Too bad I can only make straight stitches with said charm.  Ahem, I'm getting there.  Slowly.  Baby steps, right?

What's that you said?  Where's Rob during all of this?  Take a look:

That's a sword in the back of his tee-shirt.  He's a ninja.  Bewilderment all around, people.

I used my iPhone for pictures, so I am sparing you the step-by-step.  I'm just so proud of myself.  I'm beaming with pride right now!  Here are a couple of shots of my pride and joy:

Caroline is going to be so super-cute in this dress!  And if you don't have a clue by now where she is wearing it, stay tuned.  I promise to blog about it soon.  I'm trying to stay in touch with y'all.

'Til then, peeps, God bless you!

Happy New Year

Gosh!  Can you believe another year has come and gone?  In the year 2010 I learned how to be a mother of 2!  I started this blog!  I started learning how to be a do-it-yourself'er and I documented it for all the world to see.  However, I do look back at 2010 and see things that are still on my wish list.  (Really, who doesn't?)  Not gonna happen this year; I am biting the bullit and putting it in writing!

I read many blogs on a daily basis--some inspirational, some just for fun.  Several of you out there have either done this, considered this, or heard about this.  I am going to start 101 in 1001!  If I started checking things off my list tomorrow, I would/should complete this by September 28, 2013.  Who out there makes New Year's Resolutions and fails to keep them?  Okay put your hands down; it was a rhetorical question.  But if I give myself over a year-and-a-half, surely I can come close!

My list will be a work in progress.  I haven't reviewed this with the Mr. yet, and I have a feeling he would have his own ideas of what needs to be on the list.  So I am open to revisions throughout the process.

With no further ADO, I present my New Year's (and beyond) Resolutions!

Travel

1.       Go on a cruise

2.       Plan a trip to Disney World for 2013

3.       Go to Gatlinburg, TN 

4.       Take another Morris/Mitchell/Stewart beach trip

5.       Go to Six Flags

6.       Go to Opryland Hotel at Christmas

7.       Take Rob to a Braves game

8.       Go snow skiing

9.       Have a picnic at Helena waterfalls once a month this summer with kiddos (0/3)

10.   Attend a Rick and Bubba show in the Golden Ticket Seats

11.   Go to the beach during summer 2011

12.   Go to the beach during summer 2012

13.   Go to the beach during summer 2013

14.   Spend the night in a true bed-n-breakfast somewhere

Create

15.   Learn how to sew from start-to-finish unassisted

16.   Sew an outfit for Caroline

17.   Obtain an embroidery machine (new or gently used)

18.   Learn to embroider/monogram

19.   Take a photography class

20.   Learn how to use advanced settings on my Olympus

21.   Make blog printouts for 2010, 2011, and 2012 (0/3)

22.   Make lots of bows for Caroline (after #63)

23.   Get a “professional” blog makeover

24.   Write and complete a novel

Expand Knowledge

25.   Try 5 new dishes from my family recipe book (0/5)

26.   Try 5 new recipes from my cupcake cookbook (0/5)

27.   Take a wine tasting class

28.    Learn to speak Spanish fluently

29.   Learn to speak Italian just for fun

30.   Become CPR certified

31.   Find a GED program needing volunteer services

Health

32.   Eat Vegan for a week

33.   Eat Vegan for a month

34.   Go on a 21 day detox 

35.   Create a gym routine

36.   Go on a walk 5x's/week

37.   Give up sweets for a month

38.   Give up fast food for a month

39.   Complete P90X

40.   Get down to my “wedding” weight (no, I’m not publishing it.)

Organize/ Home Improvement

41.    Have kitchen painted/neutralized

42.   Tile floor for bathrooms

43.   New backsplash for kitchen

44.   Hardwood floors in living room/hallway

45.    Clean out/purge and organize garage

46.   Repaint garage floor

47.   Lay more flooring in attic

48.   Wire an additional light in attic

49.   Fix Rob’s closet light wiring

50.   Finish replacing all doorknobs to ORB

51.   Wall repair/holes patching where needed house-wide

52.   Clean out my closet

53.   Clean out hall closets

54.   Clean out kids’ closets

55.   Clean out my drawers

56.   Clean out kids’ drawers

57.   Sell unused clothing/toy items in seasonal consignment sales

58.   Decide on and put up window treatments in kitchen

59.   Finish replacing metal blinds (playroom, back doors)

60.   Replace Rob’s blinds

Financial

61.   Pay off Expedition

62.   Open a Disney Savings account

63.   Have at least 1 month’s income in savings at all times

64.   Attend a couponing class

65.   Set a realistic grocery budget and stick to it with coupon use

66.   Eat out only once a week for a month (0/4)

67.   Feel “successful” at JBPL

68.   Find a budgeting/account balancing program I like

69.   Learn to use aforementioned balancing program

Good for the Soul

70.   Give up television for a week (0/7)

71.   Watch the sunrise at the beach (during #’s 11-13)

72.   Complete another Young Families class at church

73.   Start a vocation at church again

74.   Start a Rosary daily devotional habit

75.   Read a really great inspirational/Christian book

76.   Complete The Love Dare with Bobby

77.   Renew our wedding vows

Life Changers

78.   Re-enter the working world

79.   Donate blood at least 3x a year

80.   Donate plasma once

81.   Decide if we should have another baby or get over it

82.   Sell our house so that we can…

83.   …buy/build a bigger “forever” house

Things that need to be done/Just for fun

84.   Train Caroline to wear bows

85.   Print photos and start albums for each child

86.   Get Caroline off the bottle

87.   Potty train Caroline

88.   Get Caroline off the pacifier

89.   Update the blog everyday for a week (0/7)

90.   Get a passport (may need for cruise)

91.   Take Rob and Caroline to an Alabama football game

92.   Read To Kill A Mockingbird

93.   Read Wuthering Heights – just curious as to why Bella and Edward both love it so much J

94.   Read one “classic” book a month for a year (0/12)

95.   Participate in a "Show us your Life" from Kellys Korner 

96.   See a movie at the drive in

97.   Join a Bunco group

98.   Participate in Bobby’s “special challenge”

99.   Have family portraits taken

100.      Have “artistic” portraits of the kiddos taken – Maybe on Morris Avenue?

101. Complete all the items on this list... :) Maybe this is cheating but I can't think of anything else!