Calling all animal lovers...

WARNING: Lots of fabulous pictures.

I actually don't know why peoople write the warnings about having a picture heavy blog. I personally love to look at the pictures. I was just wondering if maybe it is harder to pull up on a slower connection or something. Anyone know?

Last Monday we went to the zoo with other co-op kids and girl scouts. There were so many of us that we couldn't stick together as one group, but we mainly stayed with the girl scout group.

I was adament about seeing the animals this time. Usually when we go to the zoo, the kids only want to play on the playground. But I got to see my animals and I'm all the happier too!

We went into this bird section with all these beautiful birds. Aussie tried so desparately to get one to come on his arm, but the lady who worked there said that with all the school groups coming through the birds were keeping their distance.

They have this really cute area after seeing the birds where you can wash your hands.

Look at this little fella...
I just love girraffes. And we got a show from this one. He was up really close. Most of the time they are WAY in the back and don't come up so close. Also, we got to see this one running in the field. I had never seen that before. I think he was just playing.
God sure did make some beautiful animals.

Just look at this beauty...

I think she was probably hungry. It was about closing time and she was pacing.

There were 2 baby bengal tigers. They were so cute. The picture makes her look bigger than she was.

We went in the petting zoo area. It was smelly but fun. Look at this tiny little one.

This little one came out to greet us.

Of course all the kids love the meerkats.

I love to see the monkeys. I again showcased my ability to speak like one. The monkeys didn't respond. I told some friends how the monkeys at the Cincinnatti zoo answered back. And we concluded that since I am from Ohio that it probably was just a different dialect.

I brought my binoculars with me this time. I had never thought to do that before. The kids had a grand time with them.

Ashley and Abby are best friends and......
monkeys or koala bears.

We also love the mccaws. This is the first animal you see when you come to the zoo, so it was REALLY crowded. We didn't stay long to try to talk to them, not that they would have talked back anyway.

It's always pretty difficult to get a group shot.

Hey Mom- Look how tall I am.

After me dragging them around the entire zoo to SEE the animals, I finally let them play on the playground.

One of their favorite things to do, besides the playground is to get a map of the zoo. Each one has to have their own.

At the end of the day when I was signing up for a membership the kids took a break and sat in one of these strollers at the membership desk. I had found an old map of the zoo hidden in one of the pockets of the rolling bag I brought. They begged me if I could ask if they had any more. They didn't but they did have some in Spanish. So Mason was thrilled to have that one.

It took so long for the guy to help me that he gave me a bag of tokens to be used for the carousel. YEA! (worth $20)

Mother's Day Pictures

Way too tired to blog...So I'll leave you with some pictures in no particular order.

What a ROUGH DAY!

Last Friday was HORRENDOUS!

I know some people who have had broken bones hurt at certain times, like when the weather changes or if it is about to rain. Well, my ankle hurts sometimes, but I haven't related it to any weather activities. It just decides sometimes it is going to hurt. Well it was hurting last Thursday, and I decided to go to a Zumba class anyway. Well while I was there I REALLY twisted it bad. OUCH!!! So Friday, I could hardly walk.

I took the kids to co-op and had to go back home to make lunch and get some other things together. I'm not really sure why it happened but after I dropped the kids off I ended up having an anxiety attack. I don't have these often (maybe once or twice a year). Anyway, the doctor had prescribed me some Xanax last September to have just in case I had another attack. Well, I didn't need it and I had NO IDEA where that bottle could have been. I looked everywhere. I called the doctor's office in a panic (obviously) and had to leave a message on the refill line. I asked for a refill of Zantac, because I thought I REALLY needed one today. Well no one called me back. So as I was running out the door to pick up lunch for the kids, I noticed a purse in the garage that I used to carry. I looked in there and happened to found the bottle. I took one.

I got to co-op and I was just crying and crying. I could not physically stop myself. A friend prayed over me. I tried to explain to my kids that I was fine, that sometimes this just happens and I can't stop myself from crying. One of the teachers helped me wrap my ankle up, and within a few minutes the medicine had set in and I was fine.

I was able to enjoy the kids do their performances. And I was very grateful Greg was able to attend their show. So on the way home, my cell phone rings. I couldn't reach the phone so I didn't answer it. (thankfully- looking back at the situation)

When I got home and got everyone settled in, I listened to my message. Greg had hydro-planed on the interstate, went across the median, and landed on the shoulder of the other side of on coming traffic. It was Greg who had called me. He told me he was fine. However, that immediately set off another anxiety attack. I thanked God over and over for protecting him, but I couldn't get it out of my mind the "what ifs".

Greg said he was surprisingly calm. He examined the situation. He was fine, the car ran, so he just drove off and went to work.

I on the other hand was a mess! I really tried not to, but I had Ashley crying too. I called the pharmacist to see if I could take another Xanax, b/c the bottle said I could take one 4x a day as needed. Well I didn't know what that really meant. I cried to him, the whole long story. (poor guy) And he said, yes you can take another one. About 5 minutes after I get off the phone with him, my doctor's office calls. I'm wailing. The nurse says, "Are you alright?"

me blabbering....again tells the whole story and how I just got off the phone with the pharmacist who says I can go ahead and have another one and how I found the bottle, etc. etc.

And she says, "well I thought I ought to call, because you asked for Zantac, which is an OTC heartburn medicine."

OH GOOD GRIEF!!!! No wonder they didn't call me back right away!

Anyway, the medicine did calm me down. Greg realized 2 of his tires were bald. He DROVE home AFTER work in the rain. He got home safely- and we got him new tires Saturday.

NOW...For the funny part. I got to hear from one of Greg's co-workers on what he was like after the accident. He said, Greg was extremely calm (VERY very unusually calm). He said that all of his co-workers were looking at him and kept asking him if he was OK. And Greg would say, yes I just need to get this email out. Of course every one else would have gone home after something like this happened, but not Greg. One of his co-workers actually said he wondered if Greg was really alive or a ghost, because Greg would be that ONE person who would come back to WORK to do that unfinished business of sending an email before passing on into the next life.

I'm so thankful God protected him!!!!!

Mother/ Daughter Tea

AH....Saturday. A NEW DAY! It was still a bit stressful only having one car with lots of things planned.

We almost missed the girl scouts Mother/ Daughter tea.

Greg took Aussie to Chinese class, came back home, we drove to Sam's club to get his tires. It was taking a long time. There was no way we could have waited for him to get it all set up, then take us home to drop the boys off and make it to the tea on time.

So I suggested they eat at Sam's, let us go on and then he could drive the boys home in the fixed car.

YAY- We got there a little late, getting lost along the way, but we got there.

I had no idea what door to go in. And it was raining and raining! We finally got in, sat down and relaxed.

BUT someone needs to teach these people WHAT a Mother/ Daughter Tea ought to look like.

It was pitiful BUT we still had a good time. And it was cute to see the girls chatting and having fun.

Ashley wore the dress that Gramma bought her for Easter.

Eve

Emma

Kadence (sporting her new glasses and short haircut)

(I didn't even have to ask Aussie, I could tell by his facial reaction at school Friday that he was disappointed her hair was cut.)

Abby

And their troop was asked to say the Girl Scout pledge in front of all the other Girl Scouts. They were very cute.

We had to leave early, because I had to get back in time to go see a play with Greg. We saw Darwin in Paradise. Weird! Weird! Weird! It was still nice to get out. And I always enjoy the pre-dinner at the top of a tall building looking over Nashville.

Good gracious! It's 2:00AM! How do I manage to do that? I got to get bed. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I am looking forward to eating at Outback. YUM! My favorite!!!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you lucky Mothers!!!!

Performances.

Not yesterday, but last Friday the kids had their end of the year program performances. Mason was not feeling well and didn't have much of a voice.
But he got up and mouthed the words to Jesus Loves Me in Spanish with the rest of the Spanish class.

Then the boys were in a play based on the book Where the Wild Things Are.

And then Ashley did a hip hop dance with the other girls. I could not get very good pictures AT ALL of the performances.

There was a lot of confusion of when the performances would take place. I don't know what happened to why we couldn't have the original date, but I think the church needed it that night or something. Anyway, the ONLY time that was possible was to have it during the day, right after lunch. I was really surprised at how many men were able to make it to the show. Greg was able to take an extended lunch break and make up the time. So he was able to be there.

Chuck E. Cheese

Oh Wow do I feel behind! I have been super busy. I've been working on lots of school related stuff and I have been working on a girl scout project.

Anyway, let me take you back to April 17th. This was Braxton and Dalton's birthday. Dana had planned to have a party in the summer when they will get a big outside present for their kids. She had talked to them several times and they seemed OK with the idea of waiting to have their party in the summer. But when they woke up on their birthday, they began to get weepy about not having a party. So Dana called a couple of friends to see if we could meet at Chuck E. Cheese. We surprised B & D and all had a great time! Chuck E. even came and visited them at the table. We met right after school on Friday. It was the perfect time to go! It wasn't busy!

Mason was really good about playing the games that won him tickets.

Aussie was more into the thrill rides.

And Ashley liked both.

And I was able to get my baby fix.

I just love this little fellow!