Zoo Field Trip

Yesterday was Dallas' spring field trip to the zoo, and I was lucky enough to go along.  Because there were enough chaperones, and Dallas' class is small enough, it was just Dallas in my "group".  In the morning, we walked around with another mom/friend and her "group" of 2 boys.

The boys allowed my to get a quick photo - Dallas, Elliot, and Dylan

Dallas loved this bright orange bird in the Amazonia

The boys caught in the Jag cage

We've been to the zoo numerous times since moving to the area, and the groundhog exhibit has been under construction each time.  But this time, it was open and they were out!

I also love the giraffe exhibit, you can get so close that you could almost touch them!

Dallas loved climbing on the giant spider web

and playing in the jungle playhouse

We were able to get a class photo before loading the bus to go home.  What a great group!

Until next time...

Julianne - 4 months

Well, I started this post back on Julianne's actual 4 month "birthday." I got as far as uploading the photos before I was interrupted by something of the up-most importance (I'm sure).  Better late than never to finish it.

Julianne goes for her 4-month check up and vaccines on the 22nd, so we will have to wait until that time to see how much she has grown.  For now, you will have to settle on pictures, and this Momma bragging on what Julianne has accomplished.

We are starting to see signs of spring along with some warmer temperatures, so Julianne made her first trip to the barn to see the animals.

She has also started to join us outside while the older kiddos swing and slide, ride their toys, play in the sandbox, etc.  We have even gone on a few walks in the subdivision across the road.

Just after Julianne turned 3 months old, she figured out how to roll from her back to her side, but she has since figured out how to go all the way over to her belly.  She now remembers how to get back to her backside from her belly; therefore, making her way off the blanket she is suppose to be laying on!  I swear she is even starting to "think" about crawling, as she will kick and move her legs while on her belly!  So far, she has only been successful at moving backwards.

We still have not heard those big belly laughs from our baby girl.  She is ticklish under her arms and down the sides of her torso.  She will just smile and squirm when you try to tickle her.

Julianne is taking after her big brother in the teeth department!  She is working very hard at getting her bottom two front teeth to poke through.  She has mastered bringing toys to her mouth, chewing on her fingers, as well as any blanket she can get her hands on.  And, all of this, only increases the amount of drool that is produced from the sweet little angel.

Julianne will also mimic facial expressions.  She loves to return smiles, stick her tongue back out at you, and will occasionally return the raspberries.

She is much more stable in the bumbo seat, and she enjoys sitting in it and watching her brother and sister play.  She also likes it when we put the aquarium toy mat in front of her so she can bat at the fishes.

Julianne is still wearing 3-6 month clothing, but it won't be long before she moves up a size.  I do hope I am wrong, or I am going to have to buy new summer clothes for her.

Julianne is also finishing up her last pack of size 2 diapers, and she will begin wearing size 3 in the next day or two!

As I mentioned before, Julianne loves to return smiles, but in the last month she won't let me capture them with the camera.  This is the typical face I get once the camera is within sight!

Julianne is still adored by her big brother and big sister.  Reba loves to call Julianne "Shuggie Bear", and Doug and I have found Reba in Julianne's bed on more than one occasion.

Julianne is still swaddled during naps and at bedtime.  There were a few night where she was able to get her arms out of the blanket I had her swaddled in, but she still slept through the night.  That made me think it might be time to stop swaddling her.  Then, she got strong enough where she got completely unwrapped - and woke up in the middle of the night multiple nights in a row.  She wasn't hungry, she didn't want to play, she just couldn't stop moving to get back to sleep!  I bought a SwaddleMe blanket, and Julianne has returned to sleeping through the night.

Since we are on the topic of sleeping.  Julianne is now going to bed around 8:30 (Dallas and Reba are typically in bed around 8 p.m.; I will then nurse Julianne one final time and then put her in bed).  She sleeps until 6 am, when I wake her up to nurse before Dallas and Reba get up at 6:15)  When Dallas and Reba were gone for Spring Break, Julianne slept 12+ hours!

Her napping schedule has changed in the last week to week and a half.  She is now falling asleep on our ride home from dropping the older kiddos off at school (7:30ish), and sleeping til 9:30 or 10:00.  (That nap typically happens in the carseat)  She will then lay in her bed around noon, and I wake her a little after 2 p.m. to go pick up Dallas from school.  Sometimes, she will catch a quick cat nap (20 min) while I'm making dinner.

With the warmer days, Julianne got her first ride on the lawn mower.  Luckily, there were a couple guys willing to be her chauffeur!

Julianne is great at recognizing our voices - especially when she hears Momma speak from a different room or when Reba is singing!

Every once in a while, I still get to rock my baby to sleep...

One afternoon last week, Julianne was experimenting with new facial expressions.  This was her favorite...

Until next time...

"Spring" Break

Even though the weather hasn't been very Spring-like, the kiddos still had a week off from school.  They headed north to stay with Pa, Gram, and Aunt Josie the first part of the break, and the second half with Pa-paw, Ma-maw, and Aunt Lisa.

Aunt Josie was kind enough to send some pictures of what they did...

Decorating the gumdrop tree

and dyed some eggs

Posing with the finished products

They even got colorful pancakes one morning

 They spent one afternoon at one of Gram's friend's house, and got to see some unusual pets!

A pig play pen

Some baby emus

They even have an alligator in the house!

I do believe they all had a pretty good time.

Until next time...

Trip to the Zoo

Dallas was out of school last Friday for Fall Break, and since Daddy was finished with harvest, he took the day off as well!  The previous Sunday at church, my friend Carla mentioned she was going to take her girls to the zoo on their Fall Break.  It got me to thinking about some free zoo passes we had from Daddy working Boo at the Zoo last Halloween.  When we got home from church, I found the passes, and discovered they expired at the end of the month.  I mentioned the idea to Doug, and he thought it would be a great start to the long weekend.

A quick snapshot before entering the zoo.

Here's a quick look at the last time we visited the zoo...over 3 years ago!

We found a couple bats hanging around in a cave

Dallas really liked this Scarlet Macaw (remember, his favorite color is red)

Can anyone guess what Dallas said when he spotted this guy?

Reba couldn't wait to see the giraffe.  Unfortunately, they weren't up as close as the last time we saw them.

Although, she was able to craw on the "baby giraffe", so she was pretty happy with that!

Monkey see, monkey do...

Until next time...

West Side Nut Festival

A couple weeks ago was the 92nd Annual West Side Nut Festival.  The city claims it is the second largest street festival in the country (next to Mardi Gras).  The best thing about the festival is that all of the 130+ food booths are non-profit/charity groups.  Many of the booths are churches, schools, band/sport boosters, etc.  They all come up with their own menu, and if you can imagine a "fair food", you'll find it there!  Our church/school had a booth, and they were selling chocolate covered Oreo truffles, Burgoo, Kuchens, and grilled cheese sandwiches.

We finally made it out to enjoy the festival on Saturday (it runs all day, everyday from Monday-Saturday).  That morning there was a pet parade, so we decided to check it out.

Dallas enjoying an apple cider slushy before the parade started.

This old truck lead the parade

Then, this big red familiar face!

Daddy was impressed with this young lady's pedal tractor

I don't think my kiddos realize who the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are...

Reba has the figured out if you wave at the parade, they will throw candy!  This is how she looked the entire parade (unfortunately, many of the participates didn't have candy to throw)

There were many different pets in the parade...include these chickens!

and a monkey! (Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat)

even Little Bo Peep's sheep

and a unicorn?

Even Duck Dynasty made an appearance!

Overall, the kiddos enjoyed seeing a different type of parade, but they did complain about how little candy they got :o)  Just can't please 'em.

Until next time...

Kentucky State Fair

The weekend of August 23-25, we were off enjoying the Kentucky State Fair with Pa-paw, Ma-maw, and Aunt Lisa.  The kiddos were very excited to see Eleanor and Rebecca again; they had been at Pa-paw's house since the Jackson County Fair.

I was even able to get our "farm" sign done in time for the fair...

We chose the name "Mountain Man" because of our German roots.  For those that are not brushed up on their German: "Berg" = Mountain

The kiddos were very willing to help get their ewes ready...

Reba working on Rebecca

Dallas carding Eleanor's legs

The kiddos helping Pa-paw with a yearling ewe

Daddy and Momma showing Maybelle

Dallas was insistent on walking Eleanor to the ring

Reba was content following Rebecca

They did a great job of staying with their lambs and paying attention to the judge

Of course, Little Miss spotted Ma-maw with the camera...

Dallas working hard to keep Eleanor's back level

 Reba keeping Rebecca calm by rubbing her belly

A nice family photo

When we were not showing, we would occasionally "lose" Dallas, but he was never too far.  He would be a few pens down admiring our friend's Horned Dorset

Joel was even kind enough to get the big guy out so Dallas could get his picture with it
(Can I just say, that is one amazing set of horns!)

And if Reba went "missing", you could find her lovin' on Joel's little man, Jude!

Until next time...