Fun at the Zoo... Part 2

Gluten for punishment should be the title of this post. Yes, the very next day (Friday) Hunter and I did it again. We packed up our things and headed over to Grandma Helen's house... Baby Olivia was back for a visit from Japan... Oh yea, and she brought her Mom (Elizabeth) and Dad (Andy), and Uncle Joe.

Hunter was so excited to see Olivia he couldn't wait. We got to Helen's, packed up our picnic lunch and off to the zoo we went. We got there, ate, then we were off to see the animals. The kids had a great time seeing all the animals, and baby Olivia was so cute repeating all of the animal names. They both had a favorite attraction (or two) and funny enough it was the same for both of them... Dippin Dotts Ice Cream and the Carousel. It was hot, and those two things were the coolest thing about the zoo that day! Olivia got the soft serve ice cream until she discovered my Dippin Dotts, then yes folks, I got a new best girlfriend. We sat on the grass and shared an ice cream it was fabulous!!! But all good things must come to an end... Seems Joe has the same mantra as Grandma Helen... "What my baby wants, my baby gets"!
Uncle Joe got Olivia her own Dippin Dotts... What a good uncle. Hunter didn't have much to say while we were enjoying our cool snack, because he was too busy inhaling it to even breath, as I mentioned It was HOT! After he finished my shy and timid little boy (Lol) was making friends with a group of little ones and having such a good time. We finished the day by checking out a few more exhibits, a train ride and a trip into the gift shop to buy the obnoxious toy giraffe hunter wanted. The walk back to the car seemed like ages because it was HOT!!!! Poor Daddy, by the time we met up, for him to take Hunter for the weekend, I was so grumpy and tired and Hunter was too... and we took it out on him! Sorry Daddy.... but it was HOT!!!! 104 degrees to be exact, despite the heat I am glad that we went. Grandma Helen was in her element with all of her babies, it was fun for me to watch. We love you all....

Hunter Boo

Olivia & Elizabeth

Soooo Big!!!!

Hunter & Olivia

The Gang

Joe (with camera)~Hunter~ Grandma Helen

Elizabeth & Olivia (between Helen and Hunter)

Hunter & Via

Fun at the Zoo

August 20, 2009 - Hunter and I met up with one of my dear friends Anissa and her sweet little man Tristan for a fun filled day at the Zoo... Despite the heat we had a wonderful time together letting our boy's be boy's while Anissa and I caught up on girlfriend talk. Tristan and Hunter were hilarious together, and were such troopers hiking all around in the 104 degree heat. Thank goodness for the misting fans, that in and of itself became just as important of an attraction for us as the animals! Thanks Anissa and Tristan for such a great day filled with fun and friends (and SWEAT)... We love you !!!

The whole gang... Tristan, Hunter, Me and Anissa

Tristan & Hunter
Our little Monkey's

Tristan & Hunter "Monkeying" around with the monkey's

Best Buddies... Hot & Sweaty

More to come...

I WORK!!!!!!!!

Hello fellow blog stalkers.... I know that it has been forever since I have blogged but I have just been so busy. A lame excuse I know, and as much as I complain about time passing me by too quickly you would think that I would be a blogging maniac.

Here is a quick catch up...

Hunter and I are doing great. hunter is growing like a weed! The weather has been a little cooler, and on Saturday it was raining, and Hunter and I had an early start. I had a nail appointment at 8:00 that morning and then it was off to brunch with tree of my very dearest friends from junior high and high school, Celeste, Jenifer and Mary (I love them so much!). As I pondered what to put on Hunter that morning I decided I had better put some jeans on him. I grabbed the only ones I thought would still fit him as they were a little long still at the end of winter, and as you may have guessed... too small!!! I couldn't believe it! My baby is a bonefied little boy! I know he has been for some time, but hey it's a mother's prerogative to wear those "rose colored glasses" as long as she wants! I am busily searching for a private/charter school for Hunter, he will begin Kindergarten next fall so in the mean time I have to get him registered now (because classes fill up so quickly) and also, enroll him in preschool. To my mother's credit, I don't remember her under this much pressure when I was a child (with the exception of school clothes shopping... she had four girls... Uhhgggg!!!) and she had six kids to worry about? Ahhh the days of yester year! So while I am doing all of this research to get Hunter into the perfect school, I just want to give a shout out to all the mother's.... We ROCK!

Hopefully next week I will have some fun posts about the going's on of our fun filled weekend...

Agenda:

Thursday - Play date with (my beautiful friend) Anissa and her little man Tristan

Friday - Zoo trip with baby Olivia, Elizabeth, Joe and Grandma Helen

Friday night - Hunter's off to Daddy's for a fun filled (male bonding) weekend

Saturday - Fun with "the big kids" as hunter calls my Friends

Sunday - Combo Birthday party!!!!!

There should be a lot to blog about ;) I can't wait.....

The Pirate Captain Underpants

First of all I sware my child has and wears clothing... It just so happens that he does the cutest things when he is clad only in his undies and t-shirt (sometimes no t-shirt)???

Hunter chose the theme for his 5 year birthday party almost right after his party ended last year. So he has been so geared up about his pirate birthday party. Hunter discovered a treasure chest that I had gotten for the party (yes, that is still several months away, I know), and it was on, Hunter is a pirate this week! Although he would want me to clarify, he is a good pirate captain with a silver metal hook, (the bad pirate captain has a gold hook). He has a sword but needed a hook so I made one with tinfoil and a plastic cup, and not to any one's surprise the thing that cost nothing is his favorite thing to play with. So the entire weekend and today he has worn the bandanna and eye patch and his hook, (he alternates the sword and telescope, he only has two hands don'tcha know?) Oh, and no pirate is a real pirate unless you are running up to strangers yelling Arrrg! And not that it is very glamorous, but I am the mommy pirate. I don't have a sword, or a hook, or even a telescope. My duties are to get snacks and give kisses... I can't complain, it's a pretty good gig...

A sentimental mess...

Okay so I am one of those mom's that panic when I lose sight of my kid at the playground, or when I watch him climb to the highest part of the jungle gym, or when he asks to go out side to play with the neighbor's. He is only testing his Independence but in the back of my mind I know the cruel course of time is working against me and my baby is growing up. I am also one of those mom's that is fully aware of how precious each moment is and all too often I get caught up in the "feel good songs" that are unfolding before my eyes.

Such is the moment that took my breath away a few nights ago. As I was finishing up the last story for the night I looked over and saw my exhausted little boy dreaming along side of me, and right away this song started playing in my mind... It wont be like this for long.... This verse in particular...

"He lays down there beside her ‘Til her eyes are finally closed And just watchin’ her it breaks his heart Cause he already knows It won’t be like this for long One day soon that little girl is gonna be All grown up and gone Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by So, he's tryin’ to hold on ‘Cause it won’t be like this for long"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_lUnFjXg8

So yes, I am one of those kinds of mom's, a sentimental mess... (but I love every moment of it!)

So helpful...I wish it would last forever!

I have such a sweet little boy!!! Hunter LOVES helping out and doing his chores. And he usually volunteer's to do so. I know, I know... (she says thorough her giggles) it won't be like this for long, but I will savor every moment of it that I can. Hunter has a chore chart that he can put stickers on as he completes his chores which for the most part he likes doing, however as he reminded me last week... "Mommy it's o.k. to have messes sometimes", and my favorite after asking him to pick up his toys he said "o.k. mommy, if you insist!" I just love him!

Well here is my little helper washing the dishes. He loves to use the dish scrubber so I always leave a few of the plastic dishes out of the dishwasher so he can wash em' up for me!

Sick-O's

I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for helping Hunter and I out during our confinement. Hunter and I survived the H1N1 (swine) Flu. (It sounds as if I am going into the T-Shirt business) anyway, for those who may not have known, we were given the "Rapid Flu Type" test when I rushed Hunter into the Instacare the Sunday before last, and it came back positive for TYPE A flu which is the strain that the H1N1 virus is linked two. We had to put Hunter through two more grueling cultures so they could send them off to the state for testing. I am still furious with the manner of this testing process I won't even go into it. They sent us home telling me go straight home DO NOT stop at the store, DO NOT go to a drive through, DO NOT pass go , and DO NOT collect two hundred dollars ... Anyway, we had to be quarantined for 7 days (which turned into 9 because we couldn't get rid of our coughs) and I have never felt so bad for Hunter in my life. It was almost easier when he was sleeping and feeling terrible because at least he wasn't thinking about being stuck inside. He would stare out our window and say "Mommy, look at all of the kids playing, it sure looks like they are having fun"! and "Look Mommy, there isn't any kids on the swings can we go play"? It was heart breaking, he was so board. But we made it, and for our first day out we went to see the movie UP, and then we went to lunch at Rumbi! We had fun but it was exhausting for Hunter Boo!
So I have to give a special shout out to Amanda and Helen for bringing us groceries. Not only did they save us from male nourishment, they were able to get us some much needed over the counter meds.... ahhhh! Oh ya, and let's not forget Hunter's milk, that's a whole other crisis. And thanks Dad for picking up my inhaler, who knew being able to breath would help my recovery so significantly. And Connor, what can I say, you're the best. That military training finally paid off in one very feminine trip to the grocery store! Thanks so much!
I love my friends and family. You all were great even the most simple phone call meant a great deal to us. We love you all!
So now that our ears have returned to normal, our hands and feet aren't hoofed and that curly tail fell off, Hunter and I are doing better than ever.