It's a zoo!

Last week we went to the zoo with friends on a day that turned out to be really drizzly and wet but we had such a great time. The zoo was pretty empty so we spent all the time we wanted at our favorite spots. This photo is of one of our favorite things to do-feed nectar to the rainforest birds. Landry used to be afraid of this so it is fun to watch him eager to do it this season. He is growing up so fast.

This is one of those great email reminders of the joy of being everything to our little ones. Thought it was worthy of posting for my fellow moms.

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Any thoughts on what you couldn't imagine about being a mom before you became one?

Aren't we handy?

Home Depot is the best! While I philosophically object to its big box operating style and its declining quality of customer service, I have to admire the marketing genius who decided a workshop for kids to build stuff like birdfeeders (as we did) would be a great way to get their parents into the store. This was our first experience with the kids workshops and we had a really great time. To be truthful the project was a little beyond this bunch and the moms ended up doing most of the assembly but they sure had a great time donning safety glasses and applying way too much wood glue.

By the way, as a note to Home Depot, they really should have called this the "squirrel feeder" project as that seems to be what we are attracting most. I don't know about the rest of you but Ohio has way too many squirrels and I basically view them as more hairy and germy rats that come a lot closer to my children but that's a paranoia post for another day...

Oh Girls!

We were invited to celebrate our neighbor Grace's 5th birthday this weekend. We had a lot of fun at the party but I think I had the most fun making her gift. I embroidered this cute little kid-sized apron for her to wear when she helps her mom in the kitchen. The whole time of course I was wondering what fun it must be to have a little girl in the house. Don't get me wrong...my rough and tumble, dirt covered, boys are amazing and heart-warming, but a girl! It would just be so fun. Of course, I have heard the tales of drama queens and grudge holding princesses but I feel like I was one of those women born to be a mother of at least one girl. For now, one can only hope and enjoy other sweet girls in the neighborhood.

Acting...Brilliant!

"Mr. Popper's Penguins" was a huge success at our local primary school. Mr. Popper, played by McCall, was a loveable and funny hero in the story about a surprising delivery to of tuxedoed friends from the Antarctic to the Popper home. Emma, the Penguin, impressed the audience with her complicated lines, "Gork, gork" and Jake, in the roll of the refridgerator repairman gives Desperate Housewives, Handyman Mike, a run for his money!

The entire cast gave a smashing performance and reviewers give the production two thumbs up!