Moments

Max is usually only allowed to have a binky when he is in bed, whether for a nap or a night. After getting from a nap one day he spied his backup binky on the counter and kept taking one out to put the other in. It was so funny.

That one time it was Max's fault we were stuck in Target for so long. Usually it's Millie who holds us up!

"But Mom, he asked me to paint his face!"

Millie's little Mother's Day project - she painted terra cotta pots and we put some flowers in them. She had so much fun.

I just love it when he wanders off to play on his own. 

A Sunday chat with my fam.

His cheesy faces lately are just killing me!

Houston Zoo

I've been trying to get to the zoo since we moved here 3 years ago! Somehow things always got in the way. This week we finally made it happen. The zoo has one free afternoon a month, which is awesome because it is usually really expensive, so we went on the free day. Gretchen took us up, for which I was so grateful! The weather was nice - a little rain here and there, but just enough to cool us off. Tyler happened to have a big deadline that morning so he was able to join us afterwards! Hooray!!

Had to stop by the cougar!

This orangutan was pretty crazy looking! He started walking around and I asked Millie, "What do you think he's doing?" She said, "I think he's watching a novie." There you have it.

We'd be looking at these incredible, exotic animals and instead of looking at them (or after), Millie always noticed the random bunny hopping through the enclosure, or a bird looking for food on the path, or a turtle swimming that wasn't part of the zoo. It was so funny. After a minute or two of looking at each animal, she'd say, "Okay guys, let's go see another aminal!" She's such a ringleader.

Of course, the animals moved right before the picture, making it look like we visited a very unwatered park. Or something. 

Max loved it. He loves animals so this was right up his alley. He'd point to them and yell, "Oh! Bah!" or he'd growl, because that's the sound most animals make if you ask him. He got so excited about every single one. 

Not a real giraffe. In case you were worried.

It was a pretty awesome day at the zoo!

Millie-isms

She didn't want to pray one night, but finally did: "Dear Heavenly Father, please bless that I wont have to pray anymore if I don't want to. Please bless that nothing will happen." 

Millie has been extra scared of bugs or outdoor creatures lately. This is a bummer since we've been having such beautiful weather!!! She just wants to be inside.

She needed to rest because she felt sick. When I asked why, she said it's because "I'm allergic to bees and bugs and ants. And worms."

"Millie, what's your favorite food?" "Mom, here's the deal. I like ice cream, donuts, and cupcakes."

She constantly asks "What should we do today, Mom?" even if the day is over.

More lately-ness

I've realized that not very many of my blog posts really have a category or title. I just take a lot of pictures and have a compulsive need to record things and this is where it ends up - randomly piled into scattered blog posts. Anyway, on to the regularly scheduled programming - a miscellaneous photo dump.

Wrestling on the trampoline. I moved it into the shade and they love it! We have to sweep it off almost every time they want to get on because little sticks and leaves fall onto it all the time and Max will eat them, but oh well.

We typically have YW presidency meetings at my house, because I'm usually the only one with my kids with me. This week I got pretty frazzled trying to keep the kids under control while still running the meeting and I let Max have as many banana chocolate chip muffins as would keep him quiet. Not a good idea, since he's kind of allergic to bananas! Bad thing to forget. They just don't stay in him for long, so that's always fun to clean up. I also ended up with chocolate all over me. 

We got to have some yummy Bahama Bucks to celebrate Sharon's birthday. No one was sad about that, except Max because he had to share a sno cone with me.

Throwing sno balls afterward

Max was trying to stay outside but also watch 101 Dalmations with Millie! Funny boy.

I looked all over Pinterest for a chore chart I liked, but I never found one I liked enough to go to the trouble of printing it. Plus, when else would I get to draw such fabulous little pictures?? Millie is working hard to earn enough money for a bow and arrow set she has her eye on. 

Daddy can't even get out of the car before he is attacked with hugs and kisses.

My (early) Mother's Day gift! We were trying to figure out what to have for dinner (I am a meal planner but by Friday night I am pretty much fed up with cooking so we get creative) and somehow breakfast came up. We've wanted a waffle iron for so long but have never pulled the trigger! Anyway, we did it and made waffles that night. They were good but HUGE. Apparently those Belgians are hungry. 

Lately

Max is obsessed with animals. He growls at pretty much all of them. Can't wait to take this kid to the zoo!

New running shoes after 5 years of wearing my last pair! It was time!

Learning to write. We'll need to work on that pencil form. She has since learned E and F, and our driveway is covered in chalk letters! This is such a fun age.

Millie loves to do her "nakeup" and gives herself a unibrow every time!

Max can often be found carrying one or two shoes. He loves them. He also loves this pillow and will stop and snuggle/wrestle it whenever he finds it.

Gretchen brought me this lovely gift on Tuesday! I'm pretty sure I screamed a little bit when she showed it to me. It feels a little bit ridiculous to be so crazy over a CD like I'm a tween or something, but seriously I love it. I've been waiting for Josh to do an album like this since his first album when I was in jr. high. 

Gigi also brought some fun toys and dressup stuff for the kids. Millie is a little bit obsessed.

Poor Max busted his lip the other day. We were in the bathroom and I was bathing Millie. Max was standing next to the toilet and fell, hitting his chin on the toilet on the way down. He bit his lip but luckily not all the way through. He was pretty tough and only cried for a minute. Millie was scared by all the blood so I couldn't show her I was too! 

Saturday snapshots

It was just really awesome to wake up Saturday morning, look at each other, and say, "What should we do today?" That hasn't happened in a long time. We had a relaxing morning at home (aka Tyler worked and I attempted to clean the disasterous mess that was made on Friday), made some returns at the outlets, a ward baptism for Millie and I, dinner at Smash Burger (thanks to some coupons, but probably not worth it otherwise), and fun in the backyard. 

"Dad, there's a bird. It's dead." 

Max made up a little game for himself. He would lie down, hold the ball over his head for a minute, then throw it in a random direction, retrieve it, and start again. I could have watched him all day.

Our backyard just felt like our own little heaven that evening. Except for the grass attempting to grow on the concrete... someday we'll edge.

Saturday is a special day indeed!