Browns Take to the Zoo Again

We are enjoying the freedom that comes with having a zoo membership again.  Going any ole time the mood strikes and not feeling rushed to do everything on any given day.   TODAY, that meant hitting all our old faves (playground, carousel, goats, lorakeets) and one important new one - the Kangaroo Kickabout exhibit that just opened up. 

Noah was amused with the llama's teeth.

 

I just thought this little guy was pretty as a picture ... so I snapped one.

We don't usually hit the gift shop, but today I was just in the mood and Noah and Anna were down with that since they are ALWAYS in the mood for more toys.  They both opted for blue snakes of one version or another. :)

It was a lovely fall day with friends.  

Thanks for having us! See ya again soon, Nashville Zoo.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Noah's still doing the baseball thing and his team, the Tigers, have managed to remain undefeated.  Fingers crossed they can keep that record intact.  This weekend, Noah scored his first two runs for the team and also managed to flub up in the infield, but he's learning and loves the game so.  (Also, he loves playing football now A LOT, but that is a post for another day.)  Today I post pics from our beautiful Saturday at the ballgame. 

Doesn't he look tough ... and precious?!  

My favorite little third baseman. ♥

 

Fielding a hit.  

Anna's cheering style ... scaling the fence.  :)

 

Noah at bat, never afraid to swing.  He struck out this turn.  No matter, he connected later on!

 

Oh, boo!  Good try, Noah!  You almost had it.  Next time!

 

My fave shot!

 

Getting a few last minute pointers while he waits for the pitcher to get ready.

 

He had a great hit, too, and here he goes running off to second from first. 

 

Then rounding third!

 

Running home!  Go, Noah!!

 

More pointers from his head coach before another outfield inning.

Ready for action!

 

Chasing the runner ... too bad he didn't actually have the ball yet. :}  A for effort, Noah!

 

Tigers won 14-10.  Go, Blue!

Taa Daa: Framed Display

We made these pretty little things at iMom this week!  In so doing, we also learned the coolest chalk paint trick ... instead of dropping $45 on the brand name stuff, we mixed flat paint with powdered grout and a smidge of water.  It did the same job and finish as the expensive stuff.  Then, instead of the wax finish, we sealed it with a cheaper option ... shoe polish! 

I had Josh print this version of Philippians 4:8 for Anna's room.  We have the same verse in Noah's room already, too.

I also just love this finished product a friend at our table did, too.  Isn't it sweet?!

I have my eye on the flower in the corner.  I think I am gonna try that with Anna's in a pink or green to match her room's colors.  I don't know.  I kinda dig going with the burlap motif, too.  Hmmmm...

Out of Doors

Some snapshots of stuff that's happening around here out of doors. :)

Noah's doing a LOT of practicing in the street, working on his hitting and fielding.  Noah's good buddy, Pearson, gets a lot of time with him in the process since he lives two doors over.  And it just so happens that Pearson's father is a baseball trainer so he has been giving our boy some helpful pointers while they play.  Look at that hit!

We sold our Little Tikes kiddie table on the back porch and put away the play-doh for awhile.  Then we pressure washed the deck and rug and now we just sit back and enjoy the absence of stains and clutter all the time.  The temps in the 70s don't hurt either.  I love you, Fall!

Noah's been learning about the Nile River and how the early Egyptians built canals to direct the extra water to their crops from the yearly flooding that happens along the river.  So Noah tried his hand at digging some canals of his own.  Worked like a charm!

Noah also has it in mind to start catching more bugs for pets like a character in a book we are reading.  So he and Josh put their mind to it yesterday and flat out built a bug box of their own.  Turned out great! By nightfall, we had two daddy-long-legs, two moths, a cricket, and some sort of beetle inside.

And while not necessarily outdoors in itself, this is a scene of something that is outdoors so we'll count it. :}  Noah recreated a desert habitat to match the deserts we were talking about in science.  Love his eagerness to extend his learning with projects of his own!  He included saguaro cacti, scorpions, rocks, spiders, sand, and snakes. :)

More from Anna's 5th

We took a break from visiting churches today to take in a slow Sunday together at home and to make a cake and open presents for a little family birthday celebrating.  It went down like this...

Anna and her daddy made and decorated a cake according to all the birthday girl's wishes.

Then I kicked the kids outside while we got the presents set out.

Josh carried the guest of honor into the house because she had to keep her eyes shut for the big reveal.

We lit her big, bad 5 candle.

We stopped for a picture.

And then she took care of the blowing business. :)

She loved her first present ... a walking, talking doll that calls her Mommy and everything!

Giving her a test run.

Then, as tradition has it, brother got to open a present, too.

FINALLY, he has his very own copy of The Lego Ideas Book!

Anna was happy to discover she got some Stompeez.  She quoted the commercial by heart at this point.  So funny!

Checking out her new Squinkies set that she forgot she wanted from months ago.  Good thing her Mommy is a list keeper and remembered because she says this is one of her favorite presents.

She's wanted a mermaid costume for MONTHS, so we finally checked that off the list.

And Josh surprised her with a Wii game of her own - a Disney Princess drawing game.

Her birthday sort of snuck up on me this year.  Shouldn't I be more weepy by now?  Five years - a whole hand! - is a big deal, you know?  Hmmm.  Well, I technically have 3 more days to get my brain around it and I still owe Baby Girl a birthday letter. I bet I find my inner Weepy by then. Ha!

Love ya, Baby Girl!  Happy Birthday to you, my sweet. ♥

Anna's Fabulous Fifth

Every year for the kids' birthdays, we celebrate by doing something the birthday kiddo has never done; this year that meant an actual birthday party with friends for the milestone occasion -

Anna's Fifth Birthday. :) 

Remembering how hard it was to enjoy running the party at home on Noah's 5th, we hired out the managing of that job to Giggles Cuts for Kids and Mini Spa.  Anna chose the Glitz and Glam party package, so dress up and glamour it was! 

 

The guest list was made and invites were sent out.  And then a few more were sent out in addition to these.  The more the merrier, you know!

Everyone she invited was able to attend which was quite the honor. Including the birthday girl, there were 10 precious friends in all, 11 if you count one who politely excused herself when the party mood just wouldn't take.

Anna got right down to business as soon as we arrived.  She jumped into the glamorous dress and feather boa.  Next came hair complete with a jersey bump, side curls, and glitter.

Nails came next.

After make-up, she was ready for her glamour shot!

Comparing colors.

Photo op with the momma while she was still all dolled up.

Every girl got to strut down the red carpet which was funny and precious all at the same time.  They got a little nervous with all eyes on them alone and they had some interesting interpretations of how to traverse the catwalk.

Then came interviews.

Then all the little lovelies gathered for their devoted mommarazzi photos.  Anna's precious friends who helped her celebrate included Selina, Keira, Emma, Caitlin, Ava, Claudia, EmmaLove, Kaylie, and Elise.

THEN they posed ... or some version of that. :}

Josh and Noah stopped in and out during the party.  This wasn't really their scene but they wanted to be there for Anna at least a little.

After photos, the girls changed again and got ready for cupcakes and juice.

Anna enjoyed being sung to by her friends.  She soaked in the Happy Birthday serenade from the top of her up-do straight down to the tips of her toes.  ADORABLE!

Blowing out the candle.

Sugary sweet treats ...

to match the sugary sweet girls!

Anna took her sweet time with her cupcake.  We sort of had to rush her along to get the presents done in time.

Her eyes lit up with delight  

at each and every

gift she opened.

It was such fun to watch her enjoy the gifts, the company, the attention.

As if that morning wasn't activity enough, we hit a fall festival on the way home.  I thought Anna would be worn out after that, but she wasn't interested in a nap until after she got to lay out and adore all her gifts one more time.  

It was a Fabulous Fifth, baby girl!  

Our grins were as big as yours to know you felt so special all day.