Awesome day at the zoo.

Okay we had an awesome day at the zoo. At one point (in the beginning) April and I were discussing how things have changed so much. It used to be so challenging. Today it was almost blissful. April said, "wow, this is almost relaxing!" How did it turn so quickly for the worse?! Literally 30 minutes later I was wondering how much I would have to pay for childcare to work full time. Jackson just couldn't take one more minute. "I am so so so so hungry!" He shouted that repeatedly while others mom's look at me like the kid was really starving. It was 11am. We got there at like 10am. Juliet started screaming in her backpack. Everyone was just melting down so quickly. We had decided to eat lunch there. I have been there well over 20 times and have only ate there once or twice. The food is outrageously priced and honestly it tastes like poop. They make so much money. Why does the food have to be so horrible? So, I decided if we are leaving afterwards I am just going to go straight to the car and pick something up on the way home. Plus, there are snacks in the car. Halfway to the car we decide to get drinks and those big salty pretzels for the kids. Really? How do you screw up a pretzel? Ask the zoo. There's are horrible! They really should be used as treats for the animals. Instead we paid $3/ea for the disgusting things. Drinks and pretzels and $30 later we headed to the car. Okay, looking back we should have just made a run for it before the snacks. The snacks seemed to have an opposite effect on the kids and they were terrible. They were probably just pissed we fed them those horrible pretzels. The parking lot felt like I was doing the mini marathon again with tons of kids in tow. Braxton kept running away from April. April tried to hold his hand. He kept twirling his body in circles to break free of her. Instead the kid nearly broke his arm twice. Poor kid has smarts like his Daddy. Just kidding, April. So, Braxton is running away from us and I can't get Jackson to walk. I think I yelled so many times, "Jackson run!" He just kept getting slower and slower. I couldn't carry him because I had Juliet on my back. Which at this point she is just crying. The whole way walking to the car Savanah is pouring her $4 drink out all over the ground. Then I start yelling at her, "do you know how much your Mommy paid for that?!" People were just staring at us. Which, that just infuriates me. Why do people find it so entertaining to watch others discipline their children?! One of these days I will 'accidentally' let me mouth go. It makes me want to super glue their eyes open for a week! People want to stare, I will make sure they won't be able to stop! Okay, I will calm down now. Alright, later I will post pics of the day. They are the blissful moments, not the craziness.

Lots of pics

Saturday morning I took the kiddos to the Greenwood Freedom Festival parade. Jeff had to work on Saturday and this was a very last minute decision. I told Tiffany I would meet her at 9:30-9:45a ish at her house. Okay, I woke up at 9a. That meant I had to shower, do my hair, makeup, get all the kids up, dressed and teeth brushed in under an hour. And by the pics below I totally did it! That is some record. We were actually sitting on the side of the street waiting for the parade to begin. My only downfall, the kids did not have breakfast. I joked about how the kids would eat whatever candy was thrown to them from the parade. But Tiffany's husband Steve saved the day. He rode his bike to the nearby Village Pantry and loaded up. Here is a pic of my mom and Juliet. Old Towne Greenwood is so cute. I love all the cute little streets and darling homes.

This was about the most of a smile I was going to get from Jackson.

Jacob is my morning boy.

They let kids decorate their bikes and ride in the parade. I can't wait till the kids get a little older because we will have to participate.

Juliet did amazingly well. She generally won't sit in the stroller for a minute. But she totally cooperated.

Here is the kids. I really wanted a group shot but I never had an opportunity to stand in the street. My kids were there, April, Savanah, Braxton, Tiffany, Steve, Kylee and my Mom.

April and Mom.

I love this pic because it is of Tiffany's boob. Just kidding! (I know you like that, Tiff) This was the first thing Juliet had to eat-a popsicle and a sucker!

I thought this car was really cool. But then this happened....

He totally stalled. I felt so bad for him. He had to be pushed to the side.

Steve took all the kids for a ride on his bike. They loved it! They love Steve. They call him Uncle Steve.

So precious.

Saturday night we went back to Greenwood for the fireworks. The boys each took their little chairs. I thought they looked so cute with them on their little backs.

I had to include this pic because it is so good of Tiffany.

Savanah's cute little outfit, so festive for the holiday.

Complete with matching headband.

The kids had a ball rolling down this little hill. They must had rolled down it a hundred times.

I think this is such a good pic of Mom. She looks so pretty.

There's Dad!

He really enjoyed that corn.

A better pic of Tiff. But, what is that coming out of her head?

I was randomly taking pics, and no one was obviously paying any attention to me. Except for my daughter, look at her cheesing.

Saturday night was tons of fun. The kids are getting so big. This was the third year we have taken them to the Greenwood fireworks. Just going there reminds me of all the years before. The first year the boys were only one. I was so paranoid they were going to run off, or someone would take them, or they would have panic attack during the fireworks because of the noise. They of course, were fine. Last year, the boys were more adventurous and really enjoyed the show. And it was Juliet's first year. But she was just a baby, but did great anyhow. This year the boys were totally rambunctious and Juliet keeps up with them just fine.
Sunday we went to a cookout at my friends mom's house. It was hosted by Nikki and Chris. We had fun. It is always a good time to get out see everyone. The boys enjoyed themselves too. They really took to Nikki's Grandpa. He tore a leaf off a tree for Jacob. Jacob was attached to that leaf the rest of the day. He kept saying, 'the grandpa at the party gave it to me.' I immediately regretted not bringing our swimming gear. Everyone else was swimming. But of course, my paranoid self was too worried to think that actually swimming would be a possibility. Let me tell you, it was so hot I would have made it work.

Monday we went to April's house. April was so kind as to watch my kids so I could go do my grocery shopping. I was very grateful because we were down to nothing left for dinner. I really did not want to eat out for dinner. Too expensive.







This was Monday morning eating oatmeal before going to April's.

Jacob found this old costume in the garage sale stuff that didn't sell. He was totally cracking me up. He kept saying he was a horse and yelling, 'nah!' I think we need a refresher course on farm animals, oh and colors. During the fireworks Jacob kept yelling, 'there is a red one (not red), there is a green one (again, not green).

This was so darling. Jacob went to the sink and got the washcloth. He cleaned Juliet up so gentle. It was a very precious moment.

Monday evening Jeff took the boys to get their haircuts. The boys have had many haircuts, but this was the first time that I let them get like a buzz cut. Their hair is so short. They look all grown up!

Today Savanah and Braxton came over. Apri had a doctor's appt so I watched her kids for a couple of hours. This is just some random photos of today.

Isn't this so cute? He was totally trying to hide from the camera. He looks really cute here, but later he totally pooped in his underware for me.

Today was an okay day with the kids. Even a really good day is still challenging. It was eventful to say the least. Braxton pooped in his underware for me. I told the boys first thing this morning that if they pooped and pee in the potty till the weekend I would take them to see Toy Story 3 at the theater. Literally 5 minutes later Jonah pooped in his pullup and Jackson peed in his underware. This evening Jonah stole a beef buoillon cube from the kitchen thinking it was candy. He snuck up into his room to 'enjoy' it. The next thing I know Jackson is yelling, 'Mom, Jonah is vomitting all over our room and our blankies!" He totally did. But what I didn't know at the time is when I scooped him up to rush him to the bathroom he wasn't finished vomitting. As I am scrubbing the floors I kept thinking, 'why is my back all wet?' He totally vomitted all down my backside. That was a little stressful because Juliet kept trying to get the vomit. Then, while I am totally cleaning up she took off her diaper. It could have been worse because she didn't have an accident.

But on a funny note, during breakfast this morning Jacob says to me just very plainly, "I will have candy with the cereal this morning." Like that is generally an option at breakfast. I said, 'I guess you will, I think not." I told him he looked very handsome with his new haircut. He said, 'and cute too!' Haha! He is a character.

Tomorrow I have big plans to take the kids to the zoo alone. Well, April and her kids are going too. So, I guess I won't technically be alone. But you get the picture. And tomorrow night I am going with adults to see an adult movie. ECLIPSE!!! I am so excited. Rob Pattinson here I come.