Gardening

Today I made a trip to Home Depot to get a few plants for the porch.  I had planned to also get lumber and topsoil to make a very small raised-bed garden, but I didn't get that accomplished.  It was crowded so it took longer than I expected to choose plants, and I still had to go to the grocery store before time to get the kids.  I planted caladiums, petunias and ivy in the three pots on our fronts steps, then the kids helped me with the back yard when they got home.  We replaced a daylily that had died, planted a hibiscus, geranium and mint plant.  We're soaking morning glory seeds overnight and plan to plant those by the fence tomorrow afternoon. 

 Crosby watering the hydrangea and Alexee digging up a worm.

 Hopefully I can use this for mint tea this summer.

 One of my favorite things to do!  Now if I can just remember to water them...

Community Group B-Day Fun

Last Sunday evening we got together with our Community Group to celebrate Jan's birthday.  Bob & Leigh Ann were so kind to host, and they cooked such a delicious meal.  They moved here from Louisiana, and they are great cooks.  Bob made shrimp and grits--YUM!  (I think the shrimp dish had an official name, but I'm not sure what it was.  He cooked it in a huge cast iron pot with homemade seafood stock, veggies, sausage, etc.)  He also made marinated crab claws, which I'd never had, but they were good too!  Everyone brought appetizers/sides and we had cupcakes for dessert.  I went the super easy route and took fruit + fruit dip (8 oz. cream cheese + jar of marshmallow cream), but I think that dip is so good, even if it is extremely simple!  They have a great back yard--perfect for 14 kids to run and play! The kids all played so well together and had a lot of fun.  Our kids didn't want to leave, but they were  tired.  They all three had someone their age to play with--that's always nice.

Here are some of the kids (and parents) on the swing set

 Crosby loved this swing

Bob grilling burgers for the kids and Lane posing for a picture :) (Lane had to leave early to go to the hospital for his OB shift, but I was glad he was able to go with us for a little while.)

 The girls' table:  Kiley, Alexee & Alex

 C enjoying a burger

A trampoline full:  Macy, Miley, Kiley, Alexee, Alex, Rhett and Parker

 Leigh Ann had everything decorated so cute.

 Miley & Reid watching Toy Story

 Love this picture of Tate singing a great big "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to his Mom!

 Carson, Crosby & Reid--big smiles!

 sweet Alexee

Fun times.  We're thankful for this new group of friends and for the way the Lord put our group together!  We've had a great year of Bible study and fellowship.  We are finishing up the spring semester with a series called Twisted by Andy Stanley, which has been very interesting.  Here's a brief description of it:

Twisted

Part 1: All Is Not as It Seems

Andy Stanley

There is more to this world than we can see. Beyond all that we are able to measure and understand is a spiritual world; a world that we can neither see nor touch, yet we feel its impact everyday. We live in a world in which an evil influence exists that deceives us and desires to ultimately lead us on a path of destruction. In this message, Andy Stanley discusses how our lives have become twisted, and we'll discover the source behind this deception.

Fairy Party

Alexee enjoyed celebrating Caroline's birthday with her last weekend.  C's Mom had everything decorated so pretty and sweet for the fairy party.  As of last night, Alexee still had "fairy dust" (purple glitter) stuck to her head!  :)  C's Dad did the face painting--doesn't it look great!  It even had glitter around the eyes.  The girls all received a special hot pink tutu and a wand.  I wish I had a picture of the cupcakes with the fairy toppers--very cute.  

 

The four girls on the left (Caroline, Natalie, Addison & Alexee) will all start kindergarten together this fall!  On the far right is Hanna, Caroline's older sister.  

While Alexee was at the party, I took the boys to Academy Sports so Rhett could look for new Crocs.  They didn't have a great selection in his size, but he said he was happy with these chocolate brown ones.  I cried that night when I slipped them on and realized they fit me.  I know he's growing up fast, but something about his shoes being big enough for me to wear was quite a reality check.  :(

This Week

I haven't been in much of a blogging mood lately anyway, but now I see that Blogger has "changed its look" so I don't know how to move pictures, etc. I'll see what this post looks like... 
*Update:  Doesn't look good--sorry for the messy post.  I don't like the captions because the font is smaller.


Crosby had a stomach ache for several days, so we stayed close to home Monday-Wednesday.  He took a three hour nap one day, which is very unusual.  By Thursday he was back to his usual happy and playful self and has been fine since then.

Crosby in Rhett's Halloween costume

Playroom Picnic

Playing in the back yard

On Thursday we met a few friends at the playground.

This was our first swim lesson with the "bubble" removed from over the pool.  It was a nice day, but I think the water was still a little chilly!  The splash area just opened up, too, so that gave Crosby something fun to do during lessons.  He didn't have on his swimsuit, but didn't care. 

Alexee can swim from one instructor (on the right) to the other.  She still gets a little nervous about taking breaths along the way, but she's doing great.  

Yesterday afternoon I was on the phone with Mom.  When I hung up, I found that they'd been busy with the markers!  :)   Funny!

I found this hanging on Rhett's bulletin board a few days ago...sweet brotherly love!  Alexee will surely be tough after growing up with two brothers.  :)  

Not pictured from the week:  One night I met the girls from our Community Group for dinner at Bravo.  We were celebrating Leigh Ann's birthday--it was a fun night.  Lane and I also went to see Hunger Games.  He'd recently read the book, but of course I hadn't.  What little I'd heard about it didn't really sound like anything I'd want to volunteer to read or see.  I'm still not sure if I liked it or not.  This morning Alexee was invited to our neighbor's fairy-themed birthday party.  I didn't take any pictures, but my neighbor did so I'll see if I can post some of those later.  While A was partying, I took R & C to Academy Sports so Rhett could look for new Crocs.  We picked up Subway to go and got home just as the party ended.  

Saturday at the Zoo

Saturday morning we decided to go out for breakfast and then go to the zoo. The kids voted for Mimi's Cafe because they wanted chocolate chip pancakes.

The usual quiet, relaxing meal :)

The first thing we saw was this zoo docent with his bird, Molly.

I think this guy is so scary.

The chimps were very entertaining yesterday. This little one was cute on the swing. Some of his entertainment was more gross than cute, but the kids still thought it was hilarious.

By the swan pond

Go Hogs!

Looking at the giraffe's bedroom.

At the penguin exhibit

The penguins are always fun to watch!