A Trip to the Zoo

Before we moved back from Ukraine we had a huge purging in the playroom, and then  when we had received all three shipments of our household goods that had been shipped back or had been in storage, we had another great purging.  When Christmas rolled around, we were not in need of many (if any) new toys.  I suggested to the many generous givers that consumable gifts would be very much appreciated.  The kids got CFA and Chuck E. Cheese gift cards, tickets to the science museum, and a family pass to the zoo for a year.

I don't know how you work it in your family, but we don't tell our kids about special events in advance too often.  My sanity is important to me, and I would like to enjoy the event without regretting it before I even get there- know what I mean?  Early one Saturday morning, we loaded up in the van with fresh fruit and water bottles, went through the drive-thru for donuts, and headed to the "special outing."  While they ate breakfast, the kids tried to guess where we might be headed, and finally clued in when they saw the exit for "zoo!"

We arrived at opening and had the perfect spring day to enjoy the park.  A perk: we didn't have to rush or feel like we needed to stay all day to get our money's worth, so we spent a few hours there and then headed home for lunch.

I decided we're going to study zoology for science next year.

I love an excuse to head to the zoo!

A Little Bit of Hanna for Your Day

I'm linking up with Kelly for her kids clothing sale.

All of the following items are Hanna Andersson, size 90.

{size 90 = 34-38", 26-33 lbs, 2-3.5 yrs}

They are free from rips, stains and tears,

 and they show minimal wash wear.

Prices include shipping.  

Leave a comment with the item number and SOLD

 in addition to your e-mail address.  I will contact you

with information on how to pay via Paypal.

Item #1:

$9
SOLD

Item #2:

$9
SOLD

Item #3:

{Dress buttons in back.}

$9

Item #4:

$10

Thank you for stopping by- 

Doing the Happy Dance

Which may be related to the potty dance but it's not the same.  Probably you don't really want to see me do either.

Anyway.

Just a few blog posts ago - a few because I have been limited in my time to record life for the internet - I mentioned we had driven out to North Carolina at the end of January for a whirlwind trip to take care of our white house after we got the tenants out.  And then we came home and continued to work with our realtor to get the services we needed accomplished so they could list it; that happened at the end of February.  And then we went to Florida about two weeks later and while we were there, we got a call that we had an offer- after 2 showings and less than 3 weeks on the market!  We countered and then began the paperwork and waiting.  Well, as of Monday morning, this place is no longer ours!



We are so thrilled that God answered our prayers for a quick and relatively painless sale!

And now I continue to paint every inch of our new home.  I even got to cross "spill a can of paint all over the toilet and tile floor" off my bucket list a week ago.  Oh yes, I did.  My kids saw their mama wear a new kind of crazy that day!  Thank goodness for friends who are willing to drive over with the largest Dr. Pepper possible to help keep one's sanity intact!

P.S. Hanna Andersson will be on the Zulily sale tomorrow!!
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March

The Boy decided to climb a tree in the backyard.  I suppose we need to have a talk about what constitutes a good climbing tree because he chose this one that resembles a pole.  And then he got his jeans stuck on some poke-y branch and he couldn't get down.  We heard him screaming and Mr. YH turned to me as he went to rescue him and asked, "Do you have the camera?"  Parents of the Year.

Of course, he has been back up that same tree a number of times since. 

 {Sigh.}

The Awana Grand Prix took place.  Big Girl wanted a rainbow car.  While it looked good, it didn't race so well, but she was a great sport and had a fun time.

Mr. YH had some training down at Hurlburt Field in Florida, so we made it a family vacation.  His parents were vacationing in the Daytona area, so they drove over on their way home to MI and stayed the weekend with us.  We played putt putt one night.

And then my 73 year old father-in-law had his first CFA sandwich ever.  He was going to order something else and I put my foot down and said he absolutely had to get a classic sandwich or he would miss the entire experience.  I sweetened the deal with a coupon.  And I insisted he have ice cream, too, much to my kids' delight.  This may have been the only American restaurant food I craved while we were overseas. ♥

Back at the condo, we swam in the pool a lot.

We fed the gulls one morning.

The YHs met the Bubs.

We enjoyed pretty sunsets.

We waded and looked for shells.

(I could totally get used to someone

setting up an umbrella and chairs by the water for me each day!)

The kids dug big holes.

We took a break to marvel at the dolphins swimming so close!

Back in the hole...

We drove down the coast a ways to meet up with the Airharts

whom we haven't seen in a year (since they left Ukraine).

Can't believe how big this cutie has gotten!

Tara A. wanted frozen yogurt.  

These four were thrilled she did.

The next day, we were back at our umbrella

to build sand castles,

 and play in the water.

On our way home, we stopped at the USS Alabama.

Back home, we enjoyed beautiful spring weather & Mr.YH's day off

at the base batting cages.

Baby Girl might see success if she opened her eyes.

This little guy has taken to baseball.

Not to be left out.

STUD:  all mine. 

I was not quite prepared (read dressed) to swing the bat, 

but they talked goaded me into it.

For the record, I think I solidly hit 8 of the 10 balls.

{I suspect Mr. YH was expecting fodder for laughs, but he was duly impressed seeing me hit for the first time in our 12 years of wedded bliss.  A little mystery is good for a marriage, right?!}

I suppose you could say

March went out like a lion leopard.