Zoo time

It's 5:30am and I can't sleep. Too many things running through my mind and I have to get them down on paper and on a list of "Things To Do". I've done that and so I figured this is a great time to post something while everyone is in bed sleeping.

One day last week it was a little cooler outside, but still warm out. I was inside my house and realized that I was sweating while I was just sitting doing nothing. I wanted to do something with the kids outside to keep cool that didn't take too much planning so I decided to take them to the zoo.

We had such a good time, I brought snacks for Owen and he was content to sit in the stroller the whole time and eat. Cole slept for half of it and Jenna and Brody were pumped to see anything and everything.
I'm glad that going to the zoo was such a novelty because everyone was so good and I didn't feel stressed even having all the kids by myself.
I asked the kids at the end what their favorite part was and Jenna said the snake. Hilarious because we saw this snake just as we were leaving and one of the workers was holding it and let the kids touch it. They were scared and I don't even think Brody touched it at all, but I guess Jenna secretly likes gross, slimy things.
Brody said he liked the tiger. Yes the tiger was cool, it was huge and the kids got to see it pretty close up.
I'm pretty sure Owen would say his favorite part was the one time he got out of the stroller when we went on the little train ride and he kept saying "ooohhh, ahhhhh, wow".
Overall an impromtu trip to the zoo was a success. I've learned that if you deprive your children long enough a simple trip to the zoo can be a wonderfully rewarding experience for all, even me!
Jenna says to me "mom, that must be a girl Humpty Dumpty because it has on lipstick and nail polish," I couldn't argue with her.

A little timid to go close to the goat.

Another kid pets it so they get more comfortable with the idea.

Now Jenna knows it won't hurt her and she's happy to pet it.

We saw some flowers and thought....Photo Shoot. Jenna has a great smile.

Brody loves to smile for the camera too.

Trying to get a shot of Cole, this one is funny because it makes him look chubby, but he isn't at all.

This is better, but I would have preferred a smile.

Owen would not sit still at all, I'm surprised I got this one.

Then Jenna took the camera, I thought I should get one of me to verify I was there too.

These next two pictures are not of the same day, but this is what happens after a long outing usually. When Jay came home from work one day he found us like this. Owen was up in his room sleeping, Brody passed out on the couch, Cole got fed and he passed out, and then I guess I dozed off too. Jenna was awake the whole time and was probably content to be able to play by herself or color in peace without brothers bothering her.

It doesn't matter what it looks like

Okay so I've probably already known this, but it was just reconfirmed that it is probably going to be impossible to get a good family picture with the kids at their ages right now.
We didn't really plan this family picture out, it just kind of happened when we were at a wedding reception last weekend. I did know we would all be dressed up so I planned it that we were all wearing white.
I should have organized us better, but this is our family right now.
I've learned that it doesn't matter what the picture looks like, it's just important we're all there. Actually it's probably better if something is funny or awkward in the picture because you'll remember it more. So try to get all the family together no matter what it looks like.

I think Jay was a little embarrassed I was trying to kiss him in this one.

I did it

Well finally after many, many, many years I sewed a dress without the help of my mom.
I remember when I was in junior high and my mom helped me make my very own outfit, it was a sweater and a skirt. I'm sure she actually did most of it, but I have a picture of me in it and I'm pretty sure I thought back then I did it all.
Well I went shopping in my mom's room full of material and patterns and I found a pattern for a little girls dress and some material that looked cute.
I started cutting out the pattern and was thinking to myself "I'm happy the pattern says that it is a 'Easy to Use' pattern". I was excited because I had cut things out and was ready to read each instruction and easily sew it together.
Okay so what I have learned is that when a pattern says "Easy", it means easy for a person who can already sew things and who knows sewing terminoligy. Woops. Oh well I thought that if I didn't know what a word meant I would just look it up on google. That seemed to help me out quite a bit.
I still had to read over each line about 5 times before I completely understood what to do, but I slowly and surely finished a cute little dress for Jenna. She loves it. She was happy she could twirl in it. I see all the imperfections, but I'm trying not to dwell on those because I did it all by myself. I'm quite proud of myself. I even put in a zipper. I think I might venture into making more of Jenna's clothes, after all she is my only girl and it's way more fun to make girly things.
Thanks to my kids for having naps so I could finish the dress so fast.