Aquarium

The kids were so excited about going to the aquarium at the beach that we did that the first day. As they get older this will be an awesome educational "field trip" but right now they love to run from tank to tank checking out the different fish. We did manage to see a Creature Feature about snakes, which was really interesting but as soon as the teacher pulled out a real snake Piper decided she was "bored" and ready to leave. She was not willing to admit that she was really scared!

Here are Piper and Abe looking really interested in the largest aquarium:

Here is what Abe looked like for the rest of the visit!

Piper in the alligators mouth and the kids in the large shark jaw:

And a really cool sandcastle outside the Aquarium:

Vacation

We are back from a week at the beach! We had such a great time, coming home is always bittersweet. I love returning to my own bed and shower but I hate the idea of returning to the "real world" again. The kids always have a hard time adjusting to Daddy going back to work and I have a hard time adjusting to being on my own with them after a week with full-time help!

We had such a wonderful time and Piper completed her first week of school! I had contemplated waiting until next week to start but she was so excited she wanted to start while we were on vacation. In addition to school, we went to the local aquarium, spent several afternoons at the ocean, rode horses, took a boat tour and even made it to the water-slides today before leaving.

I have a TON of pictures to upload, so I will post those through the coming week!

The last days of summer

We are enjoying those last days of summer by spending as much time as possible outside. The kids are enjoying swimming at Grandmommie's, making mudpies in the dirt, fishing at the creek and riding their four-wheelers through the trails behind the house. Sometimes I will sit for hours in the rocker on the porch with Abe while Piper and Cohen entertain themselves outside. I love the warm weather!

I always fall into a slight depression as the nights cool off and the leaves begin to drift from the trees. I wish it stayed summer year 'round. This year I should be too busy to dwell on the entrance of Fall, between homeschooling full time, commitments at church and the daily grind with 3 small children. And our line-up of birthdays start in October (Chad), then November (Piper), December (Cohen) and January (mine) which always adds a little excitement. Then before you know it, Abe will be turning 1 and Spring/Summer will be back!!

I am off to order some jeans, Old Navy has them for $7 today!

Speaking of my 18 pound 2-month old...

Here he is now, still sucking that thumb!

Small Personal Victories

This is not a weight loss blog but sometimes it feels good to celebrate the small victories in life! Although I should be embarrassed to admit this, I weighed a few pounds more at the start of each my 3 pregnancies. Last week I weighed in below my pre-Abe weight and this week I am just under my pre-Cohen weight!! A few more pounds until I get pre-Piper and I will be back where I started!! Breastfeeding an 18 pound 2-month old is the best weight-loss plan ever :)

Tomato Soup

I borrowed my mom's Paula Deen cookbook and found the yummiest tomato soup recipe. To preface, I do not like tomatoes outside of pasta sauce and ketchup but I have been trying to eat better( i.e. more veggies) even if I do not like them. I was shocked when I tried this soup and fell in love. Here it is, in case you want to try it (I used fresh tomatoes, dill & parsely from my mother-in-law's garden):

Tomato Dill Soup (by Paula Deen)

3 cups peeled, diced fresh tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups chicken stock
1 tsp chopped garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
3 tbsp chopped fresh dill
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients except heavy cream, parsley, Parmesan, salt & pepper in large pot. Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes, until tomatoes are tender. Add cream, parsley & Parmesan. Season with salt & pepper and simmer 10 more minutes.

Letter from Piper

When I picked up the mail last week there was an interesting letter in the box. At first I thought it was from one of Piper's friends who has sent her mail in the past but this time it was addressed to me. I opened this letter:

It says "Dear Momma, I miss you. Piper"

When I looked back at Piper after reading the letter, she was grinning from ear to ear. We both started laughing! I had left Cohen and her with Grandmommie for the night and evidently she woke up wanting me. Grandmommie had let her write this letter and mail it to make her feel better.

Oh and the drawing is of our house according to Piper. It sure looks more grand in her picture than it does in real life!