Daddy's Girls

After we got in from the camp yesterday, I took Lilli to Discover the Dinosaurs at the Shreveport Convention Center.  She's been in to dinosaurs since she was 2 and we've taken her to this every year. The first year she wasn't big enough for the bounce houses or rides.  It's crazy how fast they grow!  It's a really cool exhibit with huge animatronic dinosaurs with the facts by them.  It's the first time she wanted to take the time to stop at each one and have me read it all to her.   There's all sorts of other things like dinosaur rides Dino putt-putt And other things like a fossil dig, bounce houses, a maze.... It was a fun afternoon just me and my girl! 

What could be better than getting to spend a night in a hotel so that you can be up bright and early at the zoo the next day? Doing it with your Yaya, aunts and cousins! All the McCormick ladies and kids met in Tyler for a fun weekend that Yaya has had in the works for a year.  We never found a good weekend last fall or spring so we were so excited to do it now.  First up was a little swimming at the hotel  Lows have been in the 60s for the last week so the adults didn't want to get in but it didn't seem to phase the kids.  They played about an hour before we went to dinner.  Everyone was in bed pretty early to get rested for the next day.  We had breakfast there and were up and out to be there before they opened at 9:00.  This was one of the best zoos I've ever been to and we really lucked out with the animals.  The temperature was nice and it was overcast so everyone was up moving around and playing for us to see.  I think almost everyone's favorite was the lion famil

And what better way to spend the first few days of nice weather than playing outside with Nana?  She spent Monday-today with us because Pops was going fishing in Oklahoma   (Silly boys as Lilli would say)  and offered her a ride. We spent a lot of time hanging around the house and playing with the kids but we also got some adult time too.  On Tuesday both girls went to school and lunch bunch (9-2) so we had time to go to Hobby Lobby for fall decorations and to have lunch with Yaya.  Yaya was so sweet to offer to take us to the Oyster Bar when she heard Nana was in town because she knows oyster poboys are one of her favorite foods.  Wednesday was spent decorating the house after the Hobby Lobby trip.  I didn't really intend to get in to all of this with Nana here but she helped and we had fun doing it together.  It's the first year I've had enough decorations to be able to pull all my normal things off the shelf and box it up to have all fall stuff.  I was really excited abo

YWe went down to Baton Rouge for the weekend to visit with the family and see Dad's house under construction.  He is completely remodeling the whole main area to create an open floor plan.  I forgot to take pictures while we were there during the day but my Dad sent this one night last week.  You are standing at the front door facing the kitchen.  This used to be 3 rooms! It's going to be amazing and we will really enjoy getting the family together in the new space.  It will probably be close to completed when we go back for Halloween so I'm already looking forward to that.   Lilli spent the whole weekend playing with her cousins and that's just the way she likes it.  We went straight to Jimmy and Theresa's house Friday evening and almost the whole family came to hang out and have pizza.  Theresa walked all 5 kids to the park after dinner.  We told her she was crazy and tried to help but she figured if she raised 4 she could handle one more for an hour. :) The kids

We had a big play date at Chuck E. Cheese after school today. Hailey, Case, Kasey and Grayson picked up Lilli because I was running late because the cable guy was installing new service.  Katie and I met them there along with Shana, Chris, Sunshine and Sutton.  I wasn't sure how Katie would do since that is when she is usually starting her nap but she forgot how sleepy she was as soon as we walked in.  A lot of the rides were a little scary to her but we found a few she loved.  And a few of the games only require you being able to hit a button and she soon discovered that was pretty fun too.  Lilli and Sunshine stuck together most of the time and had so much fun together.  I was glad for all of the extra eyes because it's pretty much impossible to watch them both when they're running around wanting to do different things.  Luckily it's not crowded on weekdays but I don't think I'll be attempting a Saturday any time soon.  All the kids had a blast and it was nice

Yaya picked Lilli up from school today to take her to see a movie (Thanks Yaya!) so me and Katie got to spend some rare time alone together.  That may sound crazy considering 3 days a week we have a couple hours while Lilli is at school.  But those mornings are all either full of errands or trying to get in a workout and shower before I pick her up. I had time to kill this morning so after our run, we got to play! I realized it was the first time she'd ever been able to do just what she wanted to do at the park and she loved it!  We stayed about an hour and then went home and played with her babas. (Baby dolls) I need to remind myself more often that these moments are the reason I stay home.  It's easy to get busy and not stop to really PLAY but I think the shower is going to have to start waiting until nap time. (at least every once in a while) ;)  

Lilli and Lily had their first sleepover last night.  Katie and I were there too because I was helping Cassie with her garage sale this morning.  I really didn't do too much, just mostly watched the kids while she worked.  Lilli and Lily had a blast! They played hard the whole time and didn't sleep too much last night.  Just what's supposed to happen at a sleepover. :)  Katie and Luke had fun too but they don't play as much as the bigger two.  They mostly play next to each other or fight over wanting the same toy.  But every once in a while they would find something fun for both of them.  Cassie and I stayed up talking until much later than I normally do (it was after 11! Lol) so I think we can say it was an all around success. 

Katie is almost 17 months old and FINALLY has enough hair to wake up with "crazy hair". :) I actually had to brush it for the first time.  I was the same way.  From looking at my baby pictures I think I was close to 2 before I got hair.  Big "sissy" never had that problem. 

Today started off great because Pops was here to have cuddles and breakfast with us before school. We dropped Lilli and then he and I had a little time to visit while we walked.  Hunting season starts tomorrow so I decided to do something a little fun and different for our Friday afternoon.  I let Lilli pick and of course she picked Jubilee Zoo on one of the hottest days of the year.  We had the whole place to ourselves since no one else is crazy enough to be out in the 90+ degree heat.  It didn't stop us from having fun though! There were 2 baby deer to feed and give bottles to Lots of other animals to see while we walked around and on the hay ride A playground And pony rides!  It was really fun to watch them both.  It doesn't matter how many times we go, Lilli is always fascinated by all the animals.  And it was the first time we'd been since Katie started walking so it was all new to her. When we got home, all 3 of us got in our little pool to cool off.  As we were relax