Bowapalooza 2010

My friend, Ann-Michelle, and I spent a solid 10 hours over the course of 2 days making hair bows for our girls (she has 3-so she made even more than I did!). Here are the fruits of our labors. Now, however, I just want to make more! Lydia's hair is always well dressed. I just can't choose a favorite. Which one is yours?

To the Zoo

We went to the zoo last Saturday. It was a deal for Aidan-he wanted to go to the fair, but we didn't, so we compromised with the zoo and a picnic. It was an absolutely beautiful day-not too hot, not cold, no breeze. The animals were aparrently enjoying the weather too-they were out in full force and showing off for all of us. We all had such a terrific time. These pictures are in no particular order. . .(ps, you should be grateful that my camera died half way through-I would have gone totally picture crazy if not!)

The boys showing us their "monkey moves." The monkeys (both the animals and the kids) were having so much fun-I think they were Wyatt's favorite. We probably were in the monkey house for about 30 minutes just watching them swing around and "talk" to us. Lydia got excited when they came close, and kept trying to give them kisses through the glass.

I love this picture! We watched the huge tortoises. Even they were active, crawling around their little pen. Camels. In the Asian Adventures part of the zoo, there were tiger prints pressed into the cement. The kids liked to follow them and point them out. Riding a tiger. Wow, the things you can do at a zoo.

This was Lydia's favorite part. She loved the goats! We could barely get her out of the goat pen! Liddy kept hugging them and petting them-and the goats really liked her too! They would lick her cheeks and she would giggle. All the kids got a quarter to buy feed for the goats and they all had fun feeding them. Aidan and the pelicans. He says that he liked the wallabees and the alligator the best, but I don't have pictures of either. Ace was also disappointed that the otters weren't out, but was placated with watching the penguins feed.

We spent a good 3 hours at the zoo. Lydia fell asleep in the car, but the rest of us got hot dogs at a stand and took them to the park to eat. Man, those were some of the best hot dogs I have ever had! We had such a good time and made so many wonderful memories. I am so glad that we have such a fun zoo here in town.

Words of Wyatt

Wyatt says "Thank You" at all the appropriate times, but he says it in the cutest way. "E New!"

My Labor Days

So, I really don't know exactly why we celebrate Labor Day. I am sorry. But I don't. And we didn't do a thing noteworthy today either. But every time I think of "labor day" I think back to my labors, and since I have seen several other blog posts about this, I am going to copy them and record some of my memories of my "labors."

Aidan-August 9-I was induced at 9 AM and had Ace at 3:50 PM. Nothing really noteworthy about this one. It went really quite easily (for giving birth). My mother in law brought me hair clips and Jeremy a candy bar (that most likely I ate) and she told me jokes while I was in labor.I remember that "Friends" was on right when I delivered. And that I was really hot and sweaty afterward, and they brought me a fan to cool off. Also, the hospital had amazing crossoint sandwiches and we watched "Top Gun" together that night as a family. All the doctors thought that he was one of the most beautiful babies that they had seen.

Wyatt-March 8-We were house hunting when I went into labor with Wyatt. Just running around town, going to all the open houses when I started noticing that my contractions were getting really close together and really painful. I remember being scared every time a contraction stopped, because I felt fine and I was scared I wouldn't have another one and it was just false labor. But no, I went into the hospital at 1 PM and had WyGuy at 5 PM. And the whole time I was scared that they were going to send me home saying it was false labor. Mom was also in delivery with me and that was pretty special. I was shocked to see Wyatt's hair. It was long and full, but dark blonde! I had never seen that color of hair on a newborn before. After, I was so shaky (from the epidural) that I was scared to hold him because I thought I might drop him. They also brought me lots of food after his delivery. It was quite tasty. I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. I felt really good, except my arms and legs were sore from pushing. I thought that was weird. We had lots of visitors that night too.

Lydia-February 21-We did not have a name before I had Lydia. We had some narrowed down, but we were waiting until she was born to officially name her. I woke up with contractions at 4:30 AM and started timing them, but they were really super random, but they HURT! So, I woke up Jeremy, took the boys to Mom and Dad's and got to the hospital at 6 AM. They kept telling me that I probably couldn't have an epidural because I was too far along, and I kept telling myself that, "It doesn't really hurt, it doesn't really hurt" and everyone laughed at me. I had Lydia at 6:29 AM, and the second the doctor placed her on my chest, Jeremy and I looked at each other and said, "Her name is Lydia." I felt so good after having Liddy. Everyone who visited me that day was amazed that I was up and showered and dressed. With Lydia, it was the first night that Jeremy didn't stay overnight with me in the hospital, so Liddy and I slept together in the rocking armchair that was in my room (way more comfortable than the bed!) The nurses thought she was so beautiful and kept making hair bows for her. We left the hospital with 12!

That is my long winded story of my labors. I am so lucky to have such easy ones. And now I am glad that I have these written down somewhere so I don't forget. These were the details that I wanted to remember and pass on.