Zoo Day!

Again!  Four years of Kindergarten in a row for this momma... four hot and sweaty end-of-the-year field trips to the zoo!  This year it was a little earlier than usual, so it wasn't quite as hot.  Mrs. Henry's Little Bears ~ Back: Lily S., Anna Kate, Marin, Gabriel, Jack, Harley, Case & Matthew.  Front: Coco, Miguel, Henry, Ava, Lili F., Bryce and and Jena.
  

Anna Kate clicked with Lily S. and Marin right from the start and they have been a tight trio all year.  -BELOW- Tate riding the carousel.  He started to cry when I loosened my arm to get my camera out, but he was happy as long as I was holding on to him tightly.
 

Petting the goats. 

As usual, we spent way more time riding rides than looking at animals.  Both girls loved the little tiger roller coaster but Carigan made me hold on to her tightly so I couldn't get a picture.  We rode it twice.  Bumper Boats were new... adorable.  Nothing like puttering around in 18 inches of water, knocking into each other.  -BELOW- Flying Bananas.  Animals, shnanimals... we come for the flying bananas.

Lunch Crew.^  We did manage to lure the kids away from the rides long enough to take the tram ride through the Africa area.  The baby elephants were just about the cutest thing I've ever seen:

I took Carigan & Tate and Lily's baby sister Bryn to play in the splashes while everyone else stood in line for the log flume ride.  Bryn didn't have a bathing suit, but that didn't stop her!

Tate liked crawling around but he wouldn't get too close to the actual water spouts.  He's definitely more cautious than fearless... which is a good thing!  The girls stood in line forever for the log flume, and it broke down right as they were at the front of the line.  They were disappointed, but I'm relieved they weren't ON it and had to be evacuated!  They joined us at the splash park. 

Marin, Harley, Anna Kate, Lily, Jack and Case.^  Friday, April 25, 2014.  After this we checked out the Florida black bear (Mrs. Henry's one specific request) and headed out.  I actually got brave and decided to stop at IKEA on the way home.  I need another shelf for the new play room and I knew we'd be passing within a mile of IKEA.  I knew Anna Kate and Carigan would love playing in the childcare area (yes, IKEA provides FREE BABYSITTING for young children while you shop.  Ingenious!), but I knew it was risky to take Tate on such an endeavor since he hadn't had a nap and was already exhausted.  He was super-fussy but I was able to hold off an epic meltdown... he was nearing one by the time I loaded the shelves into my car.  But then we went to pick up the girls and rewarded everyone with ice cream and hot dogs from the snack bar.  And Tate slept all the way home.  :o)

Moving has thrown off just about everything.  So yes, we dyed Easter eggs Friday evening... five days after Easter.  There were lots of spills so I'm glad they all automatically removed their shirts when I pulled out the dye (pretty soon I'll have to tell them that just because we took off our shirts to dye eggs when they were two, doesn't mean they should strip in the kitchen now.  They automatically do the same thing when I heat up canned ravioli for them.  Old habits die hard). 

We've been so busy with the move that we totally missed that Friday night was the Lakeland Derby on Lake Mirror.  It was the event I was most excited to attend when we decided to move downtown!  The Kentucky Derby isn't until next week, and I didn't realize Lakeland celebrates a week early.  So we missed the event, but we heard the cannon they shot off to start the swan boat race!  My first thought was, "Time to move back to the suburbs!"  ;o)  We finally realized the Lakeland Derby was taking place a block away when they shot off fireworks.  We had a great view from our side porch: 

I almost forgot about the Literacy Day event taking place at Barnett Park the next morning, but luckily Michael reminded me!  I put Tate in the stroller and we strolled the block to the park where the kids got to do crafts and pick out free books and even meet Herman Parish, the author of the Amelia Bedelia books!  The kids each picked out their own Amelia Bedelia book and Mr. Parish wrote a personal greeting to each inside.  We're loving the city life!

America's got a new friend...

We got to see the Crevier family perform at Florida Southern.  Bruce & Diane Crevier and their twelve children make up Spintacular, which made it to the quarterfinals in Season 8 of America's Got Talent.  Bruce has been in the Guinness Book of World Records five times for spinning the most basketballs at one time, and as a family they hold the World Record for having the most people from one biological family riding atop Giraffe Unicycles.  Their Christian ministry, Champions Forever, travels the globe encouraging youth to make good choices.  Wesley got picked to go up on stage and attempt some of their tricks.  

I think he's got it!  The youngest in the family are twins Tessa & Tori.  Tessa sought out my girls in the foyer after their performance while her family was busy signing autographs.  I guess she is a little starved for some play time with girls close to her age.  She followed my girls around talking up a storm.  She was so spunky and cute.  She actually can ride a unicycle!  I didn't think to take a picture during the show... didn't know she was going to be our new best friend.  ;-) 

This guy brought his horse up on stage before the show (talking about programs for underprivileged youth).  He started knocking on the window with his horse in tow.  You know, just a typical evening with some guy and his horse and our new little celebrity friend.  

I guess Tessa is used to people asking to take her picture, because she instructed me to get out my phone and take pictures of them.  She cracks me up.  Now Carigan asks every day when we are going to see Tessa again.  Probably never, but she was a super fun friend for a day!

First Holiday in the House

Our first week in the house and already we've celebrated our first holiday in our new home!  Easter morning started the same way every Sunday morning starts - with family snuggles.  But this time it was in our new house!!  I had hoped to have this special time of reflection on the resurrection and the true meaning of Easter, but when Anna Kate started jumping up and down on the bed shouting, "ENERGY BOMB!" and then plopping down making explosion noises, I knew it would have to wait until the day calmed down a bit.  That's me under Tate's blankey because I'm not a morning person. 

The kids had a big time playing hide 'n seek in the new house the first few days after we moved in.  Each found a favorite spot.  The Easter bunny hid their baskets in their favorite hiding spots.  For Carigan it was under the kitchen table.  She cracked me up because the first time they played, she hid there and Anna Kate came into the kitchen looking for her and left never having seen her.  I praised C for her hiding spot and she beamed with pride as I told her what a good one it was.  So then for the next 6 rounds, she ran right back to the same spot.  I eventually had to explain that it wasn't really a good spot anymore.  Anna Kate's favorite hiding spot was behind my dresses.  We never did find her... Carigan was sure she was lost for good.

Wesley never stays still long enough to have a favorite spot.  Easter bunny decided hall closet would do.  Anna Kate left celery for the Easter bunny along with a note.  

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is Wesley's thing right now... he reads all the books again and again.  Sweet little bunny... Tate put his head down on Anna Kate's shoulder a couple of times just loving on her:

Happy 2nd Easter, Tate!  Last year we were celebrating that he finally got to come home from the hospital!  We cancelled cable last fall and the only thing we've ever missed is Peppa Pig.  Problem solved:

Tate loved shaking the eggs and hearing the jelly beans (which Wesley declared, "EASTER BUNNY POOP!" each time he opened an egg) rattle inside.  Happy Easter from the Rogers!

Daddy helping Wesley with his very first tie.  Wesley really really REALLY wanted to wear a tie for Easter.  Michael is not a tie kind of guy... I've only seen him wear them for weddings, funerals, and job interviews.  He's more of a sport jacket kind of guy.  Since Michael never wears ties, it has never occurred to me to buy Wesley a tie.  The poor kid saw many of his friends wear one for the piano recital (Wes was rockin' the sweater vest instead), and he was BEGGING for a tie of his own.  So Saturday Mimi took the boys shopping and got them both new shirts and ties. 

I teach Bible class on Sunday mornings, so unfortunately we were in too much of a rush to walk across the street to the lake for beautiful scenic photos.  A quick pic by the front door was all we could manage.  As our first Sunday morning in the house, we discovered that cars park right outside our door for church services at the church on the lake.  They have four services, so we were already on our third set of cars by the time we left for church.  But I enjoyed watching all the families walking by in their Easter best.  My handsome matching men:

Tate has been a bit clingy lately so he hung out with us in the 2's and 3's class instead of going to cradle roll.  He looks entirely too big here.

It was a bit of a dewy morning, so they decided to have the little kids hold their Easter egg hunt inside.  But the big kids had their egg hunt outside.  Michael was on Wesley duty while I took pictures of the girls inside.  

They honestly had more fun hunting inside than I think they've ever had hunting outside!

So no family Easter portrait on the lake, but at least we snapped a quick family picture in the waiting area of Manny's before I took the kids to the restroom and changed them out of their fancy clothes!  Thankful for the beginning of many memories and special days in our new home.  Thankful for healthy children, especially a strong and statistics-defying Tate.  But most thankful for a Risen Savior.  His grace is sufficient for me, but His blessings are abundant.  Praying you know the joy of living in Christ. 

Easter Egg Hunting

Carigan's final (cue misty eyes) Easter egg hunt at Joyful Hearts was Thursday, April 17.  She had a big time with Selah, Arabella, and Selah's little sister Olivia... but clearly she missed the memo on the day's attire. 

Tate with Ms. Melissa, who has been a lifesaver this year with her preschool taxi service!  I'm so very blessed to have such giving friends. 

My favorite part of JHP's annual Easter egg hunt is when Ms. Barbara sits down with the children and tells them the true meaning of Easter:

We were so happy to resume our family tradition of attending the YMCA's annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday!  Tate and I were in the hospital last year, so the kids missed it.  It's always sobering when things like this remind me how long ago two years past is when you're four and six!  Neither Carigan or Anna Kate had any memory of the event.  So for them it was like the first time! 

So happy to have a healthy babbly baby boy with us this year!  Picking out their prizes:

Wesley did not want to choose any of the face paint options offered, making a special request for a basketball.  I had to pull up an image on my iPhone for the face painter to copy.  Anna Kate picked the "fairy crown."  Carigan was too shy.

Saturday, April 19, 2014.  -BELOW- Ready to hunt!  I love that we've lived in Lakeland long enough now that we can't ever go anywhere without running into people we know.  Wesley quickly found Luke Mower.  We also found Rena Wilson (also in 2nd grade at LCS with Wes and Luke) and ran into Mrs. Johnson (Anna Kate's beloved art teacher) and Kristi Lawrence with her grandkids. 

Anna Kate, Carigan, Chimane, Wesley, Luke, Rena and Tina getting our free hot dogs!  Free food will always make the Rogers come back.  :o)