Zoo Trip

I have to say

Thank You" again to my brother in law and his family for this great Christmas gift! A year long zoo pass was one of our most favorite (bad English intended!) gifts of all time. We have been often this year - the last trip was enjoyed with my dad in April. I know this is a late post but I forget about my ipod pictures sometimes!

enjoying the fish

and the rhino

and the nifty climb through the piranhas tunnel

gotta see the bears

Thomas's favorite thing were the fans that blew water across them

Jay's very favorite - the Ephlants (pronounced just that way)

and right outside of Card's favorite - the snakes. He is still talking  about the snake that bites you and 3 steps later you die.. why is this so fascinating to boys?

Did you know...

That this is the ingredients list for a Chick Fil A Sandwich...?

Chicken (100% natural whole breast filet, seasoning [salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika], seasoned coater [enriched bleached flour {bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid}, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening {baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate}, spice, soybean oil, color {paprika}], milk wash [water, whole powdered egg and nonfat milk solids], peanut oil [fully refined peanut oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness and dimethylpolysiloxane an anti-foaming agent added]), bun (enriched flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, folic acid], water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, contains 2% or less of each of the following: liquid yeast, soybean oil, nonfat milk, salt, wheat gluten, soy flour, dough conditioners [may contain one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, calcium and sodium stearoyl lactylates, calcium peroxide], soy flour, amylase, yeast nutrients [monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate], calcium propionate added to retard spoilage, soy lecithin, cornstarch, butter oil [soybean oil, palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, TBHQ and citric acid added as preservatives, and artificial color]), pickle (cucumbers, water, vinegar, salt, lactic acid, calcium chloride, alum, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate [preservatives], natural flavors, polysorbate 80, yellow 5, blue 1).



WOW!! - Do you know that MSG (a brain neurotoxin) shows up 7 times! It is called things other than MSG so I highlighted them for those that were interested. Even without the MSG - this is one nasty sandwich! (anti-foaming agents! really!)

Our trip to the Food Festival

We recently attended the Vision Forum Food Festival - we had a great time (even if the hotel left a bit to be desired!). If you did not have a chance to attend I would have to say to be watching for them to release the audio - it was a good conference and had a lot of good information - not the least of which being what we, as Christians, should be doing in regards to our food. Will and I talked about it last night and agreed that we were really impressed with the West Ladies, Colin Gunn and the Duggar ladies - they all made theirselves very available to chat with everyone and they were all very approachable and sweet.

Enjoy the pictures!

this was in our first room, which was a little bigger than a closet.. somehow there was a mix up and they had put us in 3 single bed rooms that were super small. We did get moved to bigger rooms that day! This is Jack hiding from us behind the curtain.

we enjoyed tea with ladies from all over - one from New Jersey and one from another state (cant remember where!) sat at our table and it was a good visit and so nice to meet other ladies also trying to fed their family healthy and Glorify God in that goal!

Bella

the Barnes were there! We spent a lot of time together (not enough of course - can't ever get enough of the Barnes...unless we lived in a bus with them..then we might have enough of them :) )

Katie and Leah - sorry kiddo - this was the only one were you were not blurry.. Leah looks quite nice.

Leah and Chloe - we all love Chloe

Bella helping Chloe put on her necklace

Katie and Chloe - she was passed around the table.

some of the young ladies at the tea - I made sure that our top 3 were in there!

Katie's dress is an authentic 1900's dress - it was so beautiful on her!

We got to visit with Michelle Duggar - she is super sweet!

I thought these were sweet

Will said I had to take a picture of these - he says this was their only way to communicate when he was in college at Webb. Pay phones in booths - what a novel concept...

Farm Work

Farm Life around here - just some general pictures..

Cowboy and the piggies

Card and Bella running with Ian

"no problem Card - I will just run around ya!"

Thomas driving the tractor

Piglets!! 7 of them...

Lacie's Piano Recital

 Ms. Lacie's students

the boys needed a running party after sitting so long..

Katie and Bella



Blueberry Pickin'

We go blueberry picking each year with our church family - here are some pics from our trip this year.

Floresville trip

Our yearly pilgrimage to Floresville happened in June this year. We went without daddy this year! He stayed home and worked on the house - doing some things that smelled really strong so it was good me and the kids were out of the house for a week.

Our kids + Crystal and Veloria out in the field

dad took us to an exotic ranch - this bird had just tried to eat his phone!

and of course we spent time fishing, shooting and swimming at the creek

Veloria shooting

Crystal actually takes aim (Veloria just shoots!)

Katie and the new gun Papa gave her for her birthday.

Bella,Thomas, Crystal and Jack

Card and Veloria were best buddies this trip

Housework

Housework around our place...

Dont worry- mommy changed her mind about this room totally and now it looks like this...

we turned it into the dining room instead of the schoolroom

and this is what our floor looks like now....