Well...I'm not sure if anyone is even hanging around here anymore.  I've been missing blogland lately.  I've got good excuses.  Lots of traveling, playing, hanging around family, and the most recent project - SEWING!  And when I say sewing I mean serious business...like 5 or 6 outfits made.  It's my newest obsession and favorite hobby these days.  More to come on that later.

In the meantime, I've fallen short of blogging about the sweet showers my newest nephew has had to celebrate his little life!  My sister is due the end of April, so all these Spring showers just make me happy!

Her first shower was at our hometown church.  You may remember my shower back when Millie Janalee was born and how I talked about our church family.  Yes, I still call them my church family even though I'm living away right now.  We were raised in this church, and as the preacher's family, this church served as an extension of our family.  Thankful for that life!

I attempted to bring Millie Janalee to the shower.  She's such a social butterfly, so I knew she would have a ball.  And I knew the other ladies would love seeing her.  However, I was on picture duty and there was a staircase that she found.  In case you haven't heard she would love to run straight off the top of steps and fly.  Therefore, when my dad came in to bring my grandmother...I sent her with him.  She spent the day with Pawpaw and my Uncle Donald.

But not before saying, "Hello!" to the mother-to-be...

I was delighted to see my Aunt Gail in attendance.  We are all so busy, so we rarely get to see this side of our family.  She has a grandbaby due in about a week or so.  Fun times in our family!

We all enjoyed delicious punch, a yummy cake made by Russ's sister, and some of Kristin's favorite cravings while we watched her open gifts.  Hughes was blessed with many, many sweet gifts!  Outfits, blankets, toys, accessories, and more!

Millie Janalee brought Hughes a gift form Disney World!

The hostesses gave Kristin the car seat she registered for.

It was a wonderful afternoon visiting with those we love and to feel loved!  I managed to gather all the hostesses together for a group shot.  I hope I got everyone.  As I look at these faces, I am reminded of the special individual relationships I have with each one of them.  I could go down the list...but I'll spare you the details.  I seriously thank God when I look at this picture for these women and what they mean to our family.

Of course, we gathered for a family picture too!  And can we take a moment to acknowledge the pregnant woman here.  I mean, seriously?!  I'm pretty sure if I were pregnant I would just roll around like a big blow up beach ball.  Hughes is nicely packed in that little basketball-looking tummy.  And that's it.  Which makes for a very cute mommy-to-be.

Okay, I just wanted to point that out. 

We are on major countdown mode around here.  Hopefully, I can blog about his second shower before his actual appearance. 

Zoo Day with Friends

Last week was Spring Break for everyone in this area.  Of course, that means nothing to a stay at home mom with a toddler.  But I knew it was Spring Break by the beautiful weather.  The Monday of Spring Break was absolutely perfect!  We had some friends coming into town for a doctor's appointment, and they planned a trip to the zoo.  So we joined them for the fun!

These little girls are just the cutest!  Of course we are all a little biased, but just look at them...

We've pretty much made a plan to force them into best friendship.  Ha!  Their little personalities are blooming so much right now, and we spend lots of time texting pictures and videos of their shenanigans.  Caroline and Millie Janalee were born 12 days apart and have been friends since their first meeting.

They also play together in the church nursery on Sundays when we are in town...which is a lot!  And of course their first birthday parties were a week apart with each other as the "special 1 year old guest."  Ha!  Chris and Mary Anne graduated with my sister and her husband.  And sometimes I still think it's so funny how much Mary Anne and I communicate on a daily basis.  Anything from videos of the girls to questions about food or schedules or anything gross. 

We all enjoyed spending a beautiful Monday afternoon at the zoo, and the girls had a ball.  Now that they are talking some and have learned animal noises, we heard lots of growls and roars and mooos.  I love seeing excitement in their eyes when they see these real live animals.  This was Caroline's first trip to the zoo, and it was our first trip this year.  So things were just like new for Millie Janalee.

Of course we stopped for the occasional BFF photo shoot.  The adults all flailing and jumping around talking baby talk trying to get two toddlers to smile at the same time.  Yep.  That was us.  So much for trying to be cool like the old days.  Parenthood makes you cool on all new levels - like making a scene just outside the panda bear exhibit while two adorable toddlers just stare at you emotionlessly like you're crazy.

Because we are.

The girls had time to chit-chat throughout the day.

And they both certainly enjoyed a few snacks...ummm...A LOT of snacks throughout their stroll.

The camel even enjoyed some of their snacks actually.  Oops!

Public Service Announcement: If you plan to take a family picture next to a camel at the zoo, move the stroller filled with Gerber puffs far away from his reach.  Or else he will lick the stroller tray clean.  Which leads to all kinds of levels of disinfecting.  Haha!

These little friends had such fun waving at the animals and observing their surroundings.  They enjoyed spending a day with friends, and I did too!  We missed Russ, and I am thankful Chris and Mary Anne let me crash their family day.

Maybe we can stick a few more of these trips in before the end of summer!  Actually our zoo membership ends in April, so Russ and I better get to visiting the zoo in the next few weeks!

Thankful for friendships and beautiful days and all the fun animals at the zoo!