Zoo Playgroup Trip

Last day of March we got to spend a beautiful day with friends at Caldwell Zoo in Tyler. We started at the Wild Bird Walkabout Aviary and the kids had so much fun feeding the birds.




I asked the keeper why these other birds were pecking at the one bundled up. She said that the mother had laid eggs and was trying to protect them. It's really common for parakeets to push eggs out of the nest or peck them so the caretakers try to keep them from breeding in the aviary. Also, visitors will often try to steel the baby birds from the aviary if they find them. They have a inside location next to the aviary to breed the birds to keep the eggs protected from other birds.





"I want you to come to me!"




"Ah! Not on my stick, though."




James & Jackson - good buddies




Tractor Riding Boys - Dallin, Jackson & James






The boys had so much fun running to jump up on these tunnels. Dallin was the best with his long legs, but they all had fun. I just had to help Jackson and James onto the taller ones.





Mima, Alera & Jade

Alera took Jades hand and they stuck together throughout the petting zoo. Alera's such a little momma and Jade loves her.



Flamingo Girl



Trying to get a picture of me with the kids. Does it look like they want their picture with me? James pouting and Jade stubbornly won't turn around.




Finally, as we were leaving they took a picture with me. A fun day!

Education Catch-Up

I spent almost all of Tuesday and Wednesday cramming in my continuing education units (CEU) for my social work license. I was already late (of course) since I didn't finish in December, but there was a 90 day late fee and a 120 late fee that was higher so I was determined to finish before I had to pay more. Since I'm not currently working, my license is like insurance - you pay for it just in case you might need it. Luckily, I only have to renew it every 2 years with 30 CEUs and 10 of them have to be at a seminar. So, as a thousand times in my life, I was trying to do it all at the last minute.

I try to pick topics that are at least of interest to me right now. It usually has something to do with aging because of my grandparents. When Jade was an infant I took one in Shreveport called the Aging Brain. It was more medical related than social work, but it was good none the less. Then I didn't take anything for a long time until December 2010 when I took one about Abuse & Neglect of the Elderly at UT Arlington. Really sad examples in the class, but I also learned a lot of the financial abuses to the elderly. Child abuse and neglect is aweful, of course, but elderly people deserve respect as well.

Tuesday was the last day for me to complete my credits because I scheduled myself a seminar on Wednesday that was in Longview. It was a way to force myself to finish my CEUs for the last two years and use this seminar for the following two years licensure. I know I was cutting it close, but I completed the online courses at 12:15 (midnight), but my reports still printed for the 29th (Tuesday). Yea! Finally a little exemption for procrastinators like me. As long as I started it on Tuesday I got to count it. I wasn't really looking forward to the Longview seminar, but it's the first one I've been able to find in Longview for a long time and when you're not getting paid to keep up your licensure you try to go the cheapest route. It was actually good since the instructor is a psychologist by day and a stand-up comic by night. I didn't fall asleep and I got a good review of my abnormal psychology class from college on personality disorders. It was interesting to put people's names next to the personality disorders we reviewed. He even included great video clips of Kramer from Seinfield and What About Bob? of characters who portrayed personality disorders well. So funny!

Now on to the next 24 credits to get me through 2012. I'll try not to cram this time.

Healthy Habits Challenge

My cousin, Lindsey did this last year and it sounded so great that I thought we'd better try it. We're just now getting around to doing it. We have a small group doing it all together. I know it will be worth it and since I really enjoy the Biggest Loser show, it feels like a good competition that's small-scale and realistic for me.

TJ is doing it too, although he did forget to start with not having a soda for lunch on Monday. He's back on track thanks to his "thoughtful" wife. Granny Joy made us a coconut pie Friday so I had to make sure to finish it Sunday night. It was sooooooooooooo good and I think that will be my hardest thing to give up for 12 weeks.



Kissing my sweets goodbye!



The 10 daily things we do/don't do are:

1. 30 minutes of exercise
2. No sweets
3. No soda
4. No eating after 8pm
5. Spiritual Point
6. Personal Point
7. Eating 4 vegetable/fruits
8. Getting 7 hours of sleep
9. Write in journal
10. Drink 50 oz. of water

Yea for better habits all the way around!



TJ read Dr. Seuss to the kids tonight and I couldn't pass up the photo-op.

Sunday Best

Just took some pics of the kiddos on Sunday in their dress clothes. The dress Jade is wearing was one of mine and Granny Joy fixed the tear it had in it. She's a beautiful, itty-bitty girl.





A good looking boy!

Planter Boxes

We got to planting for spring. James planted tropical plants and Jade's has floral. We'll see how they turn out, but their favorite part so far is watering.





TJ tilled most of our front and back yard to plant grass seed. It's a lot of weeds right now. I was moving some old lumber out of the way to throw out and found many toads underneath. James had fun with playing with them.

The Curious Garden

I found this book by accident over a year ago, and now it's a family favorite. We hadn't read it for a little bit and just a couple weeks ago James started asking to read eat every nap and bed time. He likes how the plants grow in old forgotten places like the old truck and he likes to see Liam preparing for spring after the winter. We're looking forward to planting seeds to watch them grow for spring like Liam did in the book. Hopefully we'll be good gardeners.




"Daisies are the friendliest flower," from You've Got Mail




The city after it blossomed with all the new gardeners.

1st Day of School on the 2nd Day of Spring

James is back at school and loving it. Every Wednesday was the highlight of his week when he was going to Mrs. Beverly's and now he's happy to go 2 days a week. I wasn't really wanting him to go two days, but that's the schedule. His new teacher is Ms. Gayla and he was thrilled to go his first day. Jade couldn't be left out of the picture, of course.





Ms. Gayla & James



He was all excited until I asked him to stand beside her for a picture. Like he's shy or something.



After I picked James up we went to Gran Gran & Paw's house to fix their web cam and visit. Of course, this time of the year Gran Gran is always working in her yard so we spent the afternoon enjoying the warm weather and beauty.

Jade giving Paw flowers




These cars have been around forever, especially this one. Levi and I played with it often growing up as I'm sure many of my cousins did when they visited.




Jade & Gran Gran - she's so sweet with Gran Gran




Blowing kisses bye-bye




Gran Gran's beautiful flowers!





Granny Joy has a Tiffany Rose that has many buds on it that will bloom soon. It's a beautiful rose, but it's scent is just magnificent. I'm looking forward to smelling it's sweet fragrance soon.