A JOURNEY to Oil Ranch Farm

Several Monday's ago, mom and I loaded up the kids (Brooks, Burkley, and Kyla) and headed on out to Oil Ranch Farm.

The trip up there (about an hour and a half) was "the trip from HELL" as Kyla decided she wanted to touch Brooks' seat the entire trip and for some reason, he didn't want her to even look his way. And then Burkley didn't want her touching her seat either and that made her upset! By the time we made it there, mom and I had had it because all three of them were crying!

Entering the farm!

Nea milking the cow!

Mommy and Brooks...yes, more crying!

Mommy and Burkley...still crying!

This was about when I was ready to leave...only after being there for about 10 minutes!

Kyle and Nea in jail!

And thankfully, things started looking up.

After riding the choo-choo train, they had a BLAST jumping off the handle of the wagon!

Picking out the perfect pumpkin!

Brooks and Kyla hard at work!

Sweet girl!

Rearranging the pumpkins...he wasn't a fan of them being all scattered about!

Burkley lining up the pumpkins!

My lil' PUMPKIN!

It was a "rocky" start, but we ended up having a pretty good time!

NICU Reunion 2010

Several Sunday's ago our family was invited to the CLR 2010 NICU reunion.

Evidently, this is an annual event, but it was our first time being invited!

Ha!

They said they have mix ups each year, but I thought it was funny that they didn't have a problem sending Burkley's NICU bill just days after she was discharged!

And the reason we were invited this year to the NICU Round Up!

Burkley posing with her name tag on!They had games, goodies, clowns painting faces/creating balloon objects, and much more! We didn't stay and hang out for a long time, but it was nice being a part of such an amazing event. And here's a few from Burkley's stay in the NICU!

Wordless Wednesday

Bayou Wildlife Park

We took a field trip to the Bayou Wildlife Park yesterday with Nea, Uncle Kyle, Aunt Shu Shu, Kyla, and Shea and we ALL had a BLAST!

It's in my hometown and only about 10 minutes from my house now, and sadly, it's been probably 15-20 years since I have been there!

Here's a few pictures of when we were driving into the park!

And here's the one's from our tour...

Cute little giraffe

And his little twin sister

Sweet little deer, Shea

My little monkey and giraffe

Brooks and Shea

Kyla, the zebra

Burkley and her little running buddy

Kyla ready to feed the animals

Brooks has his eyes on something

Aunt Shu Shu and Kyla feeding this animal...can't remember what it was called

Nea and Brooks weren't huge fans of the ostrich that came right up to the tram...and neither was I

Passing by the rhino

Feeding the llama

Aunt Shu Shu and Burkley feeding another crazy ostrich

I LOVED the zebras...they are so beautiful

A pregnant camel...they carry their young for either 12 or 15 months (can you imagine)

She's due in about 4 or 5 months

Yeah, up close and personal

Did you know that their spit is so acidic that it can eat a hole in your clothes?

Shea Shea sitting on Aunt Hay Hay's lap...always happy

Shea looking at the giraffe

Girlfriends

Petting the sweet deer that were walking around

We had such a great time at the park and the weather was perfect.

It won't be another 15-20 years before we go back!

Wordless Wednesday...Except with Words!

I know, I know it's been a while since I've blogged.

And I apologize!

The long term sub job that I mentioned earlier last month has been extended this month and could very well continue for several more.

I'm not complaining because it's only in the afternoons (11:30 to 3:30), it's easy money, I get to see all of my old teaching buddies, and it's a job...since it looks as if the part time tutoring position that I had last year was cut due to the budget being cut TWICE!

Anyway...here's what we've been up to this past week!

Operation Bye Bye Paci 2010!

B&B have only been getting it during naps and at night for months now, but I decided it was time for them to get rid of them for good.

Don't get me wrong, it was hard, but it was time.

I think it was harder on me than them...maybe because it was the only thing "baby" they had left to get rid of (besides potty training)!

Thanks to Nana and PaPa's neighbors big, fat, black cat and thanks to Nana for coming up with such a creative story, Operation Bye Bye Paci 2010 was a HUGE SUCCESS!

Last Wednesday, B&B were at Nana and PaPa's house and Nana put them down for a nap without their paci.

Brooks was worn out and fell asleep in no time at all and Burkley needed a little TLC because she wanted her paci.

So, Nana was walking around the house patting her and that's when it all happened!

The Bettison's big, fat, black cat was walking in the driveway and Nana showed Burkley the cat and told her that it took the paci!

Funny, sad...call it what you want, but I'm telling you it's worked!

And it's worked for a week!

They (mainly Burkley) ask for it at night, but when I remind them of the big, fat, black cat taking it, they say "oh, okay" and that's the end of it!

Soooooo gald that battle is over!

Next up...Operation Bye Bye Diapers 2010!

YEAH RIGHT...more like 2011!