Catching Up

Alabama Spring Break

For their spring break-- Mamie, Papa John and Zach came to visit.  And, we had a great time.  It was like my spring break too, because they played with and entertained Martin so I got a little Mommy break, and it is always great to visit with your family!

Martin telling Zach an ear full of something

Showing Papa John the new sand and water table

Refilling the bird bath

Hey down there Zach

Me and my baby brother -12 years difference

His future is so bright....

Martin the Moose waiting to feed the giraffe

Checking the receipt!

Now we are an Old Pro at feeding the giraffes

Family by the waterfall

Mamie and Papa John

Best seat in the house

A little afternoon fun-- nothing like Mamie pushing you all over the backyard

Now, go that-a-way Mamie.

I told y'all we had been busy.  I wasn't kidding, was I??  This is what happens when you don't blog for a month.  You play catch up, and end up with 3 posts in less than 24 hours.  Oops! While my family was here, they helped me make Martin a play work bench.  It turned out precious, and when I order the play tools, I will post pictures.  It is too cute.  I know he is still a little young for it, but he loves to beat on it.  Anything can turn into a drum in seconds. 

Martin is just a little sponge these days, and is working hard to repeat anything you say.  He loves to flirt with the ladies that work at the Grocery Store.  He loves playing with Bubbles, any animals, and anything that has wheels.  But, most importantly, he is his happiest when he is outside.  He is definitely a little nature boy.  Last week we completed our spring garden overhaul--and he was in heaven.  We added more stone up front, planted flowers, mulched the flower beds, sprayed for grubs, sanded the low spots in the yard, filled the bird feeders, cleaned the bird bath and Martin was happy as a little lark (pictures to come).  He loves to stand at the window in the dining room and watch the birds in the front feeders.  And, we have 4 babies in the bluebird house in the back.  We have shown Martin the birds, but he wasn't very impressed.  I don't think he knew what they were.  Hope everyone has a great week!  Stay tuned......house pictures to follow.

New Toys

We had planned on getting Martin a Sand and Water Table for Easter, but since this March was the hottest March on record, the Easter Bunny delivered it early!  And, Martin LOVES it.  He really likes mixing the sand and water, and enjoys dumping the sand in the yard.  

Sandy!

Making a mess memories

Dumped the clean water

Fun with Dad

This is great!

And, he got a new slide for outside.  We played inside for a few days to get the hang out of it, but we have since moved it outside.  He loves it too.  It really got some use when Luke, Ashley and Stephen came up for a visit.  The boys went up and down at least 100 times.

Martin trying to hurry and slide

Dino Luke rocking the diaper

Cousin Fun

Breakfast time is so much better when you have a cousin to enjoy it with

Ashley, Stephen and Luke came up so we could take the boys to the zoo.  The kids had a great time!!  And, so did the adults.  We put our new membership to good use.  I know we are going to get our money's worth out of that!  We even got to see the new Dino exhibit--although I think Stephen enjoyed it more than the boys.

It's ok Luke, the tigers can't get us

Egg Fun

Luke in the Egg

Martin is not sure about the cow!

Outside is fun!

Petting a dinosaur, be careful--it might bite!

Dinosaur Land

Cool dude in his shades

Stephen enjoying the "dig"

Ready to feed the giraffe

Like this mom?  I just put it in there?

Oh my word!  He licked me with that huge black tongue!!!!

Still trying to recover!

Martin on the giraffe deck.  He enjoyed playing on the ramp just as much as feeding the giraffe

Grizzly habitat.  We are way up high--although it doesn't look it

Benton Family

Martin and the Elephants!  He was trying to get them to make their noise, although they never did!

Trying to escape.....apparently he didn't care to see the Panda Exhibit

Martin and Dad (with Dad making a funny face)

Watching the ducks

Two of the cutest kids in the world!

Martin trying to slide by....ha

Picking Buddha's nose

Hey, let's slap his belly!

Panda Bears are great when they are behind the glass

And, a full day at the zoo always ends in a bath!!

The kids had a great time, and were very well behaved, especially considering neither one had a nap!  They loved it all.  We had a great weekend visiting.

The Easter Round-up

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in a month....but I have been too busy to stop and document it.  I know I should stop and do it--so when I look back I can remember all of our times together, but do you know how busy an 18 month old is??  This weekend we celebrated Easter with two egg hunts. 

Egg Hunt #1

Lasted about 90 seconds, and Martin got 3 eggs.

With his loot.  He didn't understand why everyone was screaming!

Yep, still petrified of anything in costume

The first egg hunt was a last minute decision, and truth be told, I was glad we decided to go at the last minute, because it didn't go well.  It was in downtown Arlington, and the kids and mainly ADULTS were CRAZY.  It lasted no longer than 90 seconds, and everyone was losing their minds.  I saw a Dad with a baby asleep in a car seat no older than 4 months, who got approximately 25 eggs in the carrier in 30 seconds.  Talk about taking it a little too serious!!  Martin got 3 eggs!!  He didn't really even have enough time to figure out what was going on.  His age group was 2 and under, so some kids were really excited--and I bet they were sorely upset at the end too.  It was NUTS.  Then in the next age group, a mother told her kid, stay right here in this area, if you don't, a monster will get you.  So, when the lady said "Ready, Set, Go!" that kid burst into tears.  Some people just don't think things through all the way do they??  

However, the second egg hunt was a huge success.  Martin got at least 35-40 eggs, and had plenty of room to run and gather his eggs in the willy nilly fashion he is famous for.  He is a lot more like me than I realize sometimes.  He stopped and opened every egg he picked up and then tossed them in his basket.  By the end of the hunt, he was putting the candy in his bucket, and tossing the eggs back on the ground!!  What a mess.  He didn't care for the bunny at either hunt, but did better at the second one, just because we didn't put him in the Bunny's lap.

Egg Hunt #2--success

Look at all these eggs Mama

I think I will save you for later

Did someone say Golden Egg??  Maybe it is out in the wilderness

Finding the eggs

Still not sure about the Bunny

Playing with Dad

The Easter Bunny came!!!  Martin got a backpack to take to the nursery.  He also got some pj's, swim trunks, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, books, a stuffed minky bunny (that I love more than he does), snacks, goldfish, elmo eggs, sand toys, and a safari truck with more animals for the Zoo Talker.  The Zoo Talker was a Christmas gift, and Martin has played with it more than I ever thought he would.  And, he is learning a lot by playing with it.  He knows how to make the orangutan noise and can chomp like the gator.  He loves to knock over the animals when I position them in their spots on the jungle.  And, the head of the ostrich is a great teether for the those back molars.

The  Easter Bunny loot

Yay, a giraffe--our new favorite animal

After church we went for Easter Brunch at Owen Brennan's, and it was fabulous.  A little taste of home.  Eggs Benedict, omelets with crawfish, gumbo, and any other yummy food you could think of, including Bananas Foster.  I thought someone was going to have to wheel me out it was so good.  Then, Martin played on the steps of Regions Bank for about an hour.  And, took a big ole nap when he got home.

Attempt at a family picture after Brunch

Post Brunch-- Pre Nap

Too busy playing to sit still for a picture

What people??  I am busy!

Playing on the steps of Regions Bank