A Zoo-pendous Time!

On our way home from Sunday night worship service, Katy asked if we could go to the Zoo again soon, so since it's summer (and we get to do whatever we want!) we decided to head out to the Knoxville Zoo Monday morning. We got there right when it opened and the weather was perfect. The kids were excited!After taking a peek at the bears, we went to the girls' favorite spot, the Butterfly Garden. Lily especially loves it because of the pond and all the lily pads! We have been to the zoo several times, but this was the first time Parker was able to really enjoy it. Lily loved showing Parker all of the animals and teaching him their names. Here they are looking at the elephants together. One of the elephants actually was playing with a box and got it stuck on his trunk! Parker stood and looked at the zebras for a long time.He had fun pretending to drive his sissies around in the Zoo jeep while making an engine noise! Maddy got trapped in a cage! Parker had on big boy shoes for the first time and he was so happy walking around showing off his new Nikes! It was starting to get hot, and after walking around the zoo for several hours, we cooled off with some Slush Puppies! Lily and Katy shared a Bodacious Berry slush and couldn't stop laughing about their blue mustaches! Maddy was so sweet sharing a Lemon Limecicle slush with Parker. Then we headed into the air conditioned Wee Play Zoo for some more fun! Katy had fun pretending to be a zoo attendant. Here's Farmer Maddy pushing her wheelbarrow.Parker was fascinated with the live bunny and he loved petting it!And he enjoyed cruisin' in the jeep.Before we knew it we had spent almost 5 hours at the Zoo! We had a zoo-pendous time and look forward to going again soon! Thank you Lord for another beautiful day and allowing us time together admiring your creation!

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11

Fountains of Fun!

I can't begin to tell you how much we are enjoying summer! I love having all my kiddos together and not being on schedules! We are having lots of fun deciding day to day what we can get into! We have been visiting Powell Station Park once a week for some water and playground fun. The girls enjoy the fountainswhile Parker has fun walking around exploringand making music under the playsetOur friends, the Houks, met us there last week and Lily and Maddy had fun with Madeline drawing with sidewalk chalk. There are 7 kids between our 2 families and we enjoyed a fun picnic on the grass: Little Layla loved seeing Parker and kept trying to give him kisses!It has been so nice to have my sweet Lily home after being gone at Kindergarten during the day last year. She has been such a big help to me and is a great big sister (& little mommy) to Parker:

Thank you Lord for summertime and sweet fellowship with my children!

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come. Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Revelation 14:7