Pictures--South Carolina!

We spent the morning at the Columbia Zoo. It was a great zoo--the animals are in really nice habitats and they were very active. This bear was the first animal we saw and he was pacing and pacing right here where we could see him.

This gorilla just laid here watching us, he was kind of pitiful actually but it was neat to see him so up close.





Feeding the giraffes was a huge highlight of our morning at the zoo.




We taught them how to play Whoonu and played a few games with Bobo (Susan's mom) and more games that night with Susan. If you have never played Whoonu you need to go get the game and find somebody to play with you. It is so fun!

The diving board!

And we ended the day making cookies--really good cookies. Chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips--yum!




On the way home we stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch and a golf tee game or two.

Pictures--lunch and a trip to SC

Here is my first McD's mocha of the day! I stopped on the way to lunch and got one for me and one for the kids to share. We met Aunt Lane, Joanne, and Chandler for lunch. Last time I saw Chandler he was about 10 years old! He's about 6 foot 5 now and a lot bigger than I am. Other than that he looks just like he did as a little guy. We had fun catching up and the Mexican food was really good too! After lunch we headed east but not before stopping for my second mocha!

And then a bathroom stop and more mochas! We all got one this time.

Pictures--The Lake

On the way to the lake we stopped for lunch at "Five Guys Burgers and Fries." I absolutely LOVE that place!! They have amazing burgers and the fries are pretty good too although I'd take McD's fries over these any day.

There is the back of the lakehouse and my mom coming down to the dock. I loved the screened in back porch, it was perfect!

Day Five--More Swimming and a Movie

We had another fun day yesterday. We went swimming with Peaches and her family again and then later went to the $1 movies. The girls saw "Hannah Montana," and the boys saw "Monsters vs. Aliens." I enjoyed Hannah, it was a cute movie. I loved the song, "The Climb." I think I want to download it to put on the Ipod Nano I'm going to win in the library contest. Speaking of the library contest. I'm missing 10 days of opportunities to get my name in the drawing. Once I get home I'm going every day until the contest ends! I can get my name in 5 more times at least. Maybe I should go twice. I REALLY want to win the dumb thing. I don't know why but I just do. Is it wrong to pray for something so materialistic? :0) We are headed out this morning for a weekend at the lake. I should be getting ready and packing but I'm having a hard time getting motivated. Trying to decide if I should bother straightening my frizzy hair. I've plugged in and then unplugged the straightener twice. It really seems a waste of time since I am just going to the lake but then again--did I mention frizz??? So, right now it's plugged in and if I can get my butt off the computer in time I'm going to straighten it. That's the plan. My dad told me today that McD's is giving away something different everyday. I knew about the free sample mochas on Mondays. I had two this past Monday. But he said that you can get free small fries on Tuesday and something different every other day of the week. I'm going to have to look into this. Especially for our traveling days. Speaking of that--I've decided to make a trip to visit a friend in SC on Monday and spend two nights there and then head home on Wednesday. I haven't seen her since Joe was a baby! We will have lots of catching up to do. Susan and I were best friends from about 8th grade on through high school and college. We have lots and lots of memories together. Well, I really must go do something important.

The boys did some chicken fighting!
This umbrella decided to go airborne a couple of times. That's my dad there pretending to be some insurance guy?? Maybe some commercial that I've missed out on?

Another picture of baby Jack--no puke this time. I just love this baby, he's so sweet!

Little Bray was wiped out. He fell asleep sitting up in his Pop's lap.

Day Four--Visiting Old Friends, Thanks Facebook!

Yesterday was our out and about day meeting with some friends from high school. First we met up with Jenny at a state park that is about halfway between my parent's house and mine. She also has three kids and they all hit it off quite well. We went on a hiking trail to some granite outcroppings and then had a picnic and the kids played on the playground while we tried to catch up on 20 years of life.

I heard Joe telling Josie that he knows about a milkshake that has spinach, octopus, and a stinky sock in it. Mmmm....

We don't look a day over 18 do we???

Later we met up with Michael, Michael Motorcycle for dinner at a Thai place and a walk through a very cool mall. Hannah and Michael ate this rainbow roll and Hannah loved it. That is tuna, salmon, and whitefish on top of a California roll.
Very cool lego store with a very cool lego Darth Vader. First thing Joe did was kick the thing. Thankfully it stayed together and didn't come crashing down in a heap.
Bass Pro Shop is one cool place! We spent at least an hour in there looking at all the stuff and then playing the shooting game.


We had another fun day and late night! This momma is whooped but the fun keeps on coming! Today is swimming and then a movie, "Hannah Montana" and "Monsters vs. Aliens" are both at the dollar movie. The girls are watching Hannah and the boys are watching Monsters.