Zoo (with my) Boo(s)

I have been trying to take the girls to the zoo for-e-ver but for a million different reasons, it never seems to work out.  Finally, on Friday April 8th, the stars aligned and my dreams came true.  The weather was perfect, it was my day off, the Non didn't have work and thus could join in on the fun- so we decided to grab life the zoo by the horns.

The Mama Daughter days have dropped off steeply since we have been in reno mode.  This makes me sad but I think it is a necessary evil of this stage of life. I spend most Fridays off over at the house or running errands to keep our little crew afloat.  This particular Friday I got the best of both worlds  because Mamacita and I spent the morning at the house helping** GC.  Since there were 2 brilliant females in the mix, I think we accomplished 4x as much in half the time.  (Don't try to check that math.)  After dining on the finest cuisine that Chick-Fil-A has to offer, she and I left GC to his own devices and went to retrieve the girls for adventure part 2 of the day.

Emery had a nap under her belt and thus was in excellent spirits.  The same could not be said of our littlest diva.  I hoped she would nap on the way buuuuut no such luck- she was wide awake and very chatty.  This equated to a fairly cranky kiddo (by her usual standards) upon arrival.  Her patience for the stroller was fine until she could see her Mama. Then she was pretty non-plussed that I could be so lazy as to not carry her everywhere.  Overall though, we had an awesome time.  I look forward to a repeat with Daddy, Pawpaw and maybe even some Aunties/Uncles in tow!

Ohhh, how they melt my heart.  I can't put into words how much I cherish the time my girls get to spend with their grandparents.  We are so, so lucky.

The crocodile has a thing or two to teach Em about posing.

The antenna gives Brynn special animal location powers.

Both girls were digging the elephants.

Why is that cheetah napping, Nonnie?  He so silly.

So you ARE still here?!?!  Then WHY am I in this stroller?  I know you can carry more than that phone.

If you know her, this picture is as miraculous to you as it was to Nonnie and I.  Thankfully this goat was really tame.  Had he moved, there would have been tears.

She could not be convinced to pet this moving version.

The goat terrified Brynn.  Which I found hilarious because I'm an awesome Mom.

This was short lived but oh-so-adorbs.

As much as she'd been jonesing for me to get her out, you would think she would have looked more excited, huh?

My heart and soul on a bench.

** Helping.  Singing along with Beiber obnoxiously.  Stealing GC's hammer.  I think they're all synonyms, really.

Easter 2016

This Easter we celebrated the way that we celebrate most holidays.  We started out in Conroe visiting the Boarman bunch and wrapped up our celebrations in the Branch with the Martin clan.  Because you know the drill, I'll spare you a lot of verbiage and skip straight to the pics.  :c)

The girls having a little pre-game pep talk before the Walden Egg Hunt.  As you can see, our hunters were in the zone.

Daddy trying to explain the delicate art of throwing some 'bows when needed.

Clearly a seasoned vet, Em hopped right out into the action as soon as she got the go ahead.  Brynn wasn't quite as snappy.

Aunt JuJu laughing at helping her nieces.

In her element.

Perhaps her wedgie is what was holding Brynn back?

Pick me up, Non.  I'm over this.

Pretty solid haul.

Are we done with the pics?  Kinda need to check out what's in these eggs, y'all.

Notice where Em went when it was time to start ripping into candy?!  Right next to Pawpaw.

Couldn't find Ryan for a bit.  Discovered him outside walking our child in the front yard with a makeshift cooler on top of the stroller.  Back off ladies, he's taken.

The Easter Bunny visited.

My kids are cute.

After a fab time at Camp Conroe, we took the party to Grandma & Pawpaw Martin's house to meet up with Aunt Niffy and Ky.

Peeeeeeeeps.  Making kids bounce off the walls since like 1903.

Checking out their basket loot.

"Boo!  Boooooo" (book) - Brynnie's fav.

Brynn still wasn't totally clear on the objective.  Is it to get eggs or to try to wander down the street?   Who can say, really?

Get da one, Daddy.

Gotta lift with your legs, folks.

This is NOT Kylie's first rodeo, obvi.

Trying to take pictures with small children: a photo essay.  2/3rds of them looking at a camera.  Not necessarily yours, but a camera nonetheless.

3/3rds looking at a camera.  2/3rds looking pleased. 1/3rd on the verge of meltdown.

2/3rds cheesin'.  1/3rd really about to lose it.

1/3rd about to resort to eating elements of nature because that usually ends photoshoots pretty quick.  1/3rd still cheesing.  1/3rd looking like that Sarah McLachlan song should be playing.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.  'B-Zilla will take them.

Home Sweet Home Reno: Month Seven

March 21st made one more month of channeling our inner Chip and Jo.  I would deem this month the tipping point.  Prior to this when people would ask how the house was coming along or want to see pictures, they were typically pretty underwhelmed.  Most of the things that were done to the house were things that were huge and very visible to those of us intimately familiar with the house (read: GC, Ryan and I) but they looked like nothing to anyone else.

This month we stopped ripping things out and started putting things back in.  It sounds very silly but that's a huge milestone in a renovation... particularly this one.  The happy dances I did this month were second to none.  Thankfully there is no video evidence of said dances.

Accomplishments:

• Demo-ed ceiling of patio
• Added lights to patio ceiling
• Added electrical outlets to patio
• Re-placed siding
• Finished blocking for cabinets in kitchen
• Finished insulation in kitchen
• Finished insulation in garage
• Added ship lap to the middle section of the living room built in
• Added ship lap and re-worked the right side of the living room built in
• Moved everything in the garage to storage
• Started sheet rock

Purchases:

• Lots of lumber

In the Pipeline:

• Finishing sheet rock
• Finishing ship lap
• Adding bead board

After the boys demo-ed the patio ceiling and added can lights.

And I thought I was done picking paint.  Haaa.

Adding electrical outlets.

7 men.  6 days.  406 ladders.  (We really were impressed with our siding subs, should you ever need some work done.)

Finished product.  (I picked SW Balanced Beige, btw.)

Let there be (patio) light!

Still so, so impressed with GC's work here.  I'm pretty obsessed.

Blocking for the cabinets in the kitchen.

Hubs with a nail gun.  Heaven help us.

Ship lap with a side of re-framed window.

Bye, belongings!

Before and after in the same shot.

Sheet rock day 1.