Zoo trip...

A few weeks ago, I took the boys to see my parents.  We decided to take them to the Memphis zoo, and we couldn't have picked a better day--it was absolutely gorgeous with a wonderful breeze.  Sam had a fabulous time, and Alex was really good.  If you haven't been to their zoo lately, I highly suggest it.  It's a beautiful old zoo, and they have tons of really neat exhibits.  The pandas are especially cool.

Monkeying around at the zoo

Sweet baby boy.

At the camel exhibit, you can pay an extra fee to ride them around a corral.  I was blown away that Sam actually rode it with me.  Earlier this year we paid for a pony ride at a harvest festival, and he refused to ride when it was his turn.  He didn't hesitate this time--maybe it was his Lebanese side kicking in, and he felt at home on a camel. 

Camels do not = comfort.

Sacked out in the stroller.

They have a really cool dinosaur exhibit.  Considering that Sam's two favorite things are firetrucks and dinosaurs, this was a must-see.  My dad made me take the above picture... 

...and then he made me take this one.  Isn't it funny how your parents decide they can do whatever they want when they become grandparents?

Digging for fossils

This was as close as Sam would get to the T-Rex.  I couldn't convince him to go closer. 

And one of his favorites--Stegosaurus. 

Words that I never thought I would say...

"Sam, what did you just wipe on the couch?"

"A booger."

"We do not wipe boogers on furniture."

For all you people out there without boys, this is what you have to look forward to.

(And yes, I know I ended a sentence with a preposition, but let's face it...saying "for what you have to look forward" sounds really hoity-toity.)

Still not over it...

I know it's normal for kids to have obsessions, but seriously--this fireman thing is going NOWHERE.  The other morning I was getting ready and he was in full fireman gear crawling on the floor. 

Me:  "Sam, what are you doing?"

Sam:  "Ma'am, it's fireman Sam.  And I'm crawling because smoke rises.  There's a fire that started in your garbage can, and I have to put it out."

Well, duh. 

Picture dump...

Tee ball fun. 

In case you didn't know, you play for the Icee at the end of the game.

Say it with me...ridonkulous. (Or is it ridonculous?)  I like the "k" better. 

Did I mention that the Sherm and I took a culinary tour of New Orleans a few weekends ago?  My caloric intake for the weekend was absolutely frightening, but it was soooo good.  The above is a picture of our spread at St. James Cheese Company. 

 Delish. 

End of the year trip to the children's museum. 

I love a baby in a hat.

The other night Anthony took Sam to a baseball game at Trustmark Park so that I could just chill out with Alex.  The idea was that Alex would go to bed, and I could catch up on the last 2 episodes of "The Vampire Diaries."  (I have no shame.) 

Alex had other plans for me.  He wanted to teethe.  And scream.  A lot. 

Baby boy has some serious cradle cap.  We've been working on it, and my pediatrician suggested using baby oil or olive oil to condition and scrub. 

Anthony was in charge of bath time that night.  He didn't get the oil out. 

Fauxhawks ensued.

Sam made me take this picture. 

Buddha

And he's 4...

Cliche.

I am a cliche.  But here I stand, uttering the same words of mothers everywhere. 
"Where did my baby go?" 

Technically, he hasn't gone anywhere, but it feels like it sometimes.  My big, fat, baby boy has turned into a 42 lb. string bean.

As Sam put it his "actual birthday" was Monday, but we had his party on Saturday.  It was our first real-deal birthday party with all of his classmates receiving invitations.  Big time. 

The little girl in pink pants is his "best friend."  I can't tell you how many hours we spend talking about this precious child. 

They loved sticking their heads over a fan.  Super safe.

And the cutie with pigtails is his other "best friend."

Sam likes the girls. 

Somehow I was able to convince him to have a dinosaur party instead of a fireman party. 

Blowing out the candles.

 

Happy birthday, buddy.

Derby Day 2012...

So, I have a dear friend.  And this friend loves to throw parties.  When she throws these parties, she goes ALL OUT.  For someone like me who loves a theme party and is no longer in college, this works out rather well. 

This year I attended her 2nd annual Kentucky Derby Party.  Do I know anything about horses?  Nope.  Do I like to gamble?  Not really.  Did I get to wear an awesome fascinator?  You betcha. 

I have wanted an excuse to buy a fascinator BPK, (before Princess Kate)  but she has amped up my desire to own and wear one.  Saturday presented the perfect opportunity.  I will be wearing it to future derby parties for awhile, and if I had the guts to wear it somewhere else, I would.  Anyway, on to the party. 

Sherm and I splurged and got a babysitter so we wouldn't have to chase children.  Smart choice on our part.  The fare was somewhat of a potluck, but everyone tried to be in keeping with the theme--cucumber sandwiches, mint juleps, bourbon balls--it was quite the spread.  I don't really "do" mint juleps because I'm not a bourbon girl.  That and the fact that I probably wouldn't be able to tell you my name at the end of the night.  I stuck to wine and a Pimm's cup. 

What might have been the most fun is that we kept up with the odds, and one of the hostess's friends has betting software.  You just enter the horses, the odds, and the amount of money in the pot, and it does the work for you.  We chose 4 different horses--El Padrino, Rousing Sermon, Daddy Nose Best, AND I'll Have Another.  Some of them we picked because of odds, and others we picked because I liked the name.

Last year not a single person at the party won, so we donated the pot to a local charity.  This year the Shermans broke even. 

Apparently, my husband likes to photo bomb. 

My rockin' derby crew

I definitely recommend attending or having a derby party.  The seersucker and hats alone make it worthwhile.   

Sandbox...

I'm not really sure how they're maintaining the amount of sand in the sandbox at Sam's school.  I'm pretty sure he comes home with at least a pound of it in his shoes.

Everyday.

That's all.