Goin' To The Zoo- How About You??

On Saturday we decided to take the kids to the zoo. The plan was two-fold. One- to have a fun family day with the kids and Two- to try and encourage Cali's arrival. The kids had a ball but I ended up with not the first contraction. Part two was not as successful as part one! LOL!!! We asked Marc's Aunt if she wanted to join us (she has a son Kyle's age and a son who is 15 months old) She was excited to come and also brought her niece and nephew along. So- we ended up with six kids who ended up doing great! I was so proud of all of them.
We got out of the van and Kyle kept asking "Where are we going? What is this place? Is it going to be fun?" He was excited to find out and very excited he got to push Bella in the stroller!!


He is such a little man.....

Our first stop was the elephants. Elephants are probably my favorite animal. I just love their chubby, wrinkly bodies and their big ol' ears! How much cuter can an animal get?!?!

I love how this one is crossing his back feet!

Aren't they beautiful??

Next stop was Koala Junction. A train ride through the Australian Outback...... well.....as close as it gets in Ohio................

Kyle was in heaven! He loves trains so he thought he was cool stuff on this train ride. It was so fun to watch him- his eyes were the size of oranges the entire journey as he tried to take everything in. It's amazing how you can watch a child and then look at things in a different perspective.....pay more attention to the little things................

We got to see Kangaroos being lazy............

And Sandy the Camel...........................

Bella really enjoyed the ride too!! She kept giggling because the breeze was tickling her face!

After the train ride we got to pet two donkeys.... Jenny and Annie............ at first Kyle wasn't too sure about them but then he decided he really liked them.

Awww.... Daddy and Kyle went to get Mommy some water. They are so cute.

Kyle had fun listening through Kangaroo ears.....................

These birds were so pretty and the way the sun was reflecting off of their white feathers was just beautiful..............

This tree was incredible. The sun was shining just right through the branches and leaves and it looked liked something from a dream. It gave me the most peaceful feeling and I felt so small standing underneath of it. I think I snapped 20 some pictures of it!!

Next the kids, Marc and his Aunt went down a huge tube slide that came out in the base of a huge tree where we got to see this scary guy................

He was a mechanical alligator but boy did he look real! Yikes!!

The kids then got to play in another tube tunnel. This one was a lot closer to the ground!! The ran through the tunnel and played while the adults took a little break!!! I love this picture of Bella looking out one of the windows of the tunnel. It reminds me of a little doll in a box...

Kyle having a ball running through the tunnel......................

Bella having fun and trying to cool off under the mister.......

Next stop- petting zoo! All of the animals in here were so cute I wanted to take them home. I don't think they would be too happy in an apartment though! Maybe I should buy a farm!

These sheep were so cute................

This little miniature horse was stubborn! I could not get him to look at me for anything! I guess he has learned to ignore people!!

And this little guy I feel in love with! He was so precious and my favorite part about him? He was a ham for the camera! I snapped and snapped and he just kept showing off!!! Maybe he's a fellow blogger!

There were so many gorgeous flower beds and planters at the zoo. You can get so many ideas for your own garden!! These had to be my favorite! I just loved the color!

We stopped to see the Lions next. They were lazing around too. The one lion was laying on his back and rolling around. His girlfriend never even offered to scratch his back for him. Maybe he has learned in the past not to ask!!! LOL!!!

And then we have my king of the jungle. He's very tame though- and what a cutie!

Marc's Aunt took a family picture for us. I love her because she is picky like I am and knew to take several pictures!!! This was the best one out of the bunch...........my kids don't stay still very long!!

Okay, let's say goodbye to the lions!

And go see the flamingos....................

It amazes me that these birds can hold themselves up on those skinny legs. What's even more amazing is that they sleep standing on one leg! How can they get any rest like that???

On the way out I saw this beautiful flower display of the American flag. Oh how I wish I had a garden to do this in!! Isn't it gorgeous?? I would love to sit down and talk with the people in charge of landscaping at the zoo. Oh think of how much you could learn!!!

Okay, it's getting late and we need to head home. Goodbye animals! Thank You zookeepers!

It was a fun day and the kids really enjoyed themselves. Actually the adults did too! The weather could not have been more beautiful. Boy was I tired when we left...................and the van seemed to far away!! We wanted to all go back Sunday but the weather didn't cooperate so we stayed home and just relaxed.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

~Heather :)

Insomnia??

I like to sneak into my kids rooms every night after we tuck them in to bed. I love to see their little angelic faces as they sleep peacefully, I like to watch their chests rise and fall as they breathe and adore them in their slumber.
I normally do this only once or twice a night but other nights I may check in on them several times throughout the night and early morning hours depending on my sleep schedule.



My kids are excellent sleepers and always have been. It amazes me how they can go so strong and then be out cold within five minutes or less some nights.


I think they must get that from Marc. He can lay down and be out in a matter of minutes. I tell him it's because he works so hard all day that his body goes into shock when he actually relaxes!!! LOL!!! He falls asleep every night while reading a book to Kyle. It is just the most precious site.

I just wish I could fall asleep as easily and stay asleep as well as Marc and the kids do. Lately I haven't been sleeping at all. Now that I need to get as much sleep as I possibly can to rest up before Cali's arrival I have been staring at my ceiling for hours on end. I can not get comfortable in bed, on the couch or anywhere for that matter. Aches and pains are present no matter how comfy I try and make myself. I am visiting my bathroom every hour or less and feel that maybe I should just put a comfy recliner in there with a flat screen tv hanging on the wall. Just camp out there and turn it into my bedroom for awhile. And when I don't sleep I spend my time thinking. I think all kinds of thoughts- some serious and some just down right goofy and pointless. I have been dragging during the day. I am so tired I don't have energy to do anything and my eyes water so much its like I am crying. Everything is bothering me. Today my kids were playing in the living room and they both got to giggling so much that it was contagious. I was laughing at them because they were laughing so hard. It wasn't long before my neighbor was beating on the wall to try and make them be quiet. Apparently she is oblivious to the noise level that her three children project into my apartment. The only difference is that I acknowledge that I live in an apartment and expect some amount of noise. I have thought of how I could address this with my neighbor but she doesn't seem like a person that would take even a pleasant encounter as it was meant to come across so I try and just hush the children when she beats on the wall. Keeping the peace, so to speak. We do our best to keep the kids quiet in the evening as to not disturb our neighbors and their sleep patterns but it breaks my heart when I have to look at my kids at 2:30 in the afternoon and tell them they can't laugh so loud. Oh how I long for a house so my kids can be kids again.

I have been thinking about Cali and when she will make her appearance. Will it be in the middle of the night? Will we have to yank our sleeping children out of their beds and take them to their Aunt's house? Will I have the help I need once I get home? I have been in a dazed fog since my ultrasound and doctor's appointment this past Tuesday. The conversation with my doctor keeps going through my head. Cali is healthy but there are some other issues that are concerning me. My doctor talked like he is really hoping that I will go into labor on my own by this weekend but if not I will see him again Monday when we will "discuss options". I didn't even ask him for an explanation because I knew what he meant. And if I know then what is the point of hearing the words out loud, right? With every itch, pinch or cramp I am praying like crazy that this is it- that Cali is for sure on her way. I had contractions last night for almost two hours and then...they just stopped. Nothing. I cried and cried.

We are down to the 11th hour on the sale of our house- that we have been trying to sell forever- and now it looks as though it may fall through. The bank has been dragging their feet and the buyers may back out. I don't even know what to do.

My walls feel like they are closing in on me. My apartment feels smaller and smaller with every look around. I have been trying to do little things during the day to keep my mind occupied and my hands busy. And to try and keep myself awake until the kids take their nap. And then I try and take a nap when they do and I, once again, am wide awake. Is this some type of pregnancy insomnia? Or is God preparing me for sleepless nights when Cali gets here?? LOL!!

Marc and I are taking the kids to the zoo tomorrow. A family day to enjoy each other and have some fun. Hopefully I can walk myself into labor!! Maybe then I'll be able to get more sleep. :)

Hope you all have a great weekend.

~Heather

This Is for Shelia!!

Shelia from Note Songs has asked all of her blogging buddies to participate in a "Bathroom Beauty Snappers" challenge. Shelia has a habit ? of taking her self portraits in public restrooms and challenged fellow bloggers to do the same. Now this idea seemed so crazy and out of my realm that I just felt the need to participate. Shelia is such a fun a sweet gal I could not let her down.


Marc met me and the kids at my ultrasound and doctor's appointment today. After hearing that I may be giving birth to a 9 pound baby my head was obviously not in it's right place. Hence my full participation in this challenge!! LOL!!! This is not something I would normally do but, what the hay right??
After we got done at the doctor's office we took the kids to Dairy Queen for a treat. Yeah, have you ever been in a Dairy Queen bathroom?!?! Might as well be a BP gas station. Yuck! But, I trucked on.................. a little nervous at first...................and definitely not having the best day as far as hair and make-up were concerned...............


Then I decided to get super silly.................... (I am SO gonna regret this one).........

And then I decided to pull in my little Mini Bathroom Diva...................

Who obviously, as you can see, really got into it!!

So, I am now Officially a Darling (well, daring) Bathroom Diva and a member of the Bathroom Beauty Snappers club!!!
This has to be one of the craziest things I have done in a loooong time. I'm a hoot, what can I say? My husband is blaming it on my hormones!!!

There ya go Shelia! You pulled me out of my "safe zone" and have now thrown me into a full blown dare devil!! LOL!!!!

~Heather :)

Gifts For Calista

Today we go to have an ultrasound done to see how Cali is positioned and then following the ultrasound we see my doctor for a check up. I am anxious to hear what my doctor has to say and I can not wait to see Cali on that black and white screen! I pray that she is well and healthy.

I received some very special packages on Saturday! We picked up the packages on our way to Marc's nephew's birthday party and do you think I could wait to open them?? No! I had to dig in right there in the van!!!! LOL!!

First I opened a package from Rhonda at Scooterblu's Whimsy. Some of you may remember that back on July 25th Rhonda hosted an online virtual baby shower in my honor. Then she sent me a real baby shower gift!!
I could not believe how much she managed to pack into that box!! She even included big brother and big sister gifts for Kyle and Bella! My heart melted.


Bella loves her new Little People School Bus! She let out such a loud squeal when she opened her gift!

And Kyle.......................

got a Camaro! Daddy's favorite car of all time. Kyle said "Cool! A Camaro!" Kyle and Bella have been racing their new vehicles up and down the hall since Saturday!!!

Cali got her own initial to hang on the wall. Look how cute!! It is now hanging above her changing table!

And check out these beauties!! Rhonda made these herself!!! Custom burp cloths!! I feel like a celebrity or something! What child gets CUSTOM burp cloths!?! My husband looked at these and said "You're not really going to let Cali puke on those, are you?" LOL!! I'm actually trying to come up with a cute way to frame them or display them!! They are so precious!

Then there was this cute little package- guarded by the cutest little floppy blankie buddy teddy bear!

And inside was this adorable outfit!!! So soft in green and pink................

And then I unwrapped something that literally made me cry, and cry and cry...............

I was overwhelmed to say the least. I couldn't even talk. For never meeting Rhonda in person she sure does know my taste. She knows I collect and adore milk glass and here she sent Cali her own piece to start a collection of her own....................
Look at the ruffled edge all highlighted and laced in pink and white gingham ribbon!!

Oh! I didn't even know what to say.

I pulled myself together and opened the next package. This one was from Heidi from Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly

Heidi participated in the baby shower hosted by Rhonda and wanted to send me a "real" gift as well. I opened up the standard cardboard postal box to see this beautifully wrapped package!

My husband thought it was too pretty to unwrap so I spent fooooorrrrrrreeeeeeeevvvvrrrrrrrr unwrapping it as carefully as I could in order to preserve the paper while the kids were screaming behind me "Hurry mommy! Hurry!" LOL!!!

There was the prettiest card- handmade by Heidi...............

And these precious items......................

A custom made baby blanket and reversible bib in some of the most beautiful vintage or french-looking fabric I have ever seen. I started crying again! How did Heidi know what fabrics I would love?? Am I that predictable? LOL!!! These pictures do not do these items justice. And the quality of craftsmanship in which they are made is like nothing I have ever seen! Heidi has her own Etsy shop and sells these baby items there. If you haven't been to her shop you must go! Anyone expecting a baby would love these items. I know that these are something that Cali will be able to pass down and use for her children and possibly her grandchildren. Saturday evening I took them out of the box and headed for the laundry room so that I could wash them up. I wanted to pack them in the hospital bag so we can bring Cali home swaddled in this blanket. Marc asked me "What are you doing?" I told him and he said "But I think we should just leave them all folded up nice like they are and put them on a shelf with Heidi's tag for decoration.........aren't they too pretty to really use?" LOL!!! I told him they are made to be used and if Cali is using them wouldn't more people be able to see how pretty they are??? he he he He is so funny.

See how cute the bib is? It is reversible!

Rhonda and Heidi............. you will never know how much this means to Marc and I. Marc kept saying "This is crazy! This is just crazy! I can't believe these women would do something so nice." And it is hard to believe. We are both overwhelmed by your kindness and thoughtfulness. Words can never express our thanks and how blessed we feel by your generosity and your friendship! God Bless you both!!! And Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

Yesterday Marc got a surprise of his own. I have mentioned before Marc is a Maintenance Director for a large apartment management company. Yesterday his co-workers and staff threw a surprise, lunch time baby shower in his honor!!! If you knew my husband you would understand what a feat this is- it is impossible to surprise him. And he was definitely surprised! Can you believe that they planned this and not one person had a camera to take pictures!?! Apparently none of them are bloggers!! LOL!!! They presented him with a cute little sleeper, a 3 pack of hats and a onesie...........

The onesie says "I have an attitude and I know how to use it" LOL!!! A child of mine with an attitude??? Never!! LOL!!!

And then the biggest surprise of all................gift wrapped in true maintenance man fashion -in a black garbage bag and duct tape :) was this.........................

A new car seat dressed in sweet girly pinkness. Now I have to tell you a story about the car seat. Marc and I have been stressing about a car seat lately. We were planning on using the one that we used for the first two children. It was quite expensive and still in perfect shape. It has been wrapped in a garbage bag in storage for almost two years now. Marc brought it home the other night only to unwrap a mess! The entire cover , canopy, foam padding, and belts were covered...and I mean covered, in mold and mildew. My heart sunk. It even appeared that the mildew was even into the plastic part of the seat which I don't even know is possible. It was destroyed. I tried to throw all of the fabric stuff in the washing machine to see if I could get it clean but knew it shouldn't be used anyways. Marc's aunt offered her old seat to us but has been searching and searching for weeks and can not find it anywhere. I checked the stores and then went and looked online and couldn't find much of a selection that didn't require ordering and having it shipped. Huh? I could have this baby any day- I want a seat here, better yet- in my van and ready!

Marc was talking to his assistant last Friday about the ordeal (he was obviously stressed as well) and low and behold what does Monday bring but a little car seat. His co-workers said he helped them tremendously because they wanted to do something big but had no idea- and he had given them the idea!! And he didn't even know it!! Now- can I tell you how great God is?? He knows not only our needs........but the desires of our hearts. I cried when I saw that little car seat. What a blessing.

Well, I think we are officially ready for Cali's arrival now! I am still a nervous wreck but I could go on being pregnant for another 4 months and still feel the same way! I definitely feel much more prepared and at ease the last couple of days. Everything is together, ready and waiting. The apartment is clean and organized and ready to for our new arrival and all of the company that shall come to greet her.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

~Heather :)

Awards & Banners and Rooms Oh MY!!

First of all I have to apologize for being SO behind lately! I feel like things have been so incredibly busy around here that I have neglected my blog friends. I am hanging on by a virtual rope but so far I am still holding on!!! I will get around to all of you as soon as I can!

I received some very special awards from some very special ladies!!!! Oh I was just so flattered and excited!!!

Rhonda from Scooterblu's Whimsy awarded me with not one- but two awards!!! AHHH!!! How fun! The first is the "Just Plain Fun to Read" award. I still find it hard to believe that anyone would actually read my blog- let alone say it was fun to read!!! So this award is VERY VERY special to me!! It really boosted my blogging confidence!

The next award was the Brillante award. I love this award !! To think I am brilliant and fun to read?? My head is gonna explode from the swelling!! LOL!!!! THANKS RHONDA! You made my week!

This next award is very cool. It is from Picket over at Picket's Place . It is the "You make me feel at home" award. What a wonderful thing to make someone feel at home! Isn't that what we all try and accomplish when we put so much time and love into our houses- to make them feel like home? And now we realize we can accomplish that same feat here in blog land! Thanks Picket!!!!

Now, I am sure when you hopped on over here today that you noticed that I have a new banner!!!! SQUEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO EXCITED over this banner you have no idea! When I started this blog I had an image in my head for a banner. I worked and worked and spit and threw the printer and........................... nothing. Nothing but a picture of hydrangeas and some generic words over top. It was pretty but it just wasn't what I was going for, you know?? Well, Rhonda from Scooterblu's Whimsy hosted a baby shower for me a couple of weeks ago and Pearl from Pearl's Sentimental Journey participated. On her shower post was MY dream banner! In a little picture form that she had done just for that post. I commented about how much I loved it and today I receive an email from Pearl with a link attached for................ a new banner!!! She designed my new banner just for me! Can you believe it? I was SUPER FLATTERED!!! And this lady is SUPER TALENTED!! THANK YOU SO MUCH PEARL!!!

Isn't it awesome!??!! Oh I am so happy. Isn't that crazy?? This is exactly and I mean exactly what I had pictured in my mind when I started my blog................ it is funny how things always work out isn't it?!?

Next. I wanted to share with you our finished living room and dining room! Like a room is ever finished?? Well, this is as good as it gets for awhile I think!! Our living room, dining room and kitchen are all open to each other. I have always wanted that floor plan but I found it challenging to tie all of the spaces together. Here is what the results were.

My living room area. I love my sofa because it is pretty much childproof. I would love to have a formal living room and fancy furniture someday but since we only have one living room now it is important to have things that the kids can't "destroy". I want my kids to be kids and for our home to be their home and be comfortable in it. The Ikea sofa is perfect with it's removable/washable slipcovers! The coffee table used to belong to my Grandpa Fell. Grandpa Fell lived in Florida and every summer we would visit him for two weeks. I remember every night after dinner Grandpa would go out to his backyard, pick lemons and make fresh squeezed lemonade and we would all sit in the living room, around this coffee table, and drink our lemonade and visit. This table escaped the last hurricane with only scratches. Many people have asked if I was going to refinish it..................I am going to leave it just as it is- covered in years of memories..................

I made the pillows, the black stands were a second hand store bargain and the lamps and shades came from Target.

The galvanized tub is full of quilts from family and friends (and one from Pottery Barn). The sconces were a gift from my cousins................

This is the wall opposite the sofa. My husband worked for a hotel as a chief engineer for awhile. They decided to throw out these wicker chairs one day and my husband saved them from the trash and brought them home. He knew I had always wanted wicker chairs! The wreath above was purchased at Target. I loved it because it is covered in succulents and it reminded me of my Grandma. She always has "Hens and Chicks" on her porch. A Grandma signature! The dolls were made by my sister. Primitive Rag dolls! Ignore the cords hanging down....Marc has to hide them somehow!

We had to put the tv and electronics up on the fireplace to keep them away from the kids. Marc built the shelf (which I still have to paint) and now has to hide the cords to make it look better.

The little chairs were made by an Amish man in New York that Marc's step father knows. He usually makes adult size but Marc's step-father asked him to make some for his grand kids. They are so cute!
This is the dining room area. We pulled our old dining room table out of storage because the dark stain worked better than the oak one did. I put my antique table behind the sofa and made it into a little desk area.

Just another view................

My apartment doesn't have a lot of light which makes me crazy. I miss sunlight!! But it works for now with all of the white and light furniture and accessories. Hope you like it!

Hope you all have a fantastic day!!

~Heather :)

Pretty Toes and Edible Fish Tanks

This is how fun we are. Friday night and what are we doing? Well, my friend Krissie stopped by after she got off of work and we hung out. She painted my toes so that my feet would be pretty when I go to the hospital to have Cali! Now I don't know about you all, but to have a friend who is willing to touch your feet and paint your toe nails, when you can no longer reach them yourself............. that is a pretty great friend! No, I am not going to show you a picture of my feet. I have issues and am very self conscious of my feet. Plus, I am also posting about food here so I don't want to gross ya'll out!!! LOL!!!
The second part of our evening we spent in the kitchen. Marc's Aunt is throwing a birthday party for her son tomorrow. He is turning four on August 4th!!! His aunt was pregnant at the same time I was for Kyle and it was a lot of fun. Our boys were born just 11 days apart! Well, I am in charge of bringing a treat for the party tomorrow. It is a water themed party so I thought I would get real creative and make little fish tanks. Edible fish tanks. Now I have made similar things in the past but it was waaaaaay in the past so part of the method has slipped my mind. he he But it all turned out okay in the end!

First we boiled 24 cups of water........................


Then we had to empty 24 packages of blue jello into another pan............

Yepper! You read right- 24 packages! Lucky Krissie got this daunting task. Are your wrists hurting yet Sweetie???

That's a lot of jello powder!

Then we had to bring in some muscle. Those pans are heavy!

Stir Baby! Stir!!

We lined up all 70 cups......................

And made Marc keep stirring. He kept saying "Am I done yet?" No baby! Keep stirring! he he
Look at all of that pretty blue liquid.................

Next we filled all 70 cups with the pretty blue liquid. Oh my did it smell good! Once they were all full we placed them in the refrigerator to set...............

When the jello was about half set we put red gummy fish in each one to make it look like the fish were swimming around in water. It was hard to get a good shot but here is a close up........

Donning rubber gloves we had to place 6 fish in each cup......pushing them into place. I don't remember these things being so involved or time consuming the last time I did them but then again I don't think I have ever done 70 at one time!! After the fish were swimming happily in their new little tank we put them back in the refrigerator to finish setting up..........

Aren't they fun!?! Again- not a great picture but you get the idea. Tomorrow we will top them off with some Redi-Whip before serving and Voila! Cute little edible fish tanks. What four year old wouldn't enjoy eating one of these? I am hoping that after this much work that EVERY child AND adult will eat these!!! LOL!!!

Now I just have to figure out how to transport 70 little fish tanks 20 miles in this heat without ruining the carpet in my van!! Hopefully these little guys won't be belly up upon arrival!!!

Now doesn't that sound like a fun way to spend a Friday night? LOL!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

~Heather :)

Post Problems??

Is anyone else having problems trying to do your posts? I have been trying to post for the last two days........it keeps coming up "error" and then low and behold my last post showed up mysteriously today but with no breaks and no pictures!
Is anyone having these issues??
~Heather