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Charlotte, Friends

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

Last week I was thinking about our upcoming trip back down to Tuscaloosa for the Florida game and relishing the cool fall air and I realized that we should probably go to the zoo sometime soon!  Charlotte looooves animals and the weather would be perfect so Jason and I decided that we would stop in Birmingham on our way home and visit the zoo.  Then I had an even better idea to invite some of our friends that live in Birmingham to join us and a wonderful adventure was born!

Our friend Lindsey and our other friends Natalie, Scott, and Carrington met us at the zoo right after lunch on Sunday and we headed in to explore.  I was so excited to meet Carrington because I hadn’t seen her in person before! She was just the most precious little almost-six month old there could be.  So well behaved and so alert checking everything out.  And I loved getting to meet Scott and to see Natalie again since we hadn’t seen each other since college and have just reconnected and become friends in the last few months virtually through twitter and facebook.

We got in and headed straight towards the safari exhibit where the bigger animals were.  Our first spotting was the zebra’s which Charlotte especially enjoyed since she had zebra’s on her outfit and we had been talking about them all morning!

Look! They’re zebras!
Carrington just took it all in
See Daddy, there they are!
Scott, Carrington and Natalie
Next to the zebra’s were the giraffes.  They didn’t get very close to us which made Lindsey sad since they were her favorite! They were together in a habitat with the ostrich’s and those ostrich’s don’t smell that great so we didn’t stick around for long!
Then we headed inside to see some of the animals that were more contained.  Sadly the lions were asleep so we didn’t get an “ROAR-ing” out of C.
It’s hard taking pictures with only one hand!
Admiring the sleeping lions
 
Bobcat’s 
 Jason and Charlotte and Lindsey with Carrington
The girls got a shoulder ride from their daddy’s on the way out of the safari exhibit!
We made our way over the rhino’s…
And then checked out the monkies! Charlotte loved that they were swinging right up to the windows!
Charlotte and Miss Lindsey looking at the gorilla
It was then time for a pit stop and so we grabbed a picture of all of the girls while we rested!
We then saw the flamingo’s and Lindsey almost got a hand full of feathers when one walked right underneath her hands!
After the flamingo’s we (at least I!) were pretty tired so we meandered back through the zoo to the entrance.  We then parted ways and traveled home. Charlotte loved the zoo and we were so glad that we got to take her and on such a beautiful day. I am also so thankful for such sweet friends like Lindsey and Natalie and so glad that we got an opportunity to get everyone together to visit for a few hours!  I hope we get to see each other again soon!
**As a very random sidenote, the title of this post is from a song that was in my kindergarten play where we went to the zoo.  It went “We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo! How about you, you, you? You can come too, too, too! We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo!” I had the huge roll (not!) of a street sweeper.  Good times.  🙂  But I can still sing some of the songs so I guess that’s something.  Did any of you happen to put on this play in elementary school?? 🙂
Charlotte, Family, Friends

Playgroup

We had playgroup last Friday at Nathan’s house.  It was fun to get out from under the mountains of laundry and dishes and socialize for a little while and Charlotte had a good time playing with her friends!  We’re up next to host for Halloween and I can’t wait!

Charlotte, Family, Friends

Playgroup

On Friday we had playgroup at Caroline’s house!  We haven’t been able to make playgroup since June so we were excited to see everyone.  The difference in Charlotte between last playgroup and this playgroup was amazing since last playgroup she was still crawling everywhere and this playgroup she was walking everywhere!  She was a little overwhelmed to be somewhere different with some many kids at first but she enjoyed playing with her friends! Thanks Caroline and Miss Kelly for having us over!

Charlotte and Caroline
Charlotte and Nathan
Like Mother, Like Daughter — Charlotte loved Caroline’s workbench! (It’s always been a dream of mine to get a real workbench with real power tools but for some reason no one will let me get one! They keep talking about losing fingers and arms and crazy things like that…)
I’m afraid they made a mess of Caroline’s playroom but they sure had fun!
Charlotte, Entertaining, Family, Friends

Happy Birthday Caroline!

Charlotte is 364 days younger than her best friend Caroline.  Kelly and I are hoping that the girls will grow up to be as good of friends as their Mom’s are.  And right now they definitely love each other!  Today we celebrated Caroline’s birthday with her family and friends.  She had an Abby Cadabby birthday party that was so wonderful!  Thanks Kelly, Tripp, and Caroline for including us in Caroline’s special day!

Kelly made Abby pigtails for the girls.  Charlotte was the only one that would keep hers on! This is hilarious since as soon as she realizes she has a bow in or hears the word bow she pulls her bow out.  But the Abby pigtails and her bow stayed in for a long time! She also loved Caroline’s Elmo doll! Charlotte loves Elmo’s World on tv and this doll as just the thing to keep her occupied since she was sleepy since she missed her afternoon nap for the party.
Kelly let the girls make wands.  Charlotte LOVED hers!
Tripp, Caroline, and Kelly
With my sweet little Abby-Charlotte
She’s definitely my child since she adores eating cake!
She’s annoyed that Daddy’s interrupting her cake eating for a picture.  But look how cute!!
Best friends!
When she finally realized we had put the pigtails on her head they were immediately taken off!
The four kids at the party — William, Caroline, Charlotte, and Kate.  Kelly, I’m sorry I didn’t get a better picture!
Happy 2nd Birthday Caroline!
Charlotte, Family, Friends

Kelly’s Birthday Dinner

If you read my blog last weekend you know that my best friend Kelly turned 30 on Sunday.  She was at the beach most of the week before and had to work on Sunday so we weren’t able to get together until Thursday night.  We had planning a couples trip to a fancy dinner but due to babysitter issues we ended up going somewhere decidedly less fancy and took the girls.  We still had a great time though!  We always enjoy getting together with them and especially enjoyed celebrating Kelly’s birthday!  And in case you missed it on Twitter or One Tale a Day, I got bangs this week!

The two cutest girls in the world!
Happy Birthday Kelly!
Family, Friends

Happy Birthday Kelly!

Today is my best friend, Kelly’s, 30th birthday.  In honor of her special day I thought I’d tell you 30 things about Kelly.

  1. She is a wonderful mother.  I couldn’t have survived the last two years (pregnancy and Charlotte’s first year) without Kelly’s advice and help.  Caroline is so lucky to have Kelly as a Mom.
  2. Kelly loves Ole Miss.  She spent six years of her life in Oxford and her blood runs blue and red.
  3. Kelly is superwoman.  Seriously.  She cooks AND cleans AND does the laundry AND takes care of Caroline AND leads a Bible Study for middle schoolers at church AND is on the Mission Council AND works part time AND is a great wife and friend.  She DOES IT ALL and does it all well!
  4. Kelly loves the beach.  She got back from a trip with her high school friends last night and has three more trips planned this summer.  I think she considered disowning me as a friend when she found out that I’m not really a “sand” kind of girl.  She got over it but I’m sure it still hurts her to think about.
  5. Kelly is the consummate hostess.  Her playgroups are like catered affairs with snacks for the kids as well as probably 10 different items for the adults and she bakes it all!  And if you need any further proof of her hostessing/decorating abilities check out our spread at the Grove last year for the Ole Miss/Alabama game!
  6. Kelly is smart! She is an amazing pharmacist and loves what she does!
  7. Kelly has great fashion sense! The cute clothes and shoes and jewelry and purses…. I have no words! She could make a garbage sack look put together!
  8. It cracks me up but Kelly is a reality tv junkie.  She’s not a fan of scripted shows but I bet she checks out every reality show that comes on at least once!
  9. Kelly is extremely thoughful.  Back in February when Charlotte was on her nursing strike and Luca was about to have surgery and everything felt like it was falling apart she took time one morning to bring me bagels and muffins and hot chocolate just to help brighten my day. 
  10. Kelly is athletic!  You (or at least I) find it hard to imagine that this blond haired, sorority girl was ever a vicious basketball player who fouled out of almost every game she played in but apparently she was!
  11. Kelly is passionate about her teams! I’ll never forget the first Ole Miss/Alabama game that we went to in Oxford.  Kelly was pregnant at the time (we didn’t know that though) and she stood up cheering and yelling the entire game in 4 inch heels! 
  12. Kelly is competitvie.  If you’re going to enter into a board game with her don’t do it lightly.  Be it Nerts or some type of Pictionary game that I can’t remember the name of or Puerto Rico if she’s playing she’s usually winning!
  13. Kelly loves pink.  I find it unusual when I see Caroline in something that isn’t pink.
  14. Kelly is a great cook.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s a last minute get together or if you’ve been planning it for weeks — if it’s at Kelly’s house the food is spectacular!
  15. Kelly has a great family.  Her parents and sister are so sweet and kind and generous.  We are so thankful and we’ve gotten to know them over the past few years.
  16. Kelly loves shopping….
  17. …but hates outlet shopping.  Weird, isn’t it?  I couldn’t believe it when we were at the beach last year and she wasn’t excited about the outlets.  It was kind of the same experience as #4 with me and sand only in reverse. 
  18. Technology stresses her out.  Thank goodness she has a computer scientist as a best friend! Haha!
  19. Kelly is a great planner without being OCD like me.  She knows how to plan but also knows when to not stress about the details.
  20. Kelly is pretty laid back.  From hearing her sister Lesley talk at Tripp’s birthday party Lesley might not agree but I love that Kelly can relax and have fun without worrying the details all the time.  She’s good at going with the flow when she needs to.  Or if shs’e really not laid back she sure can fool me!
  21. Kelly is a great decorator and has a beautiful home.  She decorates for each season and usually has a beautiful wreath on her door.  I always come home resolved to find a pretty wreath but can never find one that seems as pretty as hers!
  22. Kelly loves purses.  She gets a new one at least yearly and they are always so cute and trendy!
  23. Kelly loves God and His love shines through her.  She is kind to everyone and always demonstrates God’s love for others.
  24. Kelly is great at keeping in touch.  Case in point, she just went on a beach trip with a bunch of high school friends! I definitely don’t do that!
  25. I have always been so impressed at Kelly’s knack for social graces.  She always knows the right thing to say and is the best at getting out thank you notes as soon as something happens.  I always feel bad when I get one from her a day after something and I still haven’t written one from a month ago!
  26. Kelly loves Mississippi.  She might live in Alabama now but she will always be a Mississippi girl at heart.
  27. Kelly is willing to try new things.  Like snow skiing.  Even though she’s never been and she loves the beach she’s willing to give it a try next winter. 
  28. Kelly is a great gift giver.  She always finds something that is perfect for who she’s giving it to and she doesn’t even need help or ideas!
  29. Kelly is a wonderful friend.  She is all of these things listed and so many more that make her a wonderful, wonderful woman and friend.
  30. Kelly is 30 today! Please go wish her a happy birthday!