Zoo pictures & Fun Factory

As promised, here are the pictures from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. You could feed the animals that you could touch (although they didn't tell us that in the beginning & Josh got in trouble for throwing food to the monkeys. But all they told us in the beginning was that you could feed any animal that wanted it. The monkey was banging on the cage wanting it. Oh well, we will know if we ever go back). We fed rabbits, deer, goats (which were very aggressive), & ducks. Hannah even fed some of the animals. It was a fun way to end a great vacation.






This is the ride home. Emily & Hannah were both sound asleep!



Last Thursday, Kim, Jennifer, & I took our kids to play at Fun Factory in McCalla. They had a blast. Hannah went right along with all the other kids. She was climbing, jumping, and running. She had a GREAT time but was worn out by the time we left! I only got pictures of Hannah & Levi together. They are two peas in a pod. They fight like crazy but don't let Kim or Paul get on to Levi or Hannah will be there to defend him. The same goes for Levi. He doesn't like to see Hannah in trouble. The funny thing is that they are usually in trouble for being mean to each other. We call it a love-hate relationship. Enjoy the pictures of the two monkeys! (By the way, I know Hannah looks funny jumping but she has not quite mastered this skill yet.)






Now it is my time to brag about my husband! I am so proud of him! I don't talk about him much on here but I am so lucky to have him. Today he began his work as a deacon in the Church. He is such a good man & everything I have prayed for since I was a teenager. He is a hard worker & I know he will work hard as he always has to serve the church. Josh, I am proud of you and hope you know how much I love you!!!

Okay, now a funny story about tonight. Some of us went to eat at Quizno's. I got the Sammie's meal that included 2 Sammie sandwiches, a side item, & a drink. I wanted my side item to be a side salad. I pay and am waiting on the girl to finish fixing my meal. She says I can't give you a side salad because we do not have a bowl to put it in. We ran out of those bowls. I am looking at her like she is joking and say "you can't put it in another container?" "No." I am thinking this has to be a joke. I asked her if she would put it in a soup bowl & the answer was no. She refused to give me a side salad. I settled for chips. I am still puzzled as to why this would have been such a great challenge to find another bowl similar to the size of the side salad but it made for a good laugh. Hope everyone has a great holiday tomorrow. Don't forget to remember those who fought for our freedom. They payed a great price so we could live in the comfortable lives we have today!

The Beach

My cousin, Josh got married this weekend in Gulf Shores. We had the privilege of going to the wedding and staying a few days! My mom & dad rented a house that was across the street from the beach and we all stayed in the same house. We had a lot of fun! We left Thursday late afternoon around 4:00 and got to the house around 10:30. I know that was a long trip but we got in Birmingham traffic. Plus, a baby has to make a few more stops than normal. My niece, Emily rode with us too. After we got to the house we unloaded our stuff and walked to the beach. We caught crabs and dodged jelly fish. We didn't stay too long ~ it was way past Hannah's bedtime. Josh, Kyle (my brother), & my dad went on a 6 hour fishing trip the next day. When all the girls got up it was coming a huge storm. It was raining very hard, lightning, thunder, & lots of wind. So we were just left to pray that our husbands weren't getting caught in the storm but apparently they were. A water spout hit their boat and Kyle was almost thrown overboard twice! They were all sore from trying to hold themselves onto the boat. Josh got sick a while and they were drenched! They loved it though and caught a lot of fish. The girls had planned on spending the day at the beach but it was so stormy and rainy that we weren't able to. So, what is the next best thing to the beach? That is right ~ shopping! We did some souvenir shopping ~ I am a nerd and LOVE souvenir shops! After we left there, we ate at Cracker Barrel and then went to the Tanger Outlet Mall. I got some great deals at Aeropostle. We shopped for a while there, went to Target, and then went back to the condo to meet up with the boys. They were ready to eat as soon as we walked in the door, so we went to Lambert's (Home of the thrown rolls). After we ate, there was still a little daylight left so we went to the beach. Hannah LOVED the water! She was not scared at all. She would have ran right in it by herself if I would have let her. Since it was dark the night before, this is her first look at the ocean. She was so excited!



She would sit in the sand and let the water hit her from all sides. I thought she would have bruises on her arms I was holding her so tight! This is Emily holding her while she is happily anticipating another wave!



You can see how excited she was for the waves to hit her!



We played a while at the beach and then we went back to the condo to take showers. Hannah had pockets full of sand! We decided to stay at the condo and play games the rest of the night. Jan & I decided to make a run for some ice cream. We were on the way back and I am driving along when I see blue lights in the other lane and a policeman swerve around and pull up right behind me! OH GREAT! So I pull over and was given a warning for doing 50 in a 35! Whew! That was close! We get back to the condo and Josh is laughing at me. Saying he usually doesn't speed with cops around, blah, blah, blah. About an hour later, he leaves to go fishing and low & behold, guess who gets pulled over by the same cop?! Yep, he pulled him over for running a red light. Josh says it was yellow. The cop thought it was me again but was surprised to see Josh in the driver's seat. He gave him a warning too. It was funny! The next day we got up and went to the beach. Kyle & Josh fished & we played along the shore. The water was really rough! Josh caught a sting ray & people were lined up along the beach watching him reel it in. We went to eat hot dogs and birthday cake for Clay & Emily's birthday.

"The Great White Fisherman!"

Hannah running right toward the water!



Amy (my sister) & Hannah

After lunch and cake, we went to decorate for the reception. Then it was time for the wedding! I have never been to a beach wedding but it was gorgeous. Although, very windy! Lindsay was a beautiful bride! Everything went great. At the reception, Hannah was the life of the party. She danced and danced. She had so much fun! Unfortunately there was no bird seed, only bubbles. Josh, Kyle, & Adam did get him and poured bubbles all over him. I guess we got revenge from our wedding :0)



The love of my life! (Both of them)



The wedding!



Our family!



Bradley, Emily, Clay, & Hannah

Sunday we went to church. Then we ate at Sea ~n~ Suds. Hannah started feeling bad. (She is still sick) Mom stayed with Hannah and let me go to the beach. We spent another hour at the beach. Then I stayed with Hannah and everyone else went to church. Josh brought food home. We ate then he went fishing (do you see a trend with Josh? :0) He really likes to fish & did every night until 1 & 2 in the morning.) Monday we got up and loaded everything in the car. Josh, Hannah, Emily, & I went to the zoo then headed home. We got home around 6:00 yesterday. I will post the zoo pictures a little later. It takes too long to load them on here. I am taking Hannah to the doctor in a little while. I think she may have an ear infection. It may just be a cold but I want to make sure. Since she has run fever since Sunday & has the same symptoms as the last time she had an ear infection! Anyway, Josh & Lindsay are married and we had a great time. I can't wait to go back in July with the Courington family!

Graduation Banquet & Happy (Belated) Mother's Day

Saturday night we had the graduation banquet for the seniors at church. Since Jasmine is graduating this year the whole Courington clan was there. We got a picture of all of us together. This was not an easy picture to take. Three cameras were pointing at us and some of us are looking in different directions but this is the best one that I got. (Sorry it is a little dark) Not a bad looking bunch! :0)


Mother's Day was Sunday. Happy Mother's Day to my mom & Susan! I have the best mom & mother-in-law in the world! They are both godly women and would do anything for their families! Thanks for all you do for us. Josh got up Sunday morning and got breakfast for me. I slept as late as possible since I was up the night before until 3:00 am watching the storms. (They were going all around us but I was scared to go to sleep - I am a scaredy cat) Anyway they bought me flowers and the new Carrie Underwood cd. It was just what I wanted!

Hannah giving me a hug for Mother's Day. The best present I got all day!!


The beautiful roses my sweet husband bought for me!

My mom sent this email to me and I thought I would share.

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up vomit saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars.

And that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college ~or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?

The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation... And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us...

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them, pray, and never stop being a mom.

HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE GREAT MOMS AND MOMS-TO-BE!