Zoo Adventure

sorry, my camera was out of focus for a while. We got a lot of pointing all day.











We went to go see the animals yesterday at the Little Rock Zoo, and although it was sweltering hot, we had such a good time! Mammers joined us and we were so glad she did! David Franklin liked the animals a lot but he really liked them far away, when the donkey got too close for instance, he would say "no, no" and back away and he politely declined the camel ride. He was mostly in amazement the entire day and mom and I would ask each other, what do you think he's thinking right now? He truly enjoyed the barnyard animals the most and got most excited and on his very tippy toes to see.... the chickens. Not nearly as impressive as the giraffes in my book, but that's what he liked. He would try to cock-a-doodle-doo to them and it was hilarious!

We saw, monkeys (probably his favorite exotic animal), giraffes, elephant, lions (another fave), anteater, antelope, rhino, gorilla, orangutans, chimpanzees, flamingos, zebras, donkeys, prairie dogs, goats, bears (which went to the bathroom right in front of the glass so now he says "bears- poopoo." We also got to ride the Choo Choo train and that was another hit!

We came home and were so hot and pretty worn out. The Barnetts invited us for a boat ride on their new boat. We just went in our clothes because I thought it would just be a cruise and I was to tired to put on my suit honestly. DF was in his though and I thought he could just swim with Meggie or Brenda if he wanted to get in. Well, he wanted to get in, but he only wanted his Mama in the water. What's a girl to do but jump in the lake, fully clothed and swim with her baby?! It actually felt GREAT after being so hot at the zoo.

Yesterday was one of those days, one that go down in the books. Watching his wonderment and discovery of the world was like seeing things for the first time myself, only better! It was a great day to start off our long weekend and our summer together.

New favorite toy

Here is the current favorite toy- the one that has DF pulling us out of bed at 6:30 to go ride. And his sweet daddy obliged. He loves to ride his "bicycle" but, I think before 7 am is a little much.

Summer is here!

We're having a heat wave, or maybe it's here to stay but regardless-
it's HOT! We've been trying to stay cool by getting in the water.
We've been taking boat rides (DF's ultimate favorite, and ours too), he says "boat" constantly. Sunday afternoon was our first dip in the swimming pool this year. He wanted to stay pretty close to the steps at first but in no time he was kicking his legs and jumping off the side! The Franklin Bass family loves the water and the outdoors and we are so thankful our little man-pie does too.

Chuck E Cheese

Last Friday night we met Blaine and her crew at Chuck E Cheese. It was our first time to go (since I was a kid and called Showbiz.) David and I had a double birthday party there, and sadly I don't think much has changed in those 20 years. The pizza was not the best and the whole place was looking a little run down to me but we had fun nonetheless.

DF was pretty unsure at first and velcroed to my side but little by little he warmed up and really liked the basketball, soccer, and duck games.

This is our family photo that we took in a photo booth. Pretty funny stuff.

Mr. Mom

My little helper does so much around the house these days. It isn't child labor because he's very expensive and he makes a much bigger mess than he helps clean up each day. He learned to spray himself in the face with the water out of the refrigerator and thinks that is great fun, take the dirt out of the pots, color on the floor, etc. But it's sure refreshing to watch his excitement in getting to do the day to day chores than can seem so mundane.

Here are the chores he really attempts to help with:
-sweeping
-vacuuming
-feeding the dog
-watering the plants
-check the mail
-loading/unloading the dishwasher
-loading/unloading the dryer
-he loves to cook (if only I would do it more often)

We don't let him touch the trash obviously, and he is dying to get outside with dada and the mower, but it is a push so he won't be joining in on that one either for a while.

So now we have a contributing member of this family who pulls his own weight :) I hope he thinks chores are this much fun when he's 12!

Happy hour

Everyone loves a little Sonic Happy Hour! I ordered him the nonfat
smoothie but he preferred my cherry limeaid chiller with whip cream on top- who can blame him?!

He is smiling so big because I'm telling him he's making a mess. That thrilled him- all BOY!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the special mothers in my life! My mom,my MIL, grandmothers, Leslie, and all of my momma friends! Mothers are so special and their love is like no other. I'm thankful to have known such love. I'm also grateful and very blessed to be a momma myself. It's such an honor to be David Franklin's mother. This is what he made for me at church this morning. I also have some special prizes from his school that will be framed immediately.

I know this day holds pain for mothers who have lost a child, or are still longing for a child. I also know it must be hard for those without their mothers today. Remembering you all today.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Today is cinco de mayo and we are celebrating with an afternoon on the lake! I'm so excited about a boat ride! The lake is by far, my favorite amenity of our town. I gave my finals yesterday and we are in full summer mode at our house! I got a new life jacket for DF and he has the opposite affection for it from last year... He LOVES it and doesn't want to take it off. He even wore it when we walked the dog
yesterday. I'm sure the neighbors think we are nuts! He was carrying 2 sticks, chasing his dog in a life jacket at 3:30 pm waving at every car. (we don't live on the lake). He got some big grins from the people in the cars.

He wants to read books first thing in the morning. We usually get him up, and give him his milk in our bed each day. (That gives us extra snuggle time with him, and who am I kidding, we aren't ready to get up ourselves yet). This was reading number 6 of Fifteen Animals, and it was 7:15.

As I was rounding the bend on the trail I was walking yesterday, this is what I saw. The song playing on my iPod was How Great is our God. Perfect song for looking at how greatly God has blessed me with my boys.

18 month check up went great. He got a wonderful report. The doctor actually said he's very smart. He said with his big curiosity and little fear we really need to watch him closely. He also said for a male his age, his vocabulary is very progressive.

He jumped up in percentile in height and stayed the same in weight.
33 inches long
26 lbs and 11 oz in weight
18 inches around his head