Fall Trip to the Zoo

The other day the children were off school so I took them to the Zoo. We went with our friends the Shumards. Izzy slept most if the day. hopefully she enjoyed her first trip to the Zoo. Here are some pictures from that trip.

Kaylee and Siena singing to Isabel

http://youtu.be/-Hr3ghjVTd8

Here is a video of Kaylee and Siena singing to Isabel. Anytime Izzy cries Siena puts her dummy in her mouth and sings to her. I love it.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Tonight we took the children out for our weekly adventure. On Saturdays we always try to have a day full of family fun activities. During the summer we have started each saturday by swimming. We then come home for lunch and naps and then do something fun in the evening. This week we started with dinner at Texas Roadhouse. The kids love it there. I think they mostly love crushing peanuts and throwing the shells on the floor. Even Siena does it. Next we took them to see the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was put on by a local children's acting group. We all really enjoyed it. Spencer said it was BRILLIANT! Kaylee thought it was Really Good. Siena spent the first half eating M&M's and then jumping up
And down the steps. After intermission I took Siena into the hall so she could run around. All in all it was a really good night. The next play put on by this group is Charlie Browns Christmas. No doubt we will have to see that one too :-) I sure love my little family and the time we get to spend together. Every week I look forward to Saturdays because I know that those are our family fun days and we are always going to do something special together. I hope that even as the children get older they will look forward to Saturdays and spending time together as a family doing something we all love.

Aurora Jade Johnson

Lee's Sister, Justine, and her husband, Tristram, have been trying to have a baby for the past 5 or 6 years. It has been something they have longed for ever since they got married to be able to have a family of their own and I have watched the heartache they have felt having miscarriages and being unable to conceive. Well finally after they had exhausted pretty much every resource available to them they received a miracle. On August 21 2011 Aurora Jade Johnson was born. She is lovely and we couldnt be more happy for Lee's Sister and her Husband.

Dudley Zoo and Castle

Last weekend we decided we would go to the zoo and see the Castle in Dudley. The Zoo wasn't that great to be honest. I actually felt really bad for the animals but when we got to the castle I thought flippin heck this is awesome. The castle was built in 1070. There were loads of rooms where you could see what went on in those rooms. I am so fascinated with the history of it all. I said to Lee as we were walking around that I wish I had lived in that era... only of course if I was rich. I wouldn't have wanted to be one of the peasants. Anyway here are some of the pictures I hope that you enjoy them!

Our cutie pie! She is getting so big now days!

Isn't he just so handsome! He is really starting to push his limits but I love him so much!

They wanted to ride the penguin together and Siena always wants to be doing whatever Kaylee and Spencer are doing! Its so cute!

My little love bugs!

We took a small train ride up to the castle and Spencer laughed the whole way. He love it!

The castle and courtyard

I found this so cool that someone in 1826 sketched their name on the castle ruins too. How awesome. Plus look at the detail in their sketching. It must have taken them forever!

You could go inside the castle and they had a little museum set up. It was really cool!

Me and my babies!

Ruins from the outside.

We had such a fab day. I will miss this kind of stuff when we move back to the states. The history here you could never get in the US. But it will be fun to come back again on holiday and be able to be a tourist! In the meantime we will hurry and get as many things seen as possible! :)

Afternoon Walk

We enjoy going for a Sunday afternoon walk when the weather is nice. Well last Sunday it was LOVELY. So we decided at about 6pm to take everyone out for a walk. We had a lovely time. I forgot the camera, what else is new, so instead we used lee's phone for the pictures. I know I know we seem to be using our phones for pictures a lot lately. I cant help it. It is just so much more convenient. I promise to take the camera with us next time. It really does take nicer pictures! Enjoy!
The kids also like to climb trees and some of the trees near our house have low enough trunks that the kids can definitely climb them as much as they want.

Siena was enjoying the sunshine too. Trying to soak up some rays!

Of course we all need to take a break sometime and stop to smell the flowers. Man on Man did these roses smell amazing!

I love Siena's little toothy smile! she was so happy when I popped up in front of her to take the picture. This is pretty much the look I get every time I enter a room or when she notices me. I love it!

Yep I know she is only 7 and already has a total attitude. I love this little girl to bits but I am not too sure what I am going to do with her when she gets to be a teenager. She already knows it all!

They had buttercups and were checking each other and us to see if we all like butter... the verdict is yes. We all like butter :)

1st Family BBQ 2011

Spencer Loves Smores in fact in this picture he has one in each hand :)

Our beautiful Kaylee!! She loves smores too and roasting marshmallows! I cant believe my baby is getting so big.

Our Beautiful Siena. She has such blue eyes. I just love her to bits. She has bad croup at the moment and even though she is grumpy from time to time she is still such a blessing in our lives. I cant imagine life without her and thank goodness I dont.

Kaylee with the perfect roasted Marshmallow. Isnt she gorgeous!

My handsome Prince! I love you Spencer!

It wouldnt be a blog post about roasting marshmallows without my Knight in Shining Armour having a picture biting into a smore :)

Such a cutie!

She wanted to roast marshmallows but I thought she was a bit to young. Maybe next year!

We put the tent up for the kids to play in today too.

We normally buy a BBQ every year. But with our pending move back to the states (Shhhh Still cant mention in a true public form) we decided to make a homemade BBQ this year. Lee didnt think it would work. But after one time of cooking on it he was like that is the BEST BBQ EVER!! Im a frugal Genius ;)

My Boys watching the BBQ together. I love these two so much!

We love to BBQ at our home. Like no Seriously LOVE it. Tonight we BBQ'd and it was so much fun. One of our favorites is to roast marshmallows and make smores after dinner. So naturally that is what we did. We had a lovely time. Even Siena joined in.