Zoo with Daddy

On Saturday we went to the zoo with Brian.  We go there a lot (though this fall I always seemed to take just Rylan on Wednesdays when Carter had school) but we never go with Brian.  Carter was SO EXCITED to go (especially with Daddy).

It was a little cool but perfect weather for the animals to all be out and active.  (There are some gibbons playing in this exhibit even though it's hard to see them.)

One of the elephants was really close to us here.  You can see through the bushes right now and this girl was swinging her trunk around and scratching her ears and it was cool to watch.

We never ride the carousel when we go with our friends so it was a special treat to ride on Saturday.  The zoo was almost completely empty so we were the first riders of the day.  I think the attendant was bored because we got an extra long ride.

I guess it's been awhile since we've been on a carousel (only like 3 months!) because the boys were thrilled!

Walking with Daddy ...

The clouded leopard cubs have gotten so big since this summer when they were born.  They were having fun playing in the stream while we were there.

These two are just like our boys antagonizing one another!

Christmas Cookies

One day after school last week, the boys and I made sugar cookies.  I made the dough while they were at school so it was ready to go when we got home.

Rylan was into it for a few cookie cut-outs (notice he's holding a banana while doing it though - he's practicing multi-tasking).

Carter did most of the cookies.

He put sprinkles on 2 of the 3 pans.  All of his cookies had both red and green sprinkles on them.

Carter refused to eat any of the cookies with only one color (the ones I did).

We finally got through all the cookies yesterday, just in time to make more for Santa in a couple of days!

Celebrity Sighting

I had my second celebrity sighting since we've moved to Nashville today (my first was Niki Taylor).

People have been telling me since Carter started preschool last year that Luke Bryan's kids go to our school.  They would say he often brings his kids to school so I've probably seen him several times.  I had no idea who that was and always forgot his name as soon as it was mentioned.  I finally looked him up this year when I remembered his name.  He has 2 boys about the same ages as our kids.

Oh, and if you don't know who he is, he's a country musician who recently won some American Music Awards and American Country Awards so I'm guessing he's pretty well known by those who listen to country???

Anyway, I parked next to a huge pickup truck with huge tires that was covered in mud.  I was wondering who picks their kids up in that sort of truck when I remembered about Luke Bryan.  So the driver and I were loading up our kids at the same time and I figured the guy looked somewhat like Luke Bryan.  Then he called one of his kids by his name (Bo) and I had confirmation.

I honestly don't get star stuck, mostly because I never recognize anyone (besides, I couldn't tell you any of this guy's songs) but I just thought I'd share!

Thumbprint Ornaments

Last year the boys and I made snowman ornaments using their handprints and reindeers using their thumbprints.

This year we made penguins, snowmen, and reindeer using thumbprints (and I attempted to paint on the detail but my brush was too big and so these could definitely look better - oh well).

Thanksgiving

Since it's only a week until Christmas, it's probably about time I post about Thanksgiving!

We spent the holiday in Raleigh with Brian's parents and uncle and my mom, sister, and brother-in-law.

After Carter and I ran the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, we helped get food prepared and cooked.  As usual, we fried a turkey, so we got to spend some time outside where it had warmed up a lot by midday!

Carter got a new Stomp Rocket for his birthday from one of his friends and we had brought it along. 

There was traditional-style stomping ...

And then a little help from Uncle Dale (Cinda's brother).

Dale's a bit of a troublemaker :)  Besides teaching Carter how to give wet willies, he also showed him a new way to shoot the Stomp Rocket.

Luckily this is the Junior version and it doesn't hurt!

Brian had his normal job of managing the turkey fryer.

He did great!  Not overdone at all - the turkey was falling apart on it's own.

As soon as food being ready was mentioned, the boys went to the table and waited as the turkey was carved.

Rylan tried to sneak in a bite or two!

We didn't do too much the rest of the long weekend.  On Friday my sister and brother-in-law left around lunch and Brian, my mom, and I took the kids to a park.

Carter was really good at climbing this huge maze of ropes.  Rylan climbed some too but I wouldn't let him get out of my reach.

After playing for awhile, we found a letterbox in the park.  We were at Walnut Street Park which is only a year or two old and a really nice little park.

On Saturday, we went to the North Carolina Museum of History.  First though, we had breakfast.

"You've got a little something on your face, Buddy."

This was the first time we'd taken the kids to this museum.  It's across from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences which we've gone to with them a few times and is also free to the public

Carter really liked the dugout canoe.

And liked the canon even more.

Rylan loved pressing the buttons on this exhibit and making the train make sounds.

Military guys ...

And part of a postcard ...

Before leaving we found a replica dugout canoe and Carter practiced rowing.

We drove back to Tennessee on Sunday and luckily didn't hit any bad traffic.  We also made it in about 2 hours less time because Carter requested way fewer potty breaks and the boys slept a lot more - always good!