Surprise Day Trip

Yesterday the kids and I needed something to do for a while out of the house, so I thought I would take them to do something fun.  Originally, I had thought I would take them to a place called Kid's Depot and let them play indoors.. it wasn't until I was in town, that I changed my mind and we headed for the zoo!

Before our trip, the kids and I stopped at Wal-Mart to get a few things for a great day... they just didnt' know what I had planned yet. :)  We bought bread, lunch meat, a little Styrofoam cooler, ice, tons of Kool-Aid (Red & Blue) :), potato chips and of course some fruit snacks.

Payton just got too hot between the wal-mart exit and the car so he had to rest on the bag of ice. lol :)                                           

After I loaded the kids into the car... I packed the cooler, poured in the ice and we were on the road... that is until I thought the cooler fell over and the ice was falling out... so about 10 miles down the road we stopped again.  The cooler hadn't fallen over after all.. so we continued on for about a 1/2 mile and we stopped for one more bag of ice just in case... and some drinks.  Finally we were on the way again...

After about an hour of driving with those two munchkins we had finally made it to Lufkin, and the Ellen Trout Zoo.  Lol this was after yet another stop at the K-Mart for Off, since this is mosquito season and I had forgotten to get any at Wal-Mart earlier.  The kids were so happy to finally know what they're surprise was. 

                                                                          We sat and munched on our sandwiches and chips and drank Kool-Aid by the lake...  it always makes you feel good to eat lunch by a sign that says "Alligators Inhabit this 

 

  

After lunch, the Kids and I headed to the Zoo's train station. 

This is our view from the caboose of the train... (the most popular spot according to the conductor)

This is the train we rode

When the train ride was over.. we finally got to see some animals.  These are two Beautiful owls we saw.

After the owls we saw Payton's new favorite fascination ... SNAKES!  This was the Black Mamba.

Payton was so excited to see so many of the snakes he sees on Swamp Wars.

In the middle of the Zoo, they have an Angelina County Train.. of course the kids had to go tour it. :)

After the train, the kids and I headed off to see more animals... next up was a Porcupine, Raccoon, and the Jaguar.

The Jaguar was so sweet snoozin' in the sunshine... I think we were waking him up and he'd just roll over with an eye half open and go back to sleep.  :)

The kids were loving this little turtle

We thought this little squirrel eating up a bird's food in the feed bowl was pretty funny!

Adleigh wanted to ride this tortoise. lol . . . she said it was her pet.

After about an hour of wandering around the zoo.. it was time to again head north, because Adleigh had to attend Ballet lessons.   We didn't leave before visiting the gift shop.  

Adleigh had to have this stuffed lion.

And, what else would my little lover of snakes have but a four foot long snake... and 3-4 frogs and a pencil with a shark on it.  :D

 

              On the way home, Payton and I stopped by to visit Jake at the cemetery and take him all the new things we'd gotten him earlier in the week.

Jake's little grave after we added the bugs and heart to it with his Pinwheel.

All in all we had a really good day.    :)  I love those babies!!

  Mommy Love you Payton, Jake and keekee loves you Adleigh-Bear!!

To My Daddy:

                                   

Today my daddy celebrated his 25th Father's Day as a daddy and his 5th Father's Day as a Papa.

I adore my daddy.

This is why:

1.) He's the strongest Christian I know.

2.) He stands up for what's right... even when no one else does.

3.)  He's always here for me, even when he doesn't agree with me. :)

4.)  Because he's my daddy <3

5.) Because he's an awesome husband to my momma

6.)  He's an unbelievably great Papa to Payton, Jake and Adleigh

7.)  My daddy is an awesome reminder of how a true gentleman should behave and the true image of a cowboy

Those are just some of the reasons... I can give you trillions, just don't think you want to read them all!

I love thinking about my childhood... I was definitely a daddy's girl... on the weekends and in the summer we were always together.  We fed cows together, we went fishing together... I went with him to build fences, fix sprinklers, I sat in his lap while he cut and baled hay.  I remember being beside myself when my daddy started driving a commercial truck to haul milk when I was a freshman in high school.  That was the first time my dad had ever been away from home for any amount of time... I was lost.  I sat in class and cried.  Dad's been driving a truck for 10 years or so now, and I am used to it... however I do still miss him during the week when he is gone.  I am thankful for the time on the weekends we get to spend together. 

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Payton, Jake and I LOVE YOU !

A look inside... my purse that is!

Another lady from Garden Ridge, TX, posted a weekly blog game today about the contents of her purse. The only rules to this are that you can't clean it out ahead of time...
So here's mine:


My little brown purse

 

Next, is my worn out Liz & Co. Wallet

Then I came to lip gloss, a pen,and my student ID for college.

 Apparently,  I have a thing for lip gloss...

I have a secret stash of bribe candy for the kids.

I admit I have an obsession with ponytails... I'm sure you can tell from the 8 ponytail holders in my purse & 3 little clips.

Haha I also have a random Sheriff's badge, think I took out the spurs that go with it last week.

Of course, there's car keys, just they're not mine. Lol my mom borrowed my car and left me her keys!

I have a cute little cross ring tucked into a little pocket.

And, lastly, I had a little notebook for the random things I need to write down.

Jessica