FUN necklace!

So, y'all remember when I told you about that Blonde Ambition blog that I have been enjoying? Well, last week, she did a post about these adorable necklaces:


(they come in a BUNCH of different colors!)

And a link to the where you could find them for $19!!!!!  These little numbers usually are more like $50 at J. Crew.  So I ordered (two) and I can't wait to get them!

I guess the site had a huge response to her post, because they are now offering a giveaway on Blonde Ambition's blog.

But seriously, even if you don't enter the giveaway, you should go to and join GroopDealz they have some ADORABLE stuff for wayyyyyy cheap.  It's one of those sites where they send you a daily email with their deals, but I have already seen 4 different things I have wanted in the past few days. 

Anyway... just thought I would pass this little tidbit along... because I would like it if y'all shared little tidbits like this with me!!!

shop on.

Airport

Again, I am kicking myself for not signing Cal up for camp this month... but, instead of lamenting that fact, we are trying to get out and about doing something fun every day!

This past week, I decided to take the boys to the observation deck at RDU airport.  If you live locally, you should really do this with your kid. 

Driving there, my car said 101...nothing like playing outside when the thermometer is over 100! But, actually the deck is covered, so we were in the shade, and there was a breeze blowing, so it wasn't too bad at all. 

Cal LOVES watching the airplanes take off and land, and Andy, my wild one, just likes to go go go go go.  So he had fun walking around the deck... until he discovered the ramp at a slight incline that he could run down... no pictures of that one-- I was too busy diving to catch him. 

Anyway, there is a deck where you can see the airplanes, and then a little grassy spot with a "runway" set up for the kids to pretend on, and then there is a little sand pit with a jungle gym.  We did the deck and then pretended to be airplanes while running on the runway... then we were HOT and it was time to go.  We were there about an hour, but it was the perfect way to wear them out!  After we left there, we met some friends at Chick Fil A for lunch!

 Also, can I just comment here about their hair....

Cal sooooooo needs a hair cut! He actually got on this past Saturday-- don't worry! It was SUPER long, but I kinda liked it long....
Andy, on the other hand, we debate about constantly.  He has these curls... and in the humidity, they turn into spiral curls, in the back.  When his hair is dry, the hair looks normal.  But when we go to the pool, the curls straighten and his hair is down his back!
Cal had curls too, and when we gave him his first cut, they never grew back. 
I LOVE Andy's curls and I am not ready to cut his hair yet... but I think it might be time.  What do you think??
Eddie's mom is begging us to not cut it...so maybe we will wait until after she comes to visit in a few weeks....

look! I love to point!

sigh.  seriously???

my life!

 And later that afternoon, Eddie was out of town, so we went to dinner with mom and Jackson.  The boys had the best time together, and we decided to take a picture before going home.  Mom brought Jackson to our house for a bath in my big bath tub and some more play time.  They had a ball!

 See? We are surviving without camps!  But we are looking forward to having them next month!!! hahaha!

PS- I went to Target today to buy overnight diapers and swim diapers.  I left with a FULL cart... and no diapers.  How do you feel about that?

NC Zoo

This past Friday, my parents were going to take Cal and Jackson to the North Carolina Zoo. We thought Andy and I might like it too, so we all went! Cal and Jackson rode to the zoo with my parents, and Andy and I rode in my car.  Andy dozed off on the way there, so it was a very pleasant drive for me! I think Cal and Jackson argued the entire way there, so I can't say my parents' trip was as relaxing!

We got to the zoo bright and early and headed into the Africa section.  This zoo is HUGE-- I was stunned how large it is-- and it would take a full day to cover the place.  We knew the section for these boys to see was Africa. 

As much as Cal loves to run around, we still thought we should bring the stroller in case they needed a break, or if they wanted to have a snack while we pushed...

Just checking out the maps for us:

I had to go back and pull a few pics from the last trip to the zoo with gramma and grandpa.  The stroller pic above reminded me of this one below, from a year ago:

 We paused for a quick picture with all of the boys. 

 Next we were off to see all of the monkeys, gorillas, chimps, etc...

 But we had to pose with the statues before.  Just like we did last time!

this picture makes me want to cry-- cal looks so little!!!

 Jackson played on a soccer team this year (Cal was too young), and when we went to a game and they were short a player, Cal got to go in (he was in HEAVEN).  Since then, Cal refers to himself as "Soccer Star" (he's so modest).  My mom found this outfit at Costco-- super cool soccer shirt and shorts.  She got a few outfits (uniforms??) for Cal and then had to go back and get them for Jackson too.  The boys HAD to match at the zoo! This was their choice, I promise!

 I think the gorilla liked their bright shirts; he was staring at them constantly!

 After the gorillas, etc, we saw the sign for the dinosaurs.  We have seen the dinosaurs at the museum, and Cal really liked those, so I thought this might be fun to try.  When we first walked in, there was a dinosaur we could climb on for pictures...

Then you follow a gravel trail, where there are dinosaurs on each side... only these dinosaurs MOVE, and make noise...

 I tried to take pictures the whole way through, but Cal was NONE too excited about them moving! haha!

you can see the worker guy in the back watering something-- gives you perspective on how HUGE the things are

 Cal would hug the right side of the trail when looking at a dinosaur on the left, and then all of a sudden, there would be another one on the right, so he would go to the left.  He bounced back and forth the entire way through.  I know they scared him to death, but he kept saying how much he liked them!

 Little Nugget had fun too.  He LOVED the dinosaurs-- went crazy laughing watching them move all around. 

After the dinosaurs, we headed over to the elephants, and we let Andy out of the stroller then.  He was thrilled to get out and run away around. 

 Andy really liked pointing out the animals.  He would get really excited and squeal.

 My failed attempt to get a picture with the boys.  Oh well. Here is proof I was there!

 We let Andy play around a bit more before moving on...

We headed over to the rhinos next and they had some eggs you could climb in and on.  I love these of the boys...

After the rhinos, we had to take a picture in front of the jeep-- just like last time!

 

And then....
We went to see the giraffes.
And I can honestly say, I have never seen Andy act like this before...

 There was a big group of people gathered around to watch the giraffes come out, but when Andy went CRAZY wild screaming for the giraffes, all of the people turned their attention to him.  Seriously, it was the funniest thing ever.  He started pointing, then clapping, and screaming, and laughing and screaming some more.  UN. believable! I took a video of it...

This picture was taken after the giraffes were walking away.  The boys are waving bye to them, and Andy is spent after all of the excitement!

 It was such a fun day at the zoo.  I hope to go back again..maybe next year for more pictures!