Long Time No See "Blog Neglecter"

So, maybe I'm not cut out to be a blogger.  Christmas was a long time ago.  We've had Anna Beth and Sammy's birthday, New Year's, Valentines Day, a mini Nashville vacation, lots of fun stuff and not so fun stuff, and now we are up-to-date with Spring Break.  What better way to spend Spring Break than a day at the zoo.  I took two days off at the end of the kids' Spring Break.  We chose Thursday for our zoo day.  Good thing, cause it rained on Friday.  We headed out with our first stop at Chick Fil A for chicken minis.  The drive to the zoo was filled with conversation and teaching the kids about Holy Week.  I went through the days starting with Palm Sunday.  The kids know the story well of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowd waving palm branches and saying "Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"!  I explained Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper as well as Jesus praying in the garden.  Then on to Good Friday and the crucifixion and then the Resurrection.  Nothing thrills me more than telling my children about Jesus, even more when they are able to tell the story back to me and know that it is truth and not just a story.  I've prayed like a mad woman for their salvation and will be one proud Mommy (and a blubbering mess) the day they walk the aisle to experience salvation for themselves.

Now, on to the zoo!!!

This picture makes me laugh!!!

Spring is taking its sweet time this year!

                                                                                                                     

She wanted to know if she looked like a teenager.  I chose not to answer.

Rece has a love for maps...we usually stop at every single map at the zoo.  :) 

I love this kid.  This is what I get when I ask him to "say cheese".  I'm thinking he looks a tad bit like his Daddy.

And...last but not least, the squirrel in the garbage can.  We watched him dive in and out of there.  Must have gotten some good picnic leftovers!

We also saw the new Sting Ray Bay exhibit.  All of those pics are on my iPhone (I'm sure I'll end up putting them on Facebook).  It was very wet and splashy in there and I was just a little leery of my camera getting wet or ending up on the back of a sting ray!

Easter is Sunday.  I love reflecting on what God did for us in sending His Son and reflecting on Jesus so willingly sacrificing His life.  I'd like to say I will have an Easter post with lots of pics coming soon.  Don't hold your breath!!

XOXOXO~ The Billings

Wordless Wednesday

  ~~ XOXO~ The Billings

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

I remember a lot of things about my childhood.  One thing I do not remember is wearing my Halloween costume multiple times for multiple Halloween festivities.  Ours started this year on Friday night when we went to a Halloween themed birthday party.  Next was Sunday.  We went to Mr. Greg and Ms. Lindsey's church for their fall festival and trunk r treat.  I took this picture right before we left.  Rece decided instead of wearing his Hulk costume he wanted to wear a super cute alligator costume that we borrowed from Aunt Diane.  Sammy decided that instead of wearing his Power Ranger costume, he would wear Rece's Hulk costume.  Anna Beth LOVES her ballerina costume- no changing her mind.  But...she was already cold and that was just the beginning. 

This is what happens when I say "move in closer and put your arms around each other".

   

      Hmmmm...is he a frog or an alligator???

TRUNK R TREAT!!

Cutest alligator ever!!

Ms. Lindsey had the coolest car!  Looking back at this picture, Rece looks so tired- He had a yucky tummy bug for several days after this.  Poor gator!

The Hulk playing putt putt

Ballerina playing putt putt

This craks me up!  You can't see Rece's face so it looks like Brian is helping a little alligator play putt putt.

Rece wore his costume to school on Tuesday, but I had to pick him up early because he wasn't feeling well.  He was feeling better on Wednesday so we let him go trick r treating (at a safe distance to not share any germs!) AB and Sammy got to wear their costumes to school too.  So, counting the birthday party, trunk r treat, school and Halloween night- they got to dress up FOUR times!!  I'd say thats a pretty good Halloween!

So glad that my kids have such a fun daddy who plays and acts silly with them.

I love this picture of the kids trick r treating.

Now..on to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays!!!!

XOXOXO The Billings

A full day of family fall fun!!

So I know I've been MIA lately.  Things around the Billings' Household have been busy, busy, busy! 

We did manage to enjoy a day of family fun this weekend.

For the past few years we have gone with my parents to the Reelfoot Fall Festival/Arts & Crafts Fair. This year Aunt Sherry went with us. We have always enjoyed it, and this year we had tons of fun again!!

We walked over and saw the eagles, owls, and hawks.

We walked along the boardwalk to the lake.  The kids always love this part!  They make me a little nervous cause they want to run ahead of us. 

Notice anything strange here?  Yes, if you noticed that Anna Beth has on JEANS, then you guessed right!!!!

This might be my favorite picture from the entire day.

Not sure what Anna Beth is doing here.  Yes, Sammy's face is black.  He's Batman!!!

So after we walked around the festival and the kids were all worn out from walking, we drove up to Kentucky and waited on the ferry....

We drove our cars onto the ferry. We ran into a friend of mom's from work (Ms. Phyllis), and her daughter and grandkids decided to join us on the day of fun!  Boy- did we have fun!

It was a little chilly riding the ferry.  We all eventually sat in our cars.  Btw- it is a very wierd feeling to sit in the car and know that you are moving, but the car isn't actually moving. 

Our next stop:  Diebold Orchard and Greenhouse.

This is the second time we have gone here to stock up on pumpkins and mums  They have an amazing variety of pumpkins and the biggest mums you have ever seen, not to mention the best prices!

This little matey couldn't wait to get to "pumpkin city"

Next Stop:

Does anyone drive through the bootheel of Missouri and not stop at Lamberts??  I think not!

Waiting....

Playing....

tuckered out pirate

Caught Grand-Daddy off guard, but how bout that okra?!?!

And last but not least, it wouldn't be a trip to Lamberts without this....

We all ate several rolls and stuffed our bellies full of yummy food.  It was a great day all around!!

XOXO~The Billings