The zoo!

The Friday of Memorial Day weekend, Brett took the day off, so we loaded up and headed to the Dallas Zoo! I was worried it was going to be super crowded, being it was the start of the holiday weekend and one of the last Fridays of the school year, but we showed up early and beat the crowd. Thank goodness!

These pictures pretty much speak for themselves

Elephants!

We were able to get thisclose three giraffes

My boys!

It is nearly impossible to have Jameston look at the camera and smile when we ask him to...as you can see in these above and below pictures

At least he is semi-smiling :-)

Headed to take the tour of the African Safari

JW wanted to have a seat to himself...too cool to sit with his parents!He changed his mind quickly, though

After the tour, we headed to check out the tigers. Our little fella made quick friends with another little observer See any resemblances? :-)

Jameston was enamoured with the lion, or "yi-on" as he calls them He had a great time, so we plan on getting the family pass next year!

Pool time!

On Sunday before the storms, we headed to our community pool for the first time to catch a break from the humidity. Here is JW leading the way!

Testing the water--He was hesitant at first, but then...

he splashed to his heart's content!

And soaked both of his parents in the meantime :-)

Oh, and he got an idea from an older boy who was there (probably a 7-year-old, who was in the kiddy pool?!) that he was big enough to jump in. Let's just say I was not too thrilled with the idea, but he loved it! As long as we make sure he jumps forward instead of up...

READY,

SET,

GO!!

Now, that's better...

My handsome fellas (there is Jameston splashing again :-)

He had a grand ole time!

Headed home!

I am predicting many, many great memories to be made at the neighborhood pool in the years to come!

Playground time!

So, I have been a slacker when it comes to taking pics at the playground lately. This little fella gives me a good workout while we are there, so having a camera on me (and being able to get him to slow down enough to take a pictures) is kinda difficult. But I managed to get a few the other day!

Planning his course of action!

Fun!

Cutie pie

"Wee!" He always gravitates toward the "big kids' playground" (for ages 5-12), as we call it, so this was a "Mommy and Me" moment :-)

Headed home and helping MiMi with the wagon

Trying to get in a lot of playground trips before the triple digits come around and stay for awhile!

Like father, like son

Jameston loves "helping" his Daddy with work around the house. Brett has been busy doing some things now that he's not working 24/7. These tasks include building a compost and rebuilding our fence---seriously, the guy never rests.

Since JW likes his Daddy's tools, we decided to get him his very own (much more light-weight and safe) tool kit. Best $7 I ever spent!

Here's to more handiwork around the house, provided by our little guy :-)

Patience is a virtue...

Which I am not virtuous in. I have learned over the past month that I need to work on my patience. Therefore, I am praying for it daily.

In the six plus weeks since we found out that we miscarried, my body has taken it's time getting back on track. Let's just summarize it up and say my hormone levels are still higher than they need to be (i.e., my body still thinks I'm pregnant). For most women it takes about two weeks to physically recover, some it takes longer. And I happen to be in that last category...this scenario makes me on edge even more, as I want so badly to add to our family.

When I get upset, I just have to remind myself to take a deep breath (many, many deep breaths) and sit back and relax and know that God has a plan. I had a friend say that in these tough times, it is really hard to understand and accept that fact, not knowing what His plans are. It may not be until years down the road when we look back and say, "Ah, this is why. He wanted this for us."

Last Sunday our preacher spoke directly to my heart when he taught on patience. He said that we need to understand that the work God does in a person's life does not happen overnight, and that we need to reflect on the amazing patience that He has with us. So hard to realize in today's culture when we want everything to happen fast. Like right now. Thank you, Gordon, for reminding me of God's love for me, especially when I do not understand what is going on.

And so, over the last month, I have sought God's word ever more. At this time I am praying the following:

"I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Mother's Day weekend

We had one fun, very busy weekend. It all began on Friday, my day off. Cousin Aspen joined us for the afternoon while my sis had to work. At just over three months apart in age, I predict these kiddos are going to have LOTS of fun in their future! "Can you hear my now?" Pretty girl: Friday night we headed out to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie for Brett's company's "End-of-Busy-Season" event. Although Brett's not quite out of the woods yet with his hectic schedule, it was nice to celebrate, as a family, his hard work.

So sweet!Jameston is OBSESSED with horses and proudly exclaimed, "Nay!" probably 50 times while we were there. He was also the center of attention with all of Brett's co-workers. We learned that night that our little boy can sure ham it up!!My boysThen Saturday we headed out to Royse City to see the other local Winters' family. The ladies played volleyball while the guys grilled out. The kids had fun running around, playing on the swing set and being pulled in a wagon by the tractor. Good times! We were too busy chasing them around outside to get any pictures :-(

Big cousin love from Riley before we headed homeSo precious! Maddox, Riley's cousin on her Mommy's side, loves having another little boy around

After church on Sunday we headed to the Arboretum. We enjoyed Sonic burgers (and a cherry Coke Zero for me) and the beautiful scenery and weather! My kind of afternoon :-)

Sporting his Sponge Bob band-aid. He reopened the cut above his eye while going down the slide on Saturday afternoon. Poor guy, but he did a great job keeping the band-aid on (Mommy had to wear one on her face so that he would, too :-)Melts my heart...JW attempting to smell the flowers. Such a boy! The best shot of several...love my lil guy!

He was too distracted by the bunny to look forward... Although it was close to nap time, he ran all over the place. We could hardly contain him long enough for a picture! As of Sunday we decided that summer has officially arrived! Because it was such a hot day, Jameston got to ride home in his birthday suit (plus diaper) and enjoyed some of Daddy's Strawberry Limeade. We had such a wonderful weekend, it was SO hard to return to work on Monday :-( Brett also spoiled me with cooking dinner on Sunday night, going to the grocery store with the little guy while my mom, sis and I enjoyed a movie that afternoon, and he and Jamseton made some home-made cards. He even taught JW how to say, "Happy Mommy Day!" Over the last several months I have really realized just how blessed I am to be a mom. I wish every day was Mother's Day with my guys!

"Am-mulls!"

Jameston has become even more talkative as of late. He is OBSESSED with animals, or "am-mulls" as he so aptly calls them. Here is a video from last week that I meant to upload sooner (I am SO BAD at uploading videos to blogger because it takes FOREVER!! If anyone has any tips, please help a girl out :-) So, without further ado...

It was hard for me to recall all of the ones he knows while I'm filming. It takes concentration to sound that nerdy on the recorder! I forgot one of his favorites, duckies, and one of mine and his daddy's favorites to hear him say, "RIBBIT," (oh, and his longest-running animal sound of monkeys; they are all over his room!) in this first video.

Here is another good one (although he hits his head :-( And although you can hear the water draining in the background...we say, "Good-bye" to the water as it drains, so I guess that is why he kept saying it in the video? Oh, and the butterfly band-aid is from a head-on collision he had with the master bathroom cabinet. It scared us more than him. I had to wear a band-aid on my face all day so he would do the same. Love this age, love this boy!

Now if I can keep uploading just a few of the MANY videos we take of the lil guy...next up, one on his sports vocabulary. Daddy's proud!