The Zoo, a Wedding, and much FUN!

Friday morning Lena Kate and I went to the zoo with Aunt Amy, Cousin Charles, and Mimi and Papa. I think LK's family enjoyed the zoo more than she did. She snoozed most of the time, but would wake up with screaming school kids were in the area....the zoo was crawling with field trippers. I guess that is what we have to look forward to. Charles is really loving animals these days so he had a great time. It was also fun to see how interested in the animals Dad was. Zoos remind you that animals are exciting for children of all ages as well as how beautiful and unique all of God's creatures are. We stayed until about noon when the sun decided to come out. It was HOT. There is nothing like Texas weather. It was 90 degrees on February 27th. Gotta love it. Lena was too hot to eat under a cover and not happy with mom trying to get her to. This is when I decided it was time to go. She went about 6 hours without eating. This was an awfully long time for a growing little girl...but she didn't seem to want to fuss about hunger. I made sure I fed her as soon as we got home. She was a happy camper and made up for the missed meal over the next few hours.

This grizzly was showing off.


Charles was having a good ol time checking out the bears.


Gotta love the monkeys!


Papa staying young. I love this pic.


Hold on to the ears--ouch! I'm not sure who was staring harder.


There is nothing like picking bugs off your significant other's behind. Oh the things we will do for love. On a side note, this couple's baby isn't big enough to be stopped by the cages so he made an attempt at escape when we were at his exhibit. He jumped out pretty much in the crowd. The zoo keeper yelled, "Get back in there!" and he did...quickly. They have a history. He just hangs out by his cage most of the day to ensure he stays in....most of the time. It was crazy fun!




This is what LK thought of the zoo.


This bird was cool


Friday afternoon we went to the wedding rehearsal and dinner. We had a wonderful time and great Mexican food dinner at La Fogata. Lena Kate was such a good girl. She was passed around from family member to family member and as long as somebody had her in their arms she didn't mind at all. We are fortunate that we can just pack her up and take her along without worrying too much about having a fussy baby. Friday night we had Lane's best friend/cousin Chili and his wife (Carla), mother (Trudy), and brother (Judson) all stay with us. We had a nice visit on the porch Friday night before the cold front blew in overnight. It was wonderful to get to spend a little extra time with this crew.

Hangin with Daddy at the rehearsal dinner


"Uncle Chili"


Saturday was the big wedding day. Lane was the best man and I was a bridesmaid. We had a wonderful time and the wedding went off without a hitch. Nancy was a beautiful bride and now she is "officially" Aunt Nancy. Lena Kate could not be more excited...neither could the rest of us for that matter. Lane wrote a witty poem to toast their marriage which we all enjoyed. I think he really surprised his family with his witty writing skills. Apparently they didn't recall all of his writings in her younger days. He shared with me that he used to write all the time. I was proud of him. He looked like a well versed MC up there. Trent and Nancy are now off to Puerta Vallarta for their honeymoon so we are dog sitting the two chihuahuas - Rita and Ellie. So far so good, although Rita likes to scratch on the door and whine in the middle of the night...ugh. She goes back to sleep soon after. This is nothing we can't handle for the week. I'm not sure if Missy is too happy to have house guests though. She doesn't think it is nice that we won't let her eat "the girl's" food. Our chubby dog has a one track mind - GIVE ME FOOD! She'll survive. She and Rita like to play on occasion. Poor Lane is surrounded with "women" this week. On a serious note, we are so blessed to have Nancy join the family. We love her and are happy for Trent to have found his soul-mate. We enjoyed getting to see all of Lane's extended family and the opportunity to show off our beautiful angel baby at the same time. It is wonderful to be able to celebrate a new baby and a wedding. These are happy times! Hopefully Lena Kate will have another cousins soon. HINT HINT Uncle Trent and Aunt Nancy - no pressure.

The happy groom and Pawpaw


Chili and Carla


Isn't she lovely?


Sharing their first dance


Leelee got her hands on her granddaughter again:) Can you blame her?


Cousin Charles chowing on watermelon. This boy loves him some watermelon and grapes. I think he may turn into a grape. He was also wearing watermelon after a few minutes.

Charles was biting the bubbles..so cute.


Here is Lane giving his toast. He's so handsome in a tux..although in his own words-he'd rather eat a booger than be all dressed up. He much prefers Wranglers and boots.


They liked the toast!


Charles is going to be a lady killer. He is already chasing the older ladies


I turn 3o on Tuesday and on Saturday after the wedding there just happened to be a whole layer of wedding cake left. Nancy cleverly asked, "Elaine, don't you have a birthday this week?" Guess who came home with the wedding turned birthday cake? It is soo yummy. I spend all day trying to keep from eating it. My willpower only wins about half the time. I'm going to have to give some of it away before I reverse any progress I've made losing baby weight. I eat cake, then go run. I'm not sure how that works...hence the need to share. I so wish I could just eat it all week long...who am I kidding, I'm sure I will! I am going to share the goodness so it doesn't go to waste. I couldn't possible eat it all and surely don't need to, but I'm secretly...or not so secretly anymore...so excited to get to have more than one piece of wedding cake. It is one of my very favorite treats. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift! I even have a beautiful flower arrangement from the wedding too. THANKS NANCY for sharing. It will be so nice to enjoy the wedding turned birthday flowers with the cake this week:)

Relaxing after the wedding with Leelee. I left her in her pretty dress since she won't be able to wear it much longer....then the major blowout that always seems to happen the first time she wears a new outfit came to fruition:)



Today we are just relaxing around the house. Lena Kate is still in her jammies..and she likes it that way!

This week we will be walking in the park again for sure since the weather is supposed to be in the 80's all week. I've got to get Miss LK some sunscreen so her little cheeks don't get red since the sun is now upon us. I'm so excited. I hope to order my birthday jogger this week-yea



As for this week's changes in Miss LK, she is still growing, growing, growing! Those 3-6 months clothes I washed last week all fit her perfectly. She is smiling and cooing more and more. It is so wonderful to have her respond to us with such loving faces and noises. The are especially frequent in the morning. She also loves to sit up and stand...with help of course. I really think she will sit up on her own early. If you try to cradle her so pulls up with all her might. Sitting up like a big girl is what she really wants. Hanging out relaxing in the Boppy pillow is no longer exciting to her because she just tries to pull up. I've now started turning it around and putting it around her waist. She leans forward on it and sits up like she enjoys. She is also still enjoying all the movements on TV-especially when the screen is 50 inches. Today she is anxiously awaiting the start of the Nascar race. Of course Jimmy Johnson is her favorite driver:) She was enthralled with the race last week.

I wish God's blessings on everybody this week. I've started it off with a little relaxing and renewed energy following such a wonderful weekend with family and such joyous events.

Until next time...