"Tiger Choo-Choo"

Five Dollar Day @ Lowery Park Zoo!

Our family braved the masses for Lowery Park Zoo's $5 Day! The zoo was very, very crowded, but we were still able to see many of the animal exhibits and enjoyed the chance to see all of the new construction projects they've recently completed (I hadn't been in years, and this was Kevin & Quintin's first visit ever!). Quintin's favorite animal exhibits were the alligators and the tigers :-D. He also enjoyed feeding the goats, watching the penguins get fed, and looking at the bear (the bear was sleeping with his back toward us, but Quintin was still fascinated, lol). He spent a long time watching the manatees (Mommy's favorite) and was very reluctant to leave the snake exhibit!

The park has a water-play area, one of the first things we enjoyed together, since the weather was sizzling! There were also some small rides, but since they required several tokens each, we did only two. After a short ride on a small "choo-choo train" with Daddy, Quintin begged to take a ride on the larger "tiger choo-choo," actually a small, family-oriented roller coaster. Quintin and I watched the roller coaster go around the track several times while Daddy went to purchase the requisite tokens (I thought that Quintin might change his mind about going once he saw it up-close, but no such luck!). Daddy and Quintin rode together, while Mommy stayed with the stroller & took pictures; they both had a great time, but Daddy had a little less fun than Quintin, since he was straining to brace Quintin from the worst of the rough ride ;-D. The tiger makes three runs around the track and during the first trip around, Quintin's face was fixed in a pretty horrified expression -- I was worried that he'd be permanently traumatized! By the second and third times around, however, Quintin was screaming with glee and when he got off, he begged for another ride, lol. Kevin said later that Quintin had insisted on putting his arms up in the air, like the big kids were doing, and the first big turn was especially frightening to do without holding on (the arms came quickly down!). We love our brave little boy!

Vacation Bible School

While Quintin was too young to attend Vacation Bible School at our home church in Zephyrhills, my parents' church in Gulfport, Florida, accepted small children and welcomed Quintin into the fold :-D Quintin had a blast, and talked excitedly all week about going to Bible School with Nana (my mom volunteers each year at the crafts table). Quintin loves playing with other kids and was especially happy for the chance to play chase with Aubree :-D, a little girl just over a year older than Quintin. One particularly stressful night, an overtired Quintin screamed for a full hour about wanting to play with Aubree after we left the church!

Meanwhile, our own church had a large number of children (about a hundred) enjoy Vacation Bible School this year (an awesome accomplishment!). The kids performed a few of their favorite songs for the 11:00 service and they were AWESOME! I took a few pictures of our wonderful Children's Director, Julie Nipps, and the crowd of youngsters singing their hearts out for God :-). Check -out Quintin's longing glances -- in two more years, Quintin, you'll be able to be up there with them!

Zephyrhills Water Park

A couple of weeks ago, I arranged to meet Kevin, after we both got off of work, at the awesome Zephyrhills Water Park. Unfortunately, just as Kevin got Quintin changed into his swimsuit and into the water park, the whole thing turned off :-( We played on the playground instead (see story below), but we were disappointed to miss out on the water park. Later that week, I brought Quintin back and we had a terrific time running around the incredible (and FREE) water features! The afternoon was blisteringly hot (Florida in mid-July!), which made it an extra pleasure to splash around in the cool water :-). Thank you, City of Zephyrhills, for investing in such an amazing public park! We're still trying to coordinate a time when Daddy can meet us there to enjoy the fun -- we'll have to see if they're open on Sundays :-)

Family Fun at the Park!

After work on Monday, Mommy & Quintin met Daddy at the Zephyrhills Park, where we played together for hours on the great playground :-). Quintin loves the slide, and this playground has plenty of them! They also have a huge jungle gym, on which Quintin turned out to be a pro, and lots of swings. The favorite by far on this trip, however, was the Merry-Go-Round! As soon as Daddy started pushing, kids swarmed it (where did they all come from, lol!). Daddy gave them all of the spinning they could handle! Mommy is not much fun on the spinning stuff, unfortunately (even watching it makes me queasy, lol!), but Quintin seems definitely to have inherited Daddy's stronger stomach -- he had a complete blast! Later, Quintin insisted on pushing some bigger kids on the Merry-Go-Round -- all by himself! The kids were awesome, adding sound effects & generally encouraging him ("You're pushing us sooooo fast! AAAAHHHHHH!"). He took his job very seriously, and was quite reluctant to leave ;-D

Playtime with Daddy!

One of the greatest joys in my life is watching my wonderful husband and son play with one another :-) Quintin is always incredibly happy to see Daddy after a long day away from home & Daddy is always willing to take time to play with him -- even when he's really tired! Quintin & Daddy play cars most often with one another, though Quintin's Little People often get involved as well! Quintin likes Daddy to "make the cars talk!" and I love hearing the animated conversations that result! Quintin loves imaginary play and his cars and Little People have long play-dates with one another, lol! As complex as this playacting gets when he's on his own, it's always more fun to have another person to play along with & Daddy is definitely at the top of that list :-D

Riding the Choo-Choo Train @ the Shops at Wiregrass!

Daddy, Mommy, and Quintin all took a recent trip to the Shops at Wiregrass to enjoy several rides on their awesome Choo-Choo Train! Quintin was VERY excited and Mommy & Daddy took such pleasure in witnessing his joy! Trips on the train are $2, and it goes slowly enough that Mommy was able to walk alongside of it while Daddy & Quintin rode together the second time (the first time made Mommy a little queasy!). The third & last time, Quintin rode all by himself! (with, of course, Mommy & Daddy walking beside it). Spending time with my two favorite boys is such a pleasure!

A Few More Picts from Bodhi's Birthday

Lots of Fun at Bodhi's Jungle Animal Birthday Party!

A couple weeks ago, Mommy & Quintin skipped our regular trek to work at the book shop and went, instead, to Bodhi Price's third birthday party! Bodhi's family attends First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills with us, and Quintin plays regularly in the church nursery with Bodhi and his adorable little sister, Ellie :-). We headed over after Quintin woke up (He slept in really late, so we didn't make it to the party on time, but he was, at least, really well rested!) and entered the Price family's fabulous back yard, where a bounce house, pools, ride-on toys, a pony, and a pirate ship playground awaited! Quintin fell in love an older woman (the little girl in the pirate ship photos -- notice the look of adoration on his face, lol!) while exploring the pirate ship playground, his definite favorite! Quintin also enjoyed swimming in the pool with several other kids around his age (Mommy went in, too!). Bodhi's mommy had an awesome Giraffe cake made, and after the party, Bodhi & Quintin pigged out, lol! Mommy's favorite part of the day came after the party, when the Price family invited us to stay and play (despite the long morning they'd already had!). The mommies enjoyed plenty of girl talk while the boys played (mostly, with Bodhi's new Toy Story collection -- Thanks so much, Bodhi, for sharing your Woody & Bullseye toys with Quintin!). We had a fabulous time with you, Price family, and appreciate the great hospitality!

New Member, Kevin Smith!

We've regularly attended First United Methodist Church in Zephrhills since our arrival here in 2005. We were married in the church, and Quintin was baptized there. Kevin played on the church softball league (since team members had to attend church regularly, it was a great way to get him in the doors, lol!), and we both play now with the Contemporary Service's band, Salvation's Rock (Kevin plays the bass, Sarah sings). The church didn't, however, have any record of Kevin's membership (they found mine, but not his, lol!), so on New Member Sunday, Kevin took his vows of membership in front of the congregation for the second time. It was such a joy to listen to the minister list Kevin's many contributions to the church; what a special blessing to see him recognized officially in front of the congregation we've come to consider as family! We love FUMC and are grateful for the support & love we've so generously received through the church body.

Fun with the Harrisons!

Fun in the Pool with the Harrisons!

Wednesday, Mommy & Quintin headed over for an awesome afternoon of swimming with a family from Mommy & Daddy's EPIC class at church :-). Quintin loves Casey, Courtney, and Kayley, and had such a blast! Mommy liked having a chance for some girl time with Dawn, and had a great time swimming, too! The Harrisons' pool has a water slide that was sooooo fun! Quintin was much braver than Mommy about going up & coming down, and was irritated that Mommy didn't want him to go down by himself (He even wanted to go head-first, after watching the big kids do it -- this bravado certainly NOT a trait he inherited from Mommy, lol!). When Dawn's husband, Kenny, got home, he took Quintin out to their chicken coop and let him fill the feeder & collect the egg a hen had laid in her nest! We all showed up at Wednesday's church dinner sleepy, sunburned & very happpy :-D Thanks, Harrison family, for a fabulous afternoon!