The truth of it is...I have SUCH a hard time with titles.  Sometimes I don't post because I can't think of one to encompass everything I am including in a post.  Any suggestions?

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that we got a play kitchen.  Man, have we had fun with that!  We go to restaurants all the time now :)  The drive thru window is popular too.  One day I fixed up a "cooking session" for them.  They really enjoyed that and I got to get some things done (read a book).

Saying "cheese" does not always make for stellar photos.  We've tried other words, but in the last 2 years (since Chloe has gotten big enough to know what a camera is and that I can't make her smile) I have learned that photography is definitely an art.  Mostly an art of catching the right moment when faces are not all squishy!

2 weeks ago, the girls and I went to Birmingham to my mom's house.  Her husband had bypass surgery, so we went to check on him, celebrate her birthday, and enjoy a short visit.  While we were there we got to go to the zoo (for free...cashed in on that Nashville zoo membership yet AGAIN!)  We got up close with several animals.  Chloe's favorite animal is the ostrich, so she was very excited about that one.  My camera is not zoomed in much at all.  Since Ninny was paying, we also got to ride the train AND the carousel!  The carousel is a big hit right now.

Now, this photo has an embarrassing, but true story attached.  Most of you know that moms with young kids struggle with taking a shower daily.  Yes, I love me a hot morning shower full of wakefulness, cleanliness, and happiness, but lots of times the bed was just too cozy or I'd wake up to someone crying instead.  In the past 3.5 years, if my hair stayed in ponytail shape without an elastic or if Adam scrunched up his nose when hugging me and I couldn't shower when Adam was home, then ALL of us took a shower.  I suppose I was just afraid they would get into something they shouldn't and this was the only way I could ensure they were properly taken care of.  Who wants to get mid-soap and have to scramble out because someone has swallowed some play dough or fallen off the bed or some such?  So, since I have been in this habit for quite some time now, I just didn't realize my girls were growing up in this area.  Most often, I would take a shower while Adam gave the girls a bath.  One day, during one such circumstance, he said, "you know the girls are old enough for you to take a shower when I am not home."  What a lightbulb moment!  I don't know why this was such a realization for me, but the next day, daily showers were a part of my life again!  Yes, they still come in the bathroom with me, mostly for my peace of mind.  Sometimes they play with play dough, but their favorite thing right now is for me to make a little "reading corner".  The second day we did this, I mentioned it a little before I was ready to actually go in there and Autumn came running back to the kitchen with a stack of books, saying "conor,conor,conor!"

For Labor Day weekend, Adam took a couple of days off and we dropped the girls off at Nana's house and headed to St. Louis.  We were free to visit with my grandparents, my aunt and her family, and each other UNINTERRUPTED for 4ish days!  We had a very pleasant time together.  We played Rook and taught them how to play Settlers of Cataan.  We talked and listened and just visited.  Though they were a little disappointed not to see the girls, we got to do just what my grandparents wanted!  I am so happy we chose to do it that way.  Plus, we squeezed in a date or two, a movie, and some reading!