What? We still have a blog???

Well since it's been forEVER since we blogged.  Here's why.....Our computer died the first week of school (early August) and we have just now had it diagnosed with "dead"...so - it makes blogging hard.  Hank has a laptop for school that he brings home each night.  But - since we are in the craziness that is FALL/FOOTBALL/BAND EVERY NIGHT!  - well I don't even get on the computer when he lugs it home as it's so late.  So - let me see what has happened since we returned form our summer trip...

Jacob is in 2nd grade - has an awesome teacher - LOVES school!! - is reading better and better each week.  He also is enjoying science and recently did an after school club where they learn about science and do experiments.  He even brought some home to do and we had a blast.  He also had a "egg drop" at school.  Hank helped him with his packaging.  His egg survived. He was so proud :)  He is also enjoying singing in Children's Choir at church.  He has practice every Sunday evening and he has his very own music folder to keep his music and other handouts.  He's growing taller and has the same teeth situation as he's had for about a year.  I guess he'll loose some more baby teeth one day??? HA!

Ryan is back at FBC Albany and attends 3 days a week from 9:00 to 1:00.  He has a great teacher as well and is already learning to trace letters and write his name.  He is very smart and catches on to stuff quickly.  he LOVES Pete the Cat books and has his brother read them to him as often as possible.  Ryan has been your typical 3 year old.  Tantrums for the oddest reasons (I don't want my yogurt mixed - I want to put the spoon in it - I don't want to go to this Publix, I want to go to the other one - I want blue socks to go with my blue shoes - I don't want to take a nap - I don't want to go to bed - I don't want to brush  my teeth - I don't want to.... you get the picture).  He is learning that screaming doesn't really get him very far at all.  There have been days...Oh boy........Good thing he is cute because he sure can make you crazy at times.. But we love him dearly and are praying this "phase" rolls on and we can continue with saying actual words when we are upset in lieu of screaming fits.

Us - well - Hank is working like a crazy person as usual.  This school year he took on a 2nd job and is teaching 2 tuba students one night a week at the local college.  His band is doing great and their first competition is this Saturday.  We are still teaching Kindergarten Sunday School every other week so that keeps us busy too.  And, I am keeping a 7 year old girl after school each day.  I pick her up when I get Jacob and keep her till her parents are off work.  She keeps me on my toes that's for sure. In November, we will be a host family for My Hope.  This is a nation wide event from the Billy Graham Association.  We are hoping to host the entire band from Lee County (at someone else's house of course) to watch the video that will be shown and also share the love of Christ with the kids that evening.  Lots going on!  We are finally getting a little bit cooler weather.  It's gotten down to 59 but soars back up to mid 80's.  We are so done with the hot weather that's for sure!  Oh!!  how could I forget that we currently have no sofa as we sold it at a yard sale last weekend.  I've been looking for the right deal - but no luck yet.  Currently we have (in a row) a rocker and 2 Gator camp chairs for our seating.  It's funny - but not really.....Time to get a sofa!  But - Hank has to actually be off work for us to go shopping together - so hopefully in a week we will have fall break (4 day weekend) to get one.

Guess that's it for now.  We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I am pretty sure that my folks are coming here for Thanksgiving week and that we are traveling (somehow) to Texas for Christmas - or after Christmas??  Not sure the dates and plans yet - but when we figure it out - we will let everyone know :)

Fun at Grandma Pranns

Last week we visited Hank's Grandma Prann who lives in Venice, FL.  What a great time we had!!  Jacob and Grandma really had fun playing games every day.  We made some great memories and can't wait to go back!  Our day at the beach was grey and the seas were rough due to tropical weather - but we still had a great time.   A great way to start off the summer!   Now on to Louisiana and Texas!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoo Atlanta

We had a great time yesterday at Zoo Atlanta!

We decided to take a road trip to the zoo after we discovered that we could get a free Family Pass from our local library.  (Definitely worth a look if you are a resident of Georgia.)

For more about our trip to the zoo, here is guest blogger Jacob (typed by Daddy):

Overall, it was really, really fun.  First, we got out of the bed a little early.  Then we ate breakfast, then we got in the car and drove 3 hours to Zoo Atlanta.

When we got there, we found a picnic table and ate lunch.  I had a sandwich, cheese stick, apple sauce, and lemonade.  Then they gave us a map and we looked at it.  We decided to go to the giraffes and the lions first.

Here is a picture of us by the gorilla. (Editor's note:  It's not a real gorilla.  It's a statue of Willie B., an iconic gorilla who was one of the first animals in the zoo.  He died in 2000.) 

Next we watched the lions:  one on a rock, and one in a cave.

Here is a picture of us in the bird's nest.

Here is a picture of us looking at the tiger.  He was awake!

I had never seen one of these animals before.  It is called a BONGO.  He is brown.  He has white stripes.  (Editor's note:  The horns are cool, too!  They twist over his head.  Just goes to show that you can learn new things every day.) 

I love this picture!  It is a picture of Daddy and me.  The giraffe was eating his lunch.  His lunch was leaves.

Ryan and I got to feed the giraffe his lunch!  The zookeeper gave us two pieces of leaves, and we gave it to the giraffe to eat.  

We were walking around so much, we decided to sit down and take a rest.

We watched the pandas.  There were two pandas -- one in each room.  The pandas walked around in circles.  (Editor's note:  They keep the pandas separate because they would be separate in the wild.  They only come together to mate.  Did not know that.) 

Here is a picture of us petting a goat in the petting zoo.  The goat smelled awful!  The goat felt soft.  They were still.

Here is a picture of us on the -- what's the name? -- carousel!  We rode round and round in circles!  It was really cool.

Jacob is SEVEN

Happy Birthday Jacob Henry Carter!  Mommy, Daddy and Ryan love you very very much :)

We had a party this past Saturday and we plan to have a family party tomorrow.  Thank you all for the awesome gifts.  We are so blessed!!  We will post some more pics in another post.

Ryan

cuteness
 

 

 

Field Trip to Strawberry Patch

Last week I got to go with Jacob's class to the strawberry patch.  What a fun day!  for a few dollars, the kids got to pick a pint for themselves, have some strawberry lemonaide, see bees and taste honey, see all sorts of animals and play on the playground.  We had a great time and are still enjoying all the strawberries :) 

This is Jacob on the wagon ride and that sweet lady on the left is his teacher

 

 

The peacock was awesome but it never did open up - it walked bath and forth on top of the barn which was quite entertaining.

 

 

 

Happy Easter!