An Ideal Day

I will start by saying that I love January in Houston! Yesterday was a PERFECT day and we soaked up every minute of it by being outside. We stopped by Panera to pick-up breakfast (I had the best vanilla latte ever) and then we headed down to the zoo.
After Jackson realized how much fun the fish tunnel was, we couldn't get him to move on to something else:)
We would tell Jackson the names of each of the animals and then he would usually respond with cat, little cat, or big cat if it resembled a cat in any sort.

It was nice not sweating at the zoo while looking at all the animals. I loved wearing a long-sleeve shirt with jeans and sandals!

Checking out the albino alligator and tring to wake it up:)

There had two baby elephants at the zoo. Elephants are a lot cuter when they are small.

We got to watch the elephants get their baths.

After we left the elephant exhibit, Jackson was walking around like an elephant swinging his trunk and calling out! Here he is calling out to some animal!

The African Forest is now open and it is really impressive. This is right outside the entrance to the forest.
Jackson ran right for the leaf huts to play and hide in them.



We could hear the drums from around the corner and Jackson was excited about the music he heard. He ran all the way over there and then needed lots of coaxing to actually play the drums.

Watching the chimpanzees play

Walking through the forest with Papa

For some reason I was intrigued by the rhinos.

Papa is sooo funny,

And Mommy is funny looking!

Just monkeying around! We played around with these masks for a while and ended up buying the monkey one. It has provided quite the entertainment and scares around our house already. The best $5 we ever spent!

We left the African Forest and headed over to the monkey house. We heard some loud, crazy noises coming from the Howler Monkeys and tried to get over by them before they stopped. By the time we made our way around they were getting fed and not talking anymore:( Jackson fit right in with the monkeys climbing and hanging on everything!

The other monkey in my life:) Thank goodness both are a lot cuter than the ones we saw at the zoo!

Towards the end of the morning I asked Jackson if he wanted to go see the sea lions swim and jump in the water. From the time I asked until we got over by them he kept saying "sea lions swim, jump now!" I don't think he has ever seen or heard of them before but was so excited to go check them out.

He loved them! I believe we stayed watching them swim around longer than we watched any other animal.

Jackson was such a Mommy's boy yesterday. He wanted me to pick him up/carry him more than anyone else yesterday. Nope, I'm not complaining!

We sat down and enjoyed lunch at the zoo before we headed out because we knew after the train ride and all the walking Jackson did he would be asleep before we left the parking lot.

Right next to the zoo you can ride the train. Jackson was as excitied about the train ride as he was the zoo. We even got to ride on Thomas (the blue engine). He would wave and say "Hi kids" as we passed people on the ride.

It was a really nice train ride for a cheap price! By the end of the ride Jackson was close to falling alseep, but still thanked us for the train ride about 100 times. "Thank you for the choo-choo!"

We headed to the car and for home. Jackson was sleeping before we got out of the musuem district area.

I know I have already said it twenty times, but was it such a perfect day. I soaked in every minute with my family enjoying being out in and seeing all of God's creation. As I heard the flight for life hellicopter many times yesterday (since the zoo is right next to many hospitals), I was reminded just how short and precious life is.

"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world and all its people belong to him." Psalm 24:1

You would think we would be done for the day, but after a short (no clue why) nap Jackson took a walk with Papa. Then we all headed out for Mexican and to the mall. Jackson got to drive boats and hide in tents again and ride in the merry-go-round! I think we all walked about 20 miles yesterday!

I love Saturdays and beautiful weather!

Friday Night Outs

It was a beautiful Friday! I was so tempted to take the day off of work and go to something fun with the family. But, I was a responsible adult and went to work. I made Sharon come read to my students at the end of the day and it is always so funny how they don't get how we both can be Mrs. Hartzler.

Have to snap some family pictures when someone else is here to take them because it is much easier! (Don't mind my blown away hair.)

One with my sweet boy, no smile for mommy!
We all went out to dinner at Genghis Grill. Jackson was such a big boy and ate a chicken bowl with rice, broccoli, carrots, and pinneapple.

I broke out my pearls for a night out on the town with my honey:)

Papa and Grandma took Jackson to Gander Mountain and let him run off some energy. He drove the boats, hid in the tents, and looked at the animals. He really is all boy!

Brian and I were going to go see a movie but there was really nothing we wanted to see. Instead of wasting money we decided just to do some shopping without Jackson. One of our favorite things to do is really just go to all the different home good stores and look for deals for our house. With Jackson we just don't get to as many places or have time to really look. We did find some good steals and it was fun to hold Brian's hand while we shopped instead of chasing Jackson!

After we were shopped out we headed to Panera to sit, talk, and enjoy a Mango frozen drink.

I think we should get out the two of us more often, I forget how much fun it is!

What Have We Been Up To?

Since Brian's parents have been here it feels like we have done a lot but at the same time I feel like we haven't. Is that possible? However, I don't think Mel feels that way:) He has been working hard each day. Me on the other hand have had things 2 nights after school and today I went "live" infront of my district's superintendent and some other important people. After a projector that decided to stop working and some "funny" boys we made it through!

Here are a few pictures that sum up our nights with the little boy who keeps us laughing:)

Playing and hiding in the pantry with mommy is so fun!

Fresh strawberry slush and watching the Packers win are 2 great things!

Jackson follows Papa around non-stop and asks constantly "What's Papa doing?" He is the next handiman!

Stylin' shoes and Thomas pajamas in a baby swing, I'm pretty sure no words are needed:)

We must stop for fire hydrants and airplanes on our walks

Bathtime fun!

Hanging out in his new bed, it all is coming together nicely

Enjoying dinner out with Papa and Grandma

We have lots of fun events plans for the weekend and I can't wait, just have to make it through tomorrow! I know I can do it with Him and here is my theme verse from the week:

"Surley God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4

How-To Redo A Room in a Day

Step 1: Remove all the junk from the guest room to Jackson's old room.

Step 2: Rip down the lovely pink floral wallpaper.

Step 3: Call Papa down from Wisconsin and help him mix up drywall cement.

Step 4: Apply drywall to walls.
Step 5: Tape off the ceiling, baseboards, doors, and window. Then spray texture on walls.
Step 6: Let the texture dry and make a trip to Ikea to buy Jackson a new bed, mattress, blinds, drapes, and circle rugs.

Step 7: Run to Lowes to buy paint.

Step 8: Help Daddy and Papa paint the walls.

Step 9: Leave your handprint behind.

Step 10: Take a break and head to the park for some fun on a BEAUTIFUL Saturday afternoon.

Step 11: Act like a goof!

Step 12: Walk to the car together to go refuel at Fuddruckers.

Step 13: Prolong the trip to the park by crawling through the bike rack as many times as possible.

Step 14: Put the bed together once Jackson goes to bed. Carefully transfer a sleeping boy to his new big boy bed!

Stay tuned for the reveal!!

Just Some Questions...

-How can two people who have only been married 5 years have so much junk?

-How does it always happen that on my days off I find myself at different stores buying more stuff our house just needs after we just threw away 5 garbage bags of junk?

-Why do home projects take so long, create more of a mess in the process, and cost so much money?

-Why does cleaning the house take 5 hours and making a mess takes all but 5 minutes?

-How did I live in Wisconsin for 20 years and survive the winters when I can't stand being confined to the house for one week of cold rainy weather in Houston?

-Why does one of Jackson's shirts cost almost as much as an adult one that has way more material and will not be outgrown at the same fast rate?

-Why do I watch the Dr. Oz show when I know I will then think I have every ailment he talked about and then worry about it for the next few days?

-When does the Easter candy come out?

-Who came up with the 5 day work week?

-How can KSBJ, the only station I like to listen to on the radio, just stop working one day and not come back in?

-Why must college be so expensive? Why must you go to college to teach? Why do student loans take forever to pay off?

-Where should we go in Texas for a family summer vacation?

Memorizing Scripture

I always say I want to memorize more verses from the Bible, but some how I start strong and then it fizzles out. So, I heard someone at school talking about Beth Moore's Scipture Memory Team and that you link your verses up on her blog. I looked into it and you committ to memorizing 2 verses a month that God puts on your heart. I don't know if I am too late to actually join Beth Moore's team but I am going to jump in and do it anyways. You can click here if you want to read more about it or join too! If you are going to do it let me know and go get your spiral:)

You post a new verse the 1st and 15th of each month.

Here are my first two verses for January:

1st: Psalm 45:11 (NIV) "The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord."

I chose this verse because I am often, ok most of the time, WAY to concerned with the way I look and hard on myself. I am loved and beautiful in the eyes of my Creator and that is all that matters. I want to claim this verse and live it out daily.

15th: Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those that listen."

The Lord led me to this verse today as I was opening my Bible to spend some time with him. I believe this verse means many things for me. 1) It goes hand and hand with my first verse. 2.) I have been given many opportunties this year at school so far to minister to others and I need to make sure what I am saying at school is positive, encouraging, and makes me stand out from others 3.) I need to live this verse out at home

I am so excited to commit these verses and more to memory this year and see what the Lord does with them and ME! I know this spiral (I am going to decorate it) is my new reading/meditating material on the treadmill in the mornings. You may just see me with my spiral everywhere I go:)