Zoo behind the scenes tour

Jeff's work let each employee donate $1000 to the charity of their choice and being the animal lover that he is he chose the OK Zoological Society. Well, when you donate that much or more you become what they call a "lion member" and get lots of special privileges including season passes, invites to special events and a zoo mobile visit. They also have a behind the scenes tour that we were invited to so Jeff and I went last Thursday as a date night. They didn't allow children or we would have taken Jensen. It was the neatest thing! First they served us snacks and wine then we got to go to the herpetarium (reptile house). We went through the building and the director of the herps told us lots of neat things about all the reptiles then we got to go in the back where they feed and take care of them.

The venomous snakes all had a big red sign that said "HOT"

This thing was so weird, it was technically a legless lizard but it moved like a worm and very little is know about it

Next, we got to go behind he scenes at the Cat Forest and Lion Overlook. It was amazing seeing those huge cats from 3ft away! I can't imagine seeing one of those in the wild. The zoo has a building with cages where they feed and rotate the cats in and out.

I thought this was funny

There are two adult females and a male. The two females gave birth last year two days apart so now there are 3 female and 1 male cubs also. They had to be delivered by C-section so the zookeepers hand-raised them for a while but now they can't touch them because they are 150lbs. They have to keep them separate from the adults for a while longer. The babies still love the zookeeper guy though and as soon as they heard his voice they came up to the gate to try to play.

We got to see some of the smaller cats too although most of them were outside at the time. This is a Jaguar and you could tell they are meaner and really want to eat you!

We learned a lot of things about the zoo and some of the animals and I hope we get to do it again.

Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch

Monday Jensen and I met our MOMS Club friends at a pumpkin patch in Arcadia for some fall fun. They had a petting zoo and Jensen was not too keen on petting the animals except the bunny rabbits. He really liked it when they ate leaves out of his hand. We went on a fun hayride and he got to swing on a tire swing for the first time. We also roasted marshmallows over an open fire which was another first for him. The big hit though was the hay bales he jumped and played and crawled through those things forever. I decided that we don't need a big swing set in our backyard, just some hay bales! Before we left, we got to pick out a pumpkin to take home with us.

Farmer Jensen

Here bunny, bunny

Jensen and Mommy on the hayride

Hay...its not just for horses!

So many pumpkins, which one will I choose?

Boomer Sooner

Since before Jensen was born, Jeff has wanted to take him to an OU game and thought he was finally old enough this year. I wasn't really up for it but he got me by saying that I could take pictures and do a scrapbook page. Man, that guy has me figured out! Luckily we got free tickets from Jeff's Aunt Janet and Uncle Terry who are season ticket holders. The plan was to go and leave at half time since it would be a long game. We got down to OU and paid $15 to park in someones yard but told them we would not be staying the whole game. They said no problem but do you think they blocked us in? You betcha. The seats were in the south end zone at the very top against the wall so there was more room up there but the sun was hot and shining right in our eyes. As soon as they shot the first guns, Jensen was ready to go home. He begged and begged even though we tried everything we could think of to entertain him. He was shaking and said it was too loud. Poor baby. So we left even before the first quarter was over.

Jensen and Daddy walking to the stadium
The one thing Jensen did seem impressed with was a man who had a mohawk hair do sitting in front of us. He talked about it all day and he keeps asking to look at pictures of them online. Hope he doesn't ask to get one! Once we got out of the stadium he was fine and we had a good time walking around on campus with him and going in a few Sooner shops.

He keeps saying "I don't like that red show"

Scared Jensen

When we get back to the car we are blocked in but there was a small gap that I thought we could try to squeeze through. I did not want to have to wait another 3 hrs for the game to be over then who knows how long it would take people to get to their cars then try to fight traffic UGGH! After inching back and forth for about 20min and being VERY careful, Jeff got us out thank goodness. Here is how close we were to these cars.

I was supposed to be directing Jeff on what to do next but I had to snap a few pics
It was an adventure but I think we will wait a while longer to take Jensen to a game again

More Celebrating

Not everyone wanted/could go to Frontier City for my birthday, shocking I know he he! So, I decided I'm 30 so we're doing 30 days of celebration! My friends from MOMS Club wanted to go out for drinks so we went on Thurdsay night to Rok Bar on Memorial. There were 7 of us and we had a great time dancing and staying out way to late. Most of the time we were the only ones on the dance floor but we didn't care and they played some pretty decent dance music. A few of my friends have newborns and we all have kids who get up early so I was very appreciative of them sacrficing their precious sleep. My friend Kristin even brought me a little gift....the latest New Kids on the Block CD! She remembered that I was crazy about them as a kid so that was really thoughtful and funny. It has some great songs on it :)Kathie, Kristi, Carla, Kristin, Becky, Jessica Shannon

Mommies wearin heals!

That drink is called a "What the F@#K! It was very tasty. Oh and the other is a huge shot

Carla, Kathie and Jessica on the dance floor

Scared to death!

On Monday night I woke up out of a dead sleep at about 1am and saw that Jensen's bedroom light was on across the hall. I got up and the living room and laundry room lights were on too but I didn't see my little monster. I figured he was up trying to get into the candy or something. I looked all around the house and in the garage and didn't see him so I started looking behind doors and in closets with no luck. By then I was frantically yelling his name and screaming that this was NOT funny! I got Jeff up to help and I kept thinking about those kids I had heard about that get kidnapped in teh middle of the night from their rooms. I was freaking out! After about the 10 trip into the living room I walked the other way around the love seat and this is what I saw......

We could just barely see his feet sticking out

He was fast asleep under there and had no idea we were looking for him. Jeff went to get him and I said no wait, I need to take a picture! He didn't even wake up when I took him back to bed. I'm not sure if he was sleep walking or got up to play and fell asleep but it scared the crap out of us. We talked about getting some bells for his door so we will hear him come out or putting a gate up to keep him in.

Goodbye 20's....its hard to see you go

Well Sunday was my big 30th birthday can you believe it? I feel so young still there's no way! I remember when my dad turned 30 and I thought that was ancient. Several of my mommy friends are in their 30's and they seem so much older and mature.... then when I think about it I'm not far behind, very weird. For some of my friends' 30th we have gone out for dinner and drinks but I decided I wanted to do something different that I normally don't get to do. I wanted to go to Frontier City amusement park. It may sound juvenile I know but I hadn't been able to go since before I had Jensen and maybe I was craving an adrenaline rush. Jensen went next door to the neighbors house while me, Jeff, Jamie and Jerry and my friend from highschool Cindi and her husband Eugene went to ride the rides. We had a blast being kids again

Eugene and Cindi, Jamie and Jerry, Jeff and Kristi

Jeff just can't make a normal face for a picture ever!

Cindi and I met running track in Jr. High
We rode the new roller coaster the Steel Laso and they take your picture then charge you way too much for it. We knew this before so we made crazy faces while riding. Cindi and Eugene bought theirs and it was hilarious
Me and Jamie
Jamie and Jerry behind us on the Silver Bullet rollercoaster
Us on the Tilt O Whirl. We tried to fit four of us on it but wouldn't fit so Jamie and Jerry had to get their own car beind usJeff's family had a party for me at Jamie and Jerry's house on Sunday my actual birthday. My mom and sister came over too so that was great. They know I love pizza and ordered me this pizza shaped cake from Johnnies yummy and funny! Of course it wasn't complete without trick candles that wouldn't go out and can you believe I even forgot to make a wish! I got some great gifts including new bed sheets, cash, a big picture frame, and gift certificates for a spa pedicure, jewelery, Kohls.

Halloween Party

Last Friday was our MOMS Club halloween party. The kids made a craft and decorated cookies. This year, we went to the party store and I let Jensen pick out his own costume. He chose to be Handy Manny a cartoon character who has talking tools and fixes things. I wonder if he picked that because we are doing a lot of that around here :) We had a great time and ate lots of yummy treats.

Jensen started running a fever and having a croupy cough on Sun afternoon so he didn't feel well. He was really healthy last winter so it has been a long time since he was sick thank goodness. By Mon morning he was feeling really bad and I couldn't get his fever to go down so I took him to see Dr. Schaefer. She said he just had a cold and needed motrin so I felt a little dumb for taking him in. He had no more fever though by the next day but coughed very hard all night long for several days so we were really sleep deprived. He's back to his old self now though and ornery as ever! Jeff had to work until midnight two nights in a row this week doing updates so we really missed him. He got Friday off so that was nice

My kitchen has been decorated in a Coca-Cola theme and I always wanted an old-fashioned soda fountain style room. Well, I've grown a little tired of it all and it might sell better in a more neutral decor. I had a stained glass hanging light fixture that needed to go so I put it on Craigs-list. I had never sold anything on there before so I was a little nervous but it only took 1 day and a man came and paid me $75 cash for it. I'm a big fan of Craigs-list now!

The bathroom shower is pretty much done but we have not been able to clean it up all the way due to a clogged drain. Its always something I know! We have tried all kinds of cleaners with no luck so I called out a plumber on Thursday to look at it. He had to bring in a special electric tool and worked hard on it for a while until he finally got it moving again. You have never seen someone so excited to see water go down a drain! I think the guy thought I was crazy. I was getting sick picturing what would happen if we couldn't get it flowing. The plumber Chris was my hero that day and turns out there was concrete blocking it yikes! It was so hard it polished the end of metal tool!! After he left I was able to clean some more and I painted the room so I felt like I accomplished a lot that day!

Phoenix

I've had two best friends since we were 15 and one of them Jamie, married Jeff's brother so she's my sister in law. The other is Kim who married Bezan, a Marine, and lives in Phoenix. Jamie and I both have little ones so we couldn't wait for Kim to join us in the mommy club. As soon as she told us she was expecting, Jamie and I started planning a trip out to see her especially since we had never been there. Miss Ellie Jade Bezan Morris was born on Wed. Sept 17, 2008. After making arrangement for the men to keep our children for the weekend, Jamie and I flew out early Friday morning on 9/26. I was thrilled that I did not get sick this time around thanks to my medicine patch and some herbal ginger root. We arrived in Phoenix at about 11am and went straight to In and Out Buger which I love and we don't have in Okla. It was great to see the AZ landscape and where Kim lives. We were surprised that almost everything is tan! The houses and buildings all look really new since they are made of stucco. Kimberly and Bezan's house- no lawn to mow must be nice!We spent the rest of Friday spending time with Kim's mom who left that evening and the "Dutchess" Ellie Jade

"Aunt Jamie"

"Aunt Kristi"

You may notice my hair is just a tad darker HA....I went to a new person spur of the moment and was not real happy with the result. I don't think I communicated well what I wanted. I'm getting more used to it though and maybe it will fade in a few weeks. We liked playing dressup and doing photo shoots with baby Ellie
On Sat, Jamie and I took Kim's car and went to IKEA on our own. It sounds crazy to those who have one near them but its a very cool store and our closest one is 3hrs away so we were very excited to go. I had to take a picture of the diagram in the bathroom stall about their water-saving toilets with the coated handle to protect against germs. The instructions for #1 and #2 were quite amusing to me as well! I bought a great napkin holder and a little tent for Jensen. I wanted so much more but couldn't fit it in my suitcase.

Up for #1 and Down for # 2

Jamie and I got in touch with Jeff and Jerry's Aunt Joyce who lives in Phoenix and she picked us up for lunch on Sunday. We went to Red Lobster and it was great getting to know her better. We were mad that she wouldn't let us pay for our meal, that was too nice! We also had fun playing with Kim and Bez's yellow lab Angel. We took her for walks in the evening and played ball with her. The weather was so nice. Jamie and Angel especially bonded and she went home with doggy fever instead of baby fever!

Besties

Jamie, Kim and Kristi with baby Ellie

I was amazed by the huge cactus....or is it cacti? Anyway, I made Kim stop so we could take a picture. Don't know if the people who lived there appreciate us posing with it but we were quick


The new Morris family Bez, Kim and Ellie. Sorry, Kimmy not the best pic first thing in the morning but you guys are a precious family! We had a great visit and were sad to tell them goodbye. Hopefully though, Kim and Ellie will be out to visit us in Oct. The daddies had a great time with the kiddos and managed to keep them in one piece. Jeff took Jensen to ride on Thomas the Train at the railway museum and they went to Toys R Us, Sears and Pops while I was gone. Ya think dad spoils him :)