Zoo trip!

My family just loves to go to the zoo. We love it so much that we travel 2.5 hours west to Omaha to go to the Henry Doorly Zoo. It's awesome & the best time to go is in the winter. All the zoo keepers are walking around with less to do since there aren't as many people so they will just sit and talk with you. Yesterday we even got a sneak peak into the inside of the Cat Complex where a lovely man let us view that male lion who was not on display. It was so awesome, he growled & swiped at the keeper and made that low sound in his throat that just makes you go all tingly inside.











We got to see our special butterfly with our name engraved on it outside the brand new butterfly building that opened last year. **Note** Julia & I WILL NOT be heading back to the insect part of the butterfly building as they let some spiders just go where ever and we DO NOT appreciate silver dollar size spiders in webs so close without glass separating us. I tried not to have a heart attack while running with my head down out of the building! (Hazards of being bitten by a poisonous spider) The zoo helper outside the door had the nerve to say that the mama spider had just had babies & they wouldn't hurt anyone so they let them go wherever they want! WHAT! If you have a heart attack from the sheer terror of seeing a spider that big with the ability to drop on you at any second...I'd call that hurting people.

Corbin had issues with the goats in the petting zoo- they were a little too curious for his liking. He kept saying "Dote" meaning "don't touch my stuff, don't chew on my snow suit, don't lick my water bottle". Good thing he had older siblings to practice that line on for just such an occasion.
Corbin loved the aquarium & the penguins! He wanted to watch the penguins all day! Some were having races & I let him crawl under the posts right up to the window to see them up close. But if the animals aren't moving he's not interested. We did see a couple of the cutest monkeys in the jungle I have ever seen. (See pictures)

Look at our growing Gorilla family!

Every year I want to take a picture of this water fall outside the Gorilla Canyon & I finally have some. Isn't this gorgeous!

Sage does a pretty good job taking pictures!

Allergies

I am feeling rather frustrated today. Allergies are actually the bane of my existence. Last Saturday I ended up in the ER because after my weekly allergy shots because my tongue began to get itchy, then swell. Of course by then the clinic was already closed. Then I got some great lips, hives on my eye lids, & then the hives slowly crept down my body. It's rather hard to breathe after all that. Well, I had to get some shots & a breathing treatment followed by a nap. This all adds to the fact that for the past 18+ months we've been a dairy free home trying to figure out if the kids are lactose intolerant or actually allergic to milk. (You would not believe all the foods with milk in them...my favorite Lime flavored Tostitos tortilla chips...seriously) Corbin seems to react to the most things. So my frustration comes from Corbin's rash covering his entire body that began yesterday after lunch. I think that to add to his peanuts, milk, citrus, & some weird spice in beef jerky we can now add GRAPES. Raisins & now grape juice haven't been good. We're talking rash & blisters on the bum. AARGH! The good that has come out of all this is that we are the healthiest eating family with practically no processed foods to speak of. I've learned many new cooking skills & my kids are eating a much more varied diet than most kids their age. There's my vent if you've survived this long.

 So, enjoy some real ice cream, pizza, & chocolate for me!

Snow forts

December 25th, Jeremy, Sage, Brody & Christian built a huge snow fort in the front yard and here are the pictures! Jeremy stayed outside an hour longer than the littles; probably reliving his childhood.

Birthday Week

Monday was Brody's 6th Birthday! He's been counting down the days since big brother's birthday last June. We did the time honored tradition of going to Hickory Park Restaurant & homemade cupcakes. What more could a guy ask for...bbq & cupcakes with pressed sugar baseball mitts on top? I'd add a picture of him but iphoto keeps "closing unexpectedly". AARRGG!

Tuesday we celebrated Jesus Birth with Jeremy's parents & sister's family. The kids were excited to play with Cade & we were all excited to learn of the 10th cousin joining us in July!

Christmas day we went to Gma Sparks' farm to have a big family Christmas with dinner, an ornament exchange & program. Sage, Brody & Julia sang a couple of songs for the program...they aren't timid when it comes to performing. The men got to participate in a rousing rendition of Rudolph the Red 

Nosed Reindeer with Sage as Rudolph & "The Rugged & Handsome Uncle Steve" as Santa.

New Christmas slippers

Because Christmas is tight this year I'm making my gifts .... My dear friends and family, It is somewhat embarrassing to admit, Christmas is tight this year. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below. How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads: You need four maxi pads to make a pair. Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part. The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top. Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part. Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing), etc. These slippers are: * Soft and Hygienic * Non-slip grip strips on the soles * Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh * No more bending over to mop up spills * Disposable and biodegradable * Environmentally safe * Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags. I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the nifty slippers for yourself.... Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each one of you. And for the men I'll leave the them plain.

Family Picture

Christmas love

This Christmas version of I Corinthians 13 is a good reminder of how we can get caught up in the "busyness" of the season & lose focus on the true reason for celebrating Christmas.

Christmas Love (source unknown)

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling & shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozen os Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals & arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home & give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels & crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried & tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china & table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

The greatest gift we could ever receive is our Savior Jesus. Enjoy the season of Advent and the anticipation of His birth.