Wordful Wednesday - Grandma and Grandpa's House

They have the coolest house, just ask my girls. There is a bear cave. We need one of those they tell me. Every girl there got to take home a stuffed animal to borrow until they see Grandma and Grandpa again. Our visit in Ohio was very good.

Now the countdown is on until they all come here in July. More fun times ahead :) Do you have PS? If you do the blogging templates that I have been using like the ones in this post are free over at MCP Actions. It works really slick. Check it out!

Read more...

Pour the coffee please

I am wiped out. Really. 10 days away from home and then we came home to swimming lessons, laundry, and cleaning the house. Next up we are turning right around and leaving Wednesday afternoon for another 5 days away on our Worldwind Tour of the Southeast. If you have been reading my blog you know we don't do anything easy. Why not add 10 things in 4 different states to our weekend away :) Just kidding - sort of. We are headed to Daytona and then when Matt is able to hang out with us on Saturday we are going to Cape Canaveral because the kids and I haven't been there yet and I have always wanted to go. Next Friday is the last scheduled shuttle launch and I am keeping my fingers crossed that maybe it will be out on the pad. That would be SO cool. Then we will slowly make our way back home and stop somewhere midway so that we can hit Savannah on Sunday and visit our old friend Paula Deen. Ok maybe we will just be visiting her fried chicken and butter cake but I'd like to think that some day I can meet her in one of our random visits to her restaurant. So there it is. Beach, shuttle, fried chicken. 4 states in 5 days. Sounds fun :)

I used a Lightroom action to process the above shot. I am sort of new to using them so it is still playing around and hoping to get it right. I love Pretty Presets and this particular one is from Laura's Nostalgic Summer Collection. It is called Mello Yellow. I played with it a little bit afterwards and then sized/sharpened for the web. I like it and it really shows how pretty Violet's eyes are.

Read more...

Monday Mingle 6.27.11

When I was in Ohio I was able to sleep in but now that I am back home 5am I am wide awake. What is that all about? Matt left the house at about 6:20 am this morning and Piper got up. Here I sit at 6:45 feeling like I have already been up 1/2 the day :) At least it is nice outside and I am enjoying the beautiful morning with my coffee and you! The questions for this week's mingle are:

1. Do you like going to the county fair? Are you going this year?
2. What is your guilty pleasure food at fairs or amusement parks?
3. Finish this sentence… “It never fails – every time I go to the grocery store,

The cat even made an appearance this week. What do they say about a black cat crossing your path? Don't come here because it will happen multiple times a day :) Until next week...
Link up with Eighty MPH Mom and her Monday Mingles!

Read more...

52 Weeks of Me - Daily Object (26/52)

Are we really half way through the year? OMGosh I just can't believe it! I guess the longest day of the year was last week so in a blink summer vacay will be over, school will start again, and then bam (!!,) Christmas. Just kidding. I want to enjoy every single day of our summer vacation before I have to send my baby off to public school for another year. So this week we were in the great state of Ohio. It rained. Everyday. Well, everyday except Saturday when I took my selfie and as I wrote this post the day wasn't over yet :) The poor midwest is just getting hammered with rain! I hope summer comes for them soon. Our theme this week was Daily Object and I ask you to choose which one you think mine is. Ok, many days it is all 3 :) Especially on vacation which is what I am on (right Matt?).

26 down, 26 to go. Put that selfie in our flickr pool so we can all check them out in 1 place. Next week is At home/at work and we are headed that way today.




<a border="0" href="http://thelucaszoo.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/jessieb327/52on2-1-1.jpg"/></a>

Read more...

Small Style Thursday - Cousin Edition

Finally got the 6 pack together for a shot and I figured why not use it for Small Style Thursday. It is always a lot of fun when we all get together and it is also REALLY REALLY loud. 6 little girls know how to scream let me tell you :)

Our style this week is eclectic :) From Hanna to Carter's. All vintage :)

Jump Jump



and our tree climbers. Tomboys in the making only they will do it wearing dresses and skirts thank you very much (with shorts underneath of course).

Read more...

Wordful Wednesday - I want to wear *insert name here*'s clothes

Who knew that it started at 4, 5, 6, & 7 years old. Surely not me and I am a girl :) Since arriving in Ohio the cousins are sharing clothes and nighties. I had to laugh when I was looking at this picture while processing it every little girl is wearing something of ours. Now if it were the next one who knows it could all be from my SIL's house. It is funny to me though because I borrowed clothes from my friends in high school but never when I was 4. Seriously crazy.

We are missing the other little that makes up our 6 pack. If it were to ever stop raining long enough when were are all together I would remedy that :)

Read more...

Photo Walk @ Granny & Grandpa's

I really should have done this back in March when we were up for Matt's cousin's wedding but didn't really think of it. I did remember to bring my camera over to Matt's Grandma and Grandpa's house on Sunday when we went over there to look at some memorabilia for Matt, the kids, and me. The house will be going up for sale and this could quite possibly be the last time I was able to do this so I walked around and took some pictures. It was crazy because there wasn't really any wind or breeze but when I went to take a picture of the flag there was suddenly a small one and as soon as I took a few shots it went away.

Besides the rain that we have been getting up here and the kids going a bit stir crazy the trip is still going pretty well. I was pretty much done and ready for the kids to go to sleep tonight though. Just a very long day that's all :) We have all decided that tomorrow will be a better day :)

Read more...

Our Great Ohio Adventure 2011 - Day 1

You would think that this was my first solo road trip but sadly it wasn't. The girls and I have been traveling the 8 hour trip from NC to OH alone since Piper was born. With children that 8 hour trip is always longer. In fact when Ruby was only 3 months old we did our 17 day tour of the Midwest which sort of burned me out on traveling for awhile but the next summer we were right back at it. So what made this trip difficult? Planning. I have been pretty bad at planning ahead lately. Now I am not a procrastinator but I just made plans for the very day before we were to leave so nothing came together in the morning. For starters I got to the exit (about 15 minutes from my home) and realized I had the set of my husbands work keys still in my car from the prior day. Turn around. Go back. Add 1/2 hour to that 8 hours. We planned on stopping at The Tamarak to get gas, use the restrooms, and have a picnic lunch. When we got there Ruby told me that she had pooped. Ok, no worries. Oh wait - I forgot the diapers!!! How did that happen? Now I am wondering "What else did I forget?". Lucky for me I still cloth diaper about 1/2 the time at home and had a Fuzzi Bunz diaper that I stuffed with napkins. All redneck like. I guess that if it were all redneck I might duct tape the napkins to my girl so I was a few steps above that :) We had a very nice lunch and the mountain breezes were beautiful. We finished and piled in the car to find a grocery store. When we finally found I had Ruby on my hip and we were working our way down the diaper aisle when I felt something warm. She made it 15 minutes in my napkin diaper and then went on me. Nice. It was a smooth 4.5 hours after that though as I put in a movie and then forced them to both play their Leapster's and also to watch for cows and horses. Fun times. We arrived at the cousins house hung with grandma and grandpa and they all managed to stay up until 10pm. It is going to be a super fun week!

Read more...

52 Weeks of Me - Through (25/52)

What to do, what to do about that framing week last week :) Moving on and will get to it this week while I am in Ohio. This week though is all about taking a selfie through something. Water, a window, curtain, whatever. I loved this idea until I tried to actually accomplish it. Tougher than it looks. I also do not have my timer with me (forgot it) so I had to do this just running. Truthfully this was the only one that wasn't really blurry so it won :) What I should do is take a picture of how far I had to run :) It was a workout for sure! Camera sitting on a table (no tripod either) facing out front window. I thought that you might be able to see the screen but all you could see is towards the right of the shot a little bit of the frame.

As always thank you for participating and be sure to add your shot to our flickr pool. Next week is Daily Object.



<a border="0" href="http://thelucaszoo.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/jessieb327/52on2-1-1.jpg"/></a>

Read more...

Just to see you smile...

I love Tim McGraw and that has to be one of my favorite songs from him. This year he is out on tour with the Dancehall Doctors. Did you know that? My husband and I went to one of his concerts with Faith Hill before and it was so.much.fun! She wasn't actually with us but we were supposed to have met them and the radio station gave the passes to the wrong people. Whatev I am over it. Who wants to meet Tim McGraw anyway? Oh and Faith, forgot about Faith. Ok, it has been 8 years and I am not over it. I want to take my girls to the concert but I think my husband will be out of town and it isn't something I would want to do alone. No guts right? The concert of the year though is Taylor Swift, in my home anyway. Attention Taylor Swift, come to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte. Girlfriend I can't afford the tickets at the Time Warner Cable Arena and watching you in concert (from the lawn seats) would be my Violet's DREAM! Pretty please? You think her smile is big here? I can't imagine the size it would be if she got to see Taylor in real life. It would be HUGE!

Read more...

Pear Tree Greetings Review and GIVEAWAY!!

When was the last time that you wrote a note to a friend? Pear Tree Greetings challenged me to write 5 notes in the next few months and blog about it. I used to be really great at writing letters and sending cards but after having the kiddos I am lucky to get a shower and the kids hair combed let alone sit down writing out cards. Missing that feeling that I know the recipient gets when they see an envelope in their mailbox with their name handwritten I accepted the challenge. Pear Tree Greetings provided me with a $1 Mom's Kit which is a fun little pack of notecards each with a different message. I decided to send my first card out after learning a friend of mine was appearing on TV. How exciting! Kisten who blogs at Polish Pauper got an opportunity to appear on Charlotte Today this past Thursday talking about all the fabulous nail polish trends we will be seeing this summer. Understandably she was nervous so I sent her a fitting card. She rocked her appearance like I knew she would.

Stay tuned for the next card I send. Who will it be to?

Now for the giveaway! This month Pear Tree Greetings is allowing me to give one lucky reader 24 Notelettes.


They are fun and will start you off on your summer of handwritten notes. If you want to go ahead and check out all the goodies that Pear Tree Greetings offer I have a coupon code for each of you to get a discount. Enter CONNECT15 to receive 15% off your personalized stationary purchase. NO minimum purchase either. Yay!

To enter
Leave me a comment telling me about the last time you sent out a card. Was it a birthday or special note?

Want an extra entry (or 3)?
Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (located at the bottom of my blog)
Follow thelucaszoo on Twitter
Like The Lucas Zoo on Facebook - gasp I have a FB page!!

I will end this giveaway on June 30th at 11:59 pm.

Read more...

Small Style Thursday 6.15.11

The girls picked out their own outfits to wear to the dentist. Their styles couldn't be more different. I love that!

Ruby is wearing a pair of shorts that we found at Goodwill a few weeks ago. When I pulled them out she said "Yay, MINE!". We love them ♥ Her top is Old Navy.
Piper is wearing an Ella Moss top, purple cami underneath, and skinnies are from the Gap. Do you say from the Gap or just Gap. I don't know. I am just that clueless :)
Violet's dress is from a friend. We have good friends.

That's it for this week.

Read more...

Wordful Wednesday - No Cavities!

Aren't those beautiful words? To everyone out there that has perfect teeth it wouldn't be anything new but I spent many years dreading the dentist. Either from the food I was eating or just the fact that I had cavity prone teeth I have my share of fillings. It makes me really proud of the girls. They are doing a great job with their teeth. Nowadays I only brush them about 2 times a week but every other day it is all them. Yay!

Read more...

Summer, Summer, Summer!

Monday was Piper's first day she did not have to wake up and get ready for school since last September. She still got up at 6am. Today too. Yesterday she knew she didn't have to get up she was just so excited because I promised her a trip to the splash pad near our home. Summer for us will be filled with swimming, fishing, paddle boating, water tabling (for when I am lazy) and grilling out. It gets really hot down here so all of these things have to be timed perfectly so we don't fry. What are your summer plans?

The sweet smile of a child out for summer break

Read more...

Monday Mingle 6.13.2011

I am beat this morning. Hubs was off this weekend and we were go, go, go! Sometimes around the house but nonetheless b.u.s.y! On to this week's mingle joined by my baby who is home with me for 2 whole months! Woot! Woot! Do people still say that? I don't know :)

1. How long can you go without getting mail in the mailbox(not email)?
2. Snail mail or email? How do you conduct most of your business and correspondence?
3. Do you still send cards or letters? What was the last letter or card you sent and to whom?

Link up with Eighty MPH Mom and her Monday Mingles!

Read more...

52 Weeks of Me - FramingYou (24/52)

I have been trying to make something work and yesterday almost threw it out the window for another idea but I am determined. Not sure if I will get an opportunity to try today or not but check back!

As always thank you for participating and be sure to add your shot to our flickr pool. Next week is Shoot through (water, glass, window etc).

<a border="0" href="http://thelucaszoo.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/jessieb327/52on2-1-1.jpg"/></a>

Read more...

I am the mama of a 1st grader

180 days went very quickly. It just seems like yesterday that Piper first started kindergarten and now I have a rising 1st grader. Wow. Piper has grown so much over the course of the past year. She writes stories, reads books, and has sleepovers. The school had a little graduation and the kids all performed.

Afterwards I got a mama to take a quick shot of the girls and I.

Then we got Piper's summer homework. Did I just say that? Why yes I did :) We got 2 math workbooks and 6 (WHAT???) reading workbooks. At least when she is "so bored" I will have something on hand to pull out. Lucky her :)

Finally I took an obligatory 1st day of school picture and decided to do a last day shot as well. For giggles I put her in the same dress. Gone is my baby and in her place a beautiful growing girl. Excuse me while I dry my eyes, again.

Read more...

Small Style Thursday 6.9.11

So today was a big day here at the zoo because Violet went to school with Piper. Yep, my 4 year old went to Kindergarten. How cool is that? How cool is Piper's teacher for asking Violet to come in? Now she woke up this morning saying she didn't want to go but then Piper talked her into it and she went back and forth and shed a few tears when we got there because she was nervous and scared but the whole time I told her she could come home with me. We got to the classroom though and once she started playing it was all done. "Bye Mama!" By the way this picture is totally typical of my life trying to get them all in the same shot. Notice only 1 child looking at me. Seeing this makes me smile though :)

On Ruby - Hanna dress and Chuck's
On Piper - Hedgehogs 'n Hairbows bow, Children's Place dress, and sorry looking fake crocs (she BEGGED me this morning to let her wear them)
Violet has a Crewcuts dress and hand me down Lelli Kelly's (thanks Kisten ♥)

Read more...