Fazoli's Kids' Night

I took the kids to Fazoli's for their kids' night last week. I had been hearing about it for a while but hadn't ever been. The kids get to do a craft and their meals are just 99 cents. They seemed to enjoy it. I'm not crazy about their food but I think their bread sticks are better than OG.

School Picture Day

Today happened to be school picture day at both the kids' schools. I thought they just looked too too cute. I especially loved Mallory's knee socks which are like the kind I wore back in my school days. Not sure if any other kids wear them today but hey, let's bring 'em back! Everything they are wearing came from consignement stores, yard sales, ebay or hand me downs, except Mal's white shirt and the socks which I just got yesterday at Kohl's. Did you know Kohl's opens at 8 in the morning? I love that!

Crayons you can eat!

I came across these fun treats on a website recently so I made a few for the kids and for my first MOPS meeting. The kids really loved them. You can google pretzel crayons and get the scoop and templates for the wrappers.

Michael and Mommy's Trail Adventure

Michael wanted to go on a trail adventure the other day so I took him to Cove Springs here in town. There are lots of nice trails and a neat waterfall. We had a fun time. When we were finished Michael said "Mommy, I'm so happy can we go get a happy meal from McDonald's?" Well, what do you think we did?

Messy Crafts

I took Michael to a fun session of "Messy Crafts" at the library last week. He enjoyed the various activities set up at different tables for the 2-3 year olds to try out. His favorite had to have been the shaving cream table!

Lunch fun

When I first started packing Mallory's lunch I was putting everything in little ziplocs. It was working just fine but then I came across this website. Melissa makes the best lunches for her kids using bento boxes. I don't have all the fun supplies yet but hope to collect some of the cute picks and containers as time goes on. Here's a little sampling of some of Mallory's lunches I have done since finding her site.

The Hayneville Pool...then and now

We grew up going to the pool in Hayneville AL every summer. We loved it and have the best memories from those times. Our grandmother, Memmette, would take us and "watch" us while sitting in those old fashioned metal chairs that sort of rocked back and forth. Bud and I would play various games with our cousins and the other kids like Marco Polo. We'd go down the slides and dive off the diving board. It was so much fun. The pool is still up and running and this summer I got to take the kids there while we were staying with my Aunt Carole. Here are some fun pictures from 40 years ago compared to now. Overprotective parent note: My brother and I were younger (4 and 2) than Mallory and Michael (5 and 3) at the time and we didn't have on any flotation devices but M and M are decked out in their floatie swimsuits! My mom and dad were 29 and 31 and Paul and I 44 and 50...hmmm? It's a wonder we all survived back then without car seats and water wings!

Me in 1970

Mallory in 2010

My brother, now Uncle Bud, in 1970

Michael in 2010

Michael and Mallory in 2010My cousins Sonya and Kathleen with Bud and me way back when.

Mallory going down the little slide in 2010.

My mother standing by it in 1970.

And just for fun, my dad at the pool in 1970.