A month in pictures...

At the end of April we were able to visit the Woodburn tulip fields in bloom. They were amazingly beautiful, as usual!

And given all the rain we've had, the boys had a blast!

We came semi prepared with rubber boots

and boy did they have fun.

Although, it looks as tho' there is such a thing as too much mud.

I guess, not as long and you're bigger than it is.

Why else would there be ditches between every row, besides for jumping over?!

Uncle AJ and Aunt Ruth came along,

as well as Grampa and Gramma.

The diversity of color never ceases to amaze me!

On the first of May, Jeffy, (whom we more often call Bugs these days) turned 2!

We got to celebrate at Uncle Dave's house, which was great fun.

As it was Uncle Dave's birthday, 2 days before Bugs.

Juls getting a "ride" in the wagon from Grampa.

She made the 3 month mark at the end of April.

"My Sweetness"
one of her many nick names.

Chubby toes so fun to munch on!!

Investigating her brother Leroy's offerings for play things.

New shoes!!

Happy Mother's Day, which we enjoyed at Uncle AJ and Aunt Ruth's

Mom and her two granddaughters

Two cousins waiting for Uncle Dave to hurry up and come in.

Our Monday night laundry pile, which we tackle while listening to recorded ministry, or something motivational !!

The boys view of their Dad :)

And some sunshine at last, which has the kiddos in the yard most days!!

"Pride goeth...

before a fall"...
when your brother backs up in the truck you're standing on.
(tho' he landed quite safely from this one)

And right now we're in the middle of a rather horrible throw -up flu , which this small man started for us. He was actually in the middle of it when I took this picture tho' you'd never guess. He was starting to come out on the topside after having lost it at least 6 times over the course of 9 hours.

I didn't feel quite so chipper when I got it two days later. :P Mr. Tech got a light version yesterday night and now Phi's down with it today. So far Leroy and Beans are holding out!! It seems to be catchy for up to two weeks after you have it, so we will probably be laying low for a while here. So, that's another month in the life of the Soares. Plenty happening, not so much time to stop and think about it.

I read this in an old book from the 1800's the other day, and found it "food" for thought:

"Time is so precious, that there is never but one moment in the world at a time, and that is always taken away before another one is given." Hawes

Spring time at the Zoo

We were able to make it to the Zoo for $4 Tuesday yesterday. Not wanting to ride in the school bus this time we didn't get there until 1:00 and got to park in the zoo parking lot. We were thankful for lovely spring sunshine! Since most of the animals we saw were from Asia or Africa I'm sure they were grateful to finally have sunshine too! Phi walked the whole time and Aaron was at the stage where he preferred the stroller and was unsure of the animals. Phi was in that stage last year. It's interesting to recognize some of the stages they go through since they're close enough in age I can still remember when the other one "did that". Any way, on to the pictures and hopefully (if I can get it to load right) one video for you. Kate and Tay-O, we hope you can go with us some time when you're here, for now here's a "through the lens" tour!!

One of the polar bears was splashing in their pool...

playing with a big rubber toy.

Mean while his buddy was hanging out in the shade on his tummy showing off his big bear feet

The tiger was pacing back and forth, back and forth by the doors in his cage looking like he was waiting for his lunch from his keeper.

These little gazelles were Phi's favorite, tho" they were just minding their own business eating grass and leaves. We talked about how they can run really fast, fast enough to get away fro a cheetah! (Which always reminds me of Dave Ramsey's visual of credit card advertisers and debt being the cheetah and we've got to be the gazelle getting away. HA! guess that one stuck with me)

And the Hornbills who were just enjoying the sun on their black feathers on a log.

The giraffe was again indoors.

But Leroy found it interesting that it was drinking water.

This coolest lizard looked like it should be a fake stuffed one, but, it was cruising around it's cage hoping on rocks and such like, very much alive.

This lone zebra was grazing in the sunshine.

We at least got to see the hippos' faces this time and their funny little ears. Leroy like their "little" tails.

The lions were not doing more than sunning them selves on the rocks. This was just fine with Phi who was hoping they wouldn't roar. The male remind us of Gramma's Dandy lion story with his scruffy mane.

It was Julabeans first trip to the zoo at 10 weeks. She slept most the time and was a very patient little lady and waited the whole 3 hours to eat till we made it back to the van.

Sorry the video would not load, grrr. Maybe when Mr. Tech gets back we can get it on here.

When You Were One...

Finally a post to break up the routine of the weekly alphabet post. Mr. Leroy turned two the end of February so here's to his first year.

The day you turned one!

We made you a Doggy cake cause you loved doggies.

And still do love most things to do with animals.

Big

Small

And wiggly.

You've always been our ham n a half.

You didn't walk until the day we welcomed your new baby brother.
(14 months)

You love dirt

of any kind.

And precarious perches.

Berries of any sort are a favorite.

You like to pick the petals off flowers or leaves off plants one itsy piece at a time.

You like boats and trucks and airplanes but have a worry over helicopters.

Surprisingly, you play very well alone.

But, you also love your big brother,

and try and do whatever he's doing,

good or bad.

You love coloring

and drawing.

But you DO NOT like swimming pools.

though water in general is great!

Your favorite people are your Daddy,

U. AJ

And Bumpa.

You love phones and helping in the kitchen.

And being out of doors.

You started talking at about 18 months and can talk as well as your older brother these days.

When you want to know what a color is you state, " color purple" until you are told what the color is.

Your favorite color is blue currently.

When your older brother does something you don't like you tell him off using his full name, first, middle and last. :)

It's hard to believe you are two and some days that you are only two, my little man.