The Python Story You Have All Been Waiting For :)

Somehow the word got out that Ms. Anne the Reticulated Python who weighs 300 pounds would be allowed to eat for the first time in like 6 weeks. Eat a dead pig, that is! Everyone in a 300 mile radius was in the herpetarium (snake house) at 1 pm anticipating the big devour. Seriously, it was the largest crowd they had ever had. We actually got there 30 minutes prior and still couldn't see a darn thing. We waited til they did a little crowd control and formed a line that went all through the snake house and outside. After standing in the stifling room for about 45 minutes, we were finally able to get a quick glimpse of Anne. Just imagine being in a room so crowded that you could not exit if it were necessary. Now throw in the fact that you are constantly staring down your children lest they slip away from you never to be seen again. Throw in the smells that humans generate on hot, humid days and cram it into a small space. Next, toss in the fact that there are huge venemous snakes on either side of you (behind glass cages, of course) just waiting to strike. Add to it a husband who gets a little irritated in situations that aren't handled with any sense of order or competence. The end result? Pure joy.

When we finally got our turn, we were a little puzzled as to why the pig lay off to one side while the python seemed non-interested. Then we got a better look at Ms. Anne. She had a full mouth grip on herself. Not having biology degrees, we decided to find out what provoked such odd behavior. Get this! She tried to strike the pig and missed! She hit herself, instead. The zoo herpetarium lady said her skin is so tough it wouldn't hurt her, but you should have seen her! There was some definite confusion going on as she was not letting go any too soon. I am not sure that zoo life has been too kind on Anne's sanity and hunting ability!

The first two pictures above are of Anne a couple hours before the feeding. They had the pig in the room behind her with its lovely smell wafting through the air in order to tell her it is feeding day. And she was ready! Moving all over that cage, with her head looking us up and down. Eerie. I assured her it wasn't me that smelled like the pig, but after being out in the hot sun for a few hours, I don't think she believed me. Oh, I learned what "reticulated" means. It refers to a "net", being the type of pattern on her. There is even such a thing as a reticulated giraffe.

Apparently, Anne got things figured out later in the day. When we circled back by the snake house, someone said she had managed to get the front hooves down. Just the image you wanted on your nice Sunday afternoon, huh? Sweet dreams.

You Favor...

You usually favor your Daddy, but here, you look like my Daddy and brother. Yep, you could definitely pass for a Martens here!

Downtown Bloopers

Because sometimes the goofy pictures are the cutest pictures! Can I smile with my tongue? That might be cute.

Was this the kind of expression you were looking for, Mom?

Just a little brotherly bunny ears. Haven't you ever wondered how this kind of thing gets passed down from generation to generation? It isn't like I go around putting up bunny ears on my siblings during a pic...well, not that they know of, anyway.

Enough already!

Looking in gutter holes is much more entertaining than smiling for Mom.

They are running away from the UPS Truck that is chasing us down the alley. Photography can be dangerous!

Come on, little guy! You know you want to smile with us!

Downtown Fun

We headed downtown for a photo shoot today! I won't tell you that I bribed them with seeing "G Force" if they cooperated. (Which is very good.) Special thanks to my assistant for the day, BeBe for not allowing me to strangle my brood. Let's just say that the phrase "she works hard for the money" would have applied to me today...except my kids don't pay! I think we got some keepers, though.

I will put some other faves up later...and maybe do a "bloopers" post!

Bullfrogs, Cicadas, and a Marching Band

This title is also known as "The best workout ever."

So, my friend and I decided it would be great fun to take a walk last night. We are in the best shape of our lives, so it would only be for pure enjoyment, mind you. Well, OK, we live in false reality.

After setting the time on the phone, I daydreamed all day about how this walk was going to be amazing. We would walk til we could walk no more and sweat all the horrific impurities out of our system. We might even get up to running a bit! I was pumped...a night of shedding 3 pounds lay ahead.

Fast Forward: A Train calls back and says, ummmm, do you think we could walk to The Marble Slab and back?????

"WHAT?" My legalist brain kicked in and said, "shoot, no!" But, then I quickly realized my life would be absolutely no fun without people like her to bring a little party into everything they do. Thank God for sending those folks my way, or I would make my own hell out of this earth.

So, walk to get ice cream we did. And it was the best workout of my life! What a celebratory way to kick off our new venture.

You should have seen us at Marble Slab, though. We were a couple of young and middle aged (hot) Mommas in a sea of young and college aged kids. Took us back to our college days when we would be the young and college aged kids at TCBY.

But, we held our fashion together with our new Sauconys and Target work out shorts. We even left the fanny packs at home. It is difficult hiding your money in the side of your socks, but we managed. On the way home, we got clever and stuck the money on top of our shoes, woven in between the laces. I am sure we never had to backtrack and go find our lost dollars, though. That would be ridiculous.

Passing through the cutest neighborhood that has a creek, we were overcome with sound! I had to stop just to make it all out. "Is that a goose?" I inquired. My smart friend informed me that it was bullfrogs and cicadas and a marching band. Wow. Good ears!

I don't know about her, but I am feeling the burn today. And loving it. And thinking that we should go get ice cream every time we walk!

Lil' Miss Sunshine

Hop on over and meet this sweet lil thing!

lulu

Playtime

Nothing like playing "astronaut knights and cowboys" on a rainy day!

When did you get so big, baby of mine? You sure make a cute cowboy.

Rain, Rain, Thank you God for Rain!

This is going to be a ramble post!

Can you believe this rain and weather for July? I went running/walking last night and there was actually a cool breeze! It felt amazing!

I get to photo a newborn girl soon and I am so excited! I may love taking pictures of babies best...allows me to get my baby fix in the best possible way!

Eric got back his cholesterol numbers back. Whoopsie. I'll get mine as soon as I get the gumption to make an appointment. Not sure I want to see what I officially weigh just yet.

Do you hear that rain? Ahhhhhhh. Nothing like a downpour on a summer day.

We are getting geared up for school...ordered books and uniforms. My oldest has a size 6 waist and a size 12 height. Try to fit that one!

I am kinda sad summer is almost over. The boys have done great this summer...playing nicely and helping me around the house. I will miss sleeping in. Truly miss it. Tears of sadness streaming down my face.

We need to have more ideas of how to fix chicken and fish...in the most healthy way. I have some yummo recipes, but they will probably get old fast. Help a girl out!

I am stoked about being a part of Ranch Hands...we have another meeting today and I will be able to get you girls that inquired more info!

I am thinking about doing "BSF...Bible Study Fellowship" this year...they are covering the book of John. In depth, I might add...like 8 months worth of covering!!

We are taking the kiddos to the Memphis Zoo Saturday! I'm not looking forward to a road trip, but Anne the Reticulated Python will be allowed to eat that day! She only eats every few months and she will be given a frozen/dead pig to swallow whole...may take her hours to eat it! What awesome fun! My boys will LOVE this!

Ahhhh, the rain.

I have the desire to go on a fall shopping wardrobe spree. Get behind me, Satan.

Tonight we are having a Giada recipe...Chicken Spezzatino! Amore!

I heart McDonald's Iced Mochas. I could quite quickly become an addict if it weren't for that trying to eat right factor. Did you know they give (tiny) ones away on Mondays from like 7-7?

Love you Mom and Dad and Mini and Kirby!

Have you (girls) ever watched the "Love Comes Softly" video series based on the books by Janette Oak? They are soooooo good and sweet and wholesome. Just love them! Our church has most of them, and I have also seen them at Blockbuster. Just look under Drama and the word "love." The main guy character in the first one has a voice like butter...so tender, I tell you!

So, I have really been in a blog slump...would you be so kind as to give me ideas??

How is that for a ramble post?

Testament Focused...cont.

"Gate"
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
I may be the absolute only person in the world that sees the image in this rock...you can commit me to the institution later! But, this is the verse that popped into my head...and it really has nothing to do with the fact that the photo is of a rock...except that Jesus is our rock and sure foundation...even in troubled times. Psalm 91 is about hope in catastrophic times...do you see the wide-eyed person covered with the wings?
"Covered"
Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

"Lampstand"
Exodus 25:31 "Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it."

"Altar of Remembrance"

Genesis 35:14 "Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it."

"Wall"

Habakkuk 2:11 "The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it."

"Message"

1 John 1:5 "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."

(I liked the 3 bursts of light that represent the trinity.)

"Word"

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

"Builder"

Hebrews 3:4 "For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything."

"Widow's Oil"

2 Kings 4:1-7 "The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, 'Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves. Elisha replied to her, 'How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?' 'Your servant has nothing here at all,' she said, 'except a little oil.' Elisha said, 'Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.' She left him and afterward shut out the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another one.' But he replied, 'There is not a jar left.' Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, 'God, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.'

"Ruin"

Haggai 1:9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house."

"Taste"

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

"Rejoice"

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

"Increasing Measure"

2 Peter 1:5-8 "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess theses qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Boyness

I am a survivor. Lots of boyness going around here the past couple of days! We took care of these little fellas. My boys loved the extra boyness. At one point, I realized our home had more toys scattered about than in its entire lifetime. More sword fighting going on than in the Medieval times. I was happy to send the little guys home with all their extremities.

At one point, I think Cade had all the boyness he could handle...he chose to read on his own!! By himself.

Who can resist that??

Love these fellas, including mine! Ha! Now I need to leave my home for some girl time. Like now or I am going to go insane.

Testament Focused...help me again!

"Ripe"

Amos 8:1-2 "This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. 'What do you see, Amos?' he asked. 'A basket of ripe fruit, I answered.' Then the LORD said to me, 'The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.'

"World"

1 John 2:17 "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

What do you think? Do you like the first or second pic for this? Can you tell the first pic is trash?

Thank you for voting on the pearls yesterday! It has helped me!

Teeth Week

The tooth fairy has been busy this week! Eli lost his first tooth last night! He started crying when I told him it was time to pull it...hanging on by a thread, no less! I gently gave it a snug. He was astonished that it didn't hurt...he hugged me and told me thank you. Love him! Cade went to the dentist last Monday to get two teeth pulled. Something about having a "Stuart" tiny mouth and no room for large teeth to come into. He did awesome! He was brave and courageous and my heart swelled with pride. Love him!

Testament Focused...YOU VOTE!!

I need your help! Which picture do you like best for this verse?

"Pearls"

Matthew 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."