Getaway

"I want to get away" is what my heart and head were telling me by the end of the week last week. Sometimes you just feel like getting away and having fun family time. Mike had a very stressful week at work so we got up Saturday morning with no plans in our head, but we wanted to get away! We loaded up and as we were leaving our neighborhood, Mike asked Kyle to pick a state that borders ours, and Kyle picked Tennessee. So off we went and we ended up in Knoxville at the zoo!

We had a great time despite the high humidity and Hope's constipation. It appears that the 24 hours of formula she had to have this week due to my tooth incident really hurt her belly. She was a trooper and the boys had fun at the zoo.

Here are some pictures of our latest adventure. We stayed over in Knoxville and did some more exploring today on our way home. Sometimes spontaneous fun is the best:)

Hope and I took a nursing break in the air condition:)

David and Daddy looking at the giraffes.

David does a great imitation of a penguin and at the zoo there was a whole exhibit of them. Here is David learning some more penguin moves:)

The boys have a book called Big Smelly Bear and they decided that this bear looked exactly like the bear in the book.

Kyle and Hope:)

David listening to Kyle's Ipod on the way to the zoo. He has his own, but we have not finished loading songs on it.

This picture of David cracks me up! My mom bought him a new outfit and he tried it on. He knew he looked good and he modeled for us:) It was adorable and then we could not get him to take it off!!

This is a sweet picture I took of Hope outside.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mike!! Yesterday was my hubbie's birthday and he HATES when he is the center of attention and does not let us make a big deal over his birthday. So, I thought I would do a little happy birthday message over the blog since he still does not know how to edit this!!!

Mike Robinson is:

1) Fiercely loyal and works his elbows off for our family. His dedication to his work can be obnoxious at times, but I know it is for the benefit of our family.

2) A great father. Truly, he has the discipline/love thing down pretty good that works for our boys. He holds them accountable and then loves on them. I have joked and it is really true, that if I raised these children solo then they would probably be juvenile delinquents! Really, I am such a softie.

3) A hands on Dad. There is nothing that our children do that Mike does not either coach or is on the sidelines cheering them on. Considering his crazy schedule, he puts our children first and does not miss a thing.

4) A godly influence for our children. He preaches God truths to our children. I love to hear him whisper goodnight prayers with the boys. I have heard before the line that a man never stands so tall as when he is on his knees in prayer.

5) A servant at heart. It annoys me when he takes calls on the weekend or stops and answers a question of a parent in the community. Really, I just about lost my cool one night at a Tball game when this mom had him cornered for 20 minutes with a specific question when I was trying to get some pictures of he and the boys before a game. I expressed my frustration at this mom to him for taking his time when he was "off" and Mike was appalled that I was annoyed. He really sees his job as a public service and that he is here to serve.

We love you honey!! Happy Birthday from us--your biggest fan club:)

Brutal

That word pretty much sums up our week. Mike has been sick and finally went to the doctor to get some medicine today. He has been fighting this for two weeks and was just now willing to go the doctor:) Hopefully he will be able to get some relief from all this coughing.

I have been having some tooth pain most of the summer and I finally went to our sweet dentist today. He referred me immediately to an oral surgeon and I now have one less tooth:( I am so sad and hurting so, but in the long run I will feel so much better. I have to give Hope formula for 24 hours and then I can resume nursing. I had to get the low down on formula today because I have little or no experience with it. Hopefully Hope will dig it:)

"Mama said there would be days like these" but during times that you feel pressed from all sides is when you remember that our God is bigger than any tough situation we face. He can fight fights that we do not have the energy or strength to fight and He can always right a wrong. I heard the best quote the other day on our Christian radio station and I have already committed it to memory. "Regret looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up!" We as a family are trying to look up during this difficult time knowing that our God is mighty and able.