Day at the Zoo

The Nashville Zoo is located on old farmland and the historic farmhouse is still in the middle of the zoo along with barns and gardens and farm animals. They were having Harvest Days while we were there so we took a few fall pictures of Ensley. Isn't she getting big!?.

I think Ensley could have sat and talked to the cow all day. I tried to upload a video of her mooing to the cow but for some reason blogger won't recognize my videos...anyone who can help in that area please tell me what I am doing wrong. Do you see those fish Daddy!?
We arrived in the African Savannah just in time to see the elephants come out.

Bye y'all!

Momma Puppy

Kala had puppies Tuesday night!! She had seven but her second puppy was stillborn. She has three males and three females. Kala's coloring is called reverse brindle and it is probably the least common in the boxer community. We figured she might have one or two reverse puppies but assumed the majority would be fawn like Bandit...Kala's puppies' daddy. Well we were way off. Four puppies are reverse and two are brindle and they are all so cute!

She is such a good momma!! The house has been a little lonely the past few days with her in the garage :( I miss my puppy baby.

I am taking them to get their tails docked tomorrow. That should be an adventure! Ensley, Kala, six puppies and me...sheesh, it stresses me out a little just thinking about it. Ensley will definitely be in a carrier. Updates to come :)

Blessing Obedience

WOW! God is way too good to us! Last week, EJ and I decided we were tired of paying my student loans and our house. We didn't want any debt holding us back from whatever God intends us to do with the money He gives us. I sat down with the budget and squeezed every penny possible out of our extras and luxuries and started an envelope system of other monthly expenses. All of the extra money each month will go to pay off the prinicple balance on my loans then all of that will go toward the house.
First, let me say the grocery bill this week was exactly to the penny what I had budgeted. I told God He was showing out but he said nope. I also needed an oil change this week, which I had budgeted for, but they informed me my front tires needing replacing. I was a little discouraged and I thought really?! I just got started on this whole envelope budget thing and I don't have an envelope big enough for that, but I have followed God long enough to know when you are being obedient to Him you are attacked the most...not to say that this is a big blow by any means, it just wasn't planned so anyway I got the new tires. I came home and was subtracting the cost of the tires from our extra money for the principle this month and I noticed that my check this pay period was increased by twice what the tires cost. Why would my check be different from every other check for the past many months? I have no explanation other than God is good. I told God again He showed out and He said nope, I just love you and thank you for being obedient. Isn't he good? Wowser...He blows my mind!

Big Weekend

Friday Ensley and I went to Watertown's Pep Rally on the square for homecoming with Daddy and surprised Mrs. Dawn. She was dressed in her Purple Tiger dress and strangers were coming up asking to take a picture of her. She was dancing to the music and waving at everybody as if they all came to see her. It was fun and made up for the fact that football games start after her bedtime so we can't make it to many.Saturday we went to Burgess Falls State Park about an hour from here and did a little hike. It was a perfect day. The trail is probably the easiest hike I have ever done and the falls were probably the prettiest I have seen in the state. There are three set of falls along the trail and the whole trail is 3/4 mile one-way. I highly recommend this to our middle Tennessee friends if you want to get out on a pretty afternoon.

Ensley sang us back up the trail. She loves to sing...especially Rocky Top ;). (For some reason, I can't upload videos on the blog anymore?)

We had a little picnic after the hike and Ensley had her first taste of Oreo's, and I'd say she likes them! She used all of sign language to get some more. She signed more, please and thank you, haha!

This morning was our first Sunday as the college and career teachers and we are so excited about how God is moving in that ministry and are humbled that we get to be a part of it. Please pray for us as we follow His lead.

Maybe not as ready as I thought...

In my post on Monday, I said I was ready for Ensley to start walking. Today we went to the park in the morning then went strolling through the neighborhood this afternoon stopping to walk around the pond and smell the flowers. I love for her to stand up, look up at me, then reach out for my hand. There is something so precious about her knowing when she reaches for me I will be there for her. My heart melts when her little hand wraps around my finger to set off on our next adventure. I love walking hand in hand with her and I know once she starts walking she won't reach for me as often...so I changed my mind. I am just fine with her not walking solo yet.

First Series of Steps

Ensley took her first set of solo steps Thursday. She has been taking one step for a while but then will get down and crawl or hang on to whatever is close by and she will walk all over the place holding our finger or pant leg but as far as multiple steps on her own...nada, til now. Thursday I was having a Shrimp & Grits party and Ensley tried the squeaker shoes on. She loved them and took four steps in a row by herself while wearing them so of course I ordered her a pair. She hasn't taken anymore series of steps since then. I am not sure if she knows she can crawl faster or if she is scared to let go, but she is oh so close.
I generally don't like to rush the milestones but I am ready for her to get this walking thing down. We are going to the beach in a few weeks and I want her to be able to walk when we are on vacation. Everyone has said don't rush it because when she starts walking she will be into everything. Well she already is into everything but just not while walking. Oh well, all in good time my pretty.

Reading with Monkey

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Summer Fun

Ensley's First Birthday Party