Weekend Recap: Father's Day!

We had Mr. Fix-it all to ourselves again this weekend since his work week was rather calm & uneventful. So we were able to plan a fun weekend of family time togetherness! 

First trip: the zoo! Now, Mr. Fix-it can be a tad bit more pessimistic than I am and he was convinced the zoo would be packed since it was Father's Day weekend. So we headed out early in hopes of beating the crowd. 

Well, early for our family means rolling out of here around 9:30am. It's often quite a task feeding & dressing everyone in a timely manner. 9:30 was the time we were hoping to arrive at the zoo. No biggie. We've been to the zoo several times before and the crowds were fine.

The place was slammed. Like parking only available a mile away slammed. Mr. Fix-it just loves when he's right. ;-) I wasn't looking forward to carting 2 strollers, 4 kids, and 2 big bags filled with diapers & a picnic lunch all over God's green earth just to get to the zoo entrance. 

So I prayed for a close parking spot. Yes, I pray for menial things just as much as big things. Prayer is powerful, people! And what do you know, but a car just happened to pull out as we were riding around the parking lot for the 5th time. And the parking spot just happened to be directly in front of the zoo entrance, right by the handicap spots. 

Thank ya, Jesus! :) 

This is how we roll with 4 kids ages 4 & under at the zoo.

The zoo was fun! Of course, the kids were more interested in riding the way overpriced train ride & playing on the playground more than they cared for seeing all of the exotic animals. Because playgrounds aren't a dime a dozen or anything. Kids these days! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.

He resembles his Daddy! Just a tad. :)

Our family!

On the train ride with Boo!

After returning home, the kids & Mr. Fix-it were ready for naps! And I decided to get a jump start on Mr. Fix-it's Father's Day desserts. Apparently, he really likes banana pudding which is something I never knew about him. Almost 5 years of marriage and he just recently mentioned his adoration for homemade banana pudding.  I guess it keeps the spark alive in our marriage learning all of these new things along the way. ;) 

Since this Mama had never before made a homemade banana pudding (I think there is something infinitely wrong in a dessert that does not contain chocolate!) I set out to make a banana pudding that would measure up to Mr. Fix-it's grandmother's. (His standard of good cooking is always based on whether it's as good as his grandmother's! Tough shoes to fill!) 

I made a back-up peanut butter chocolate mousse pie just in case the banana pudding flopped. You can never go wrong having something peanut butter and chocolate around, after all. 

Banana pudding

Peanut butter & chocolate mousse pie

Thank goodness, both desserts turned out delicious and got Mr. Fix-it's stamp of approval so he should be fat & happy all week. Ha! Though I should mention that all 3 of my table food eating kids agreed with me that desserts should always contain chocolate. They didn't care for the banana pudding as much as the chocolate & peanut butter pie. :) 

After dinner, we headed to the pool for Baby CJ's first ever swim! He loves the bathtub so I knew he would enjoy the pool, too! 

 

My water baby!

My goal is to teach this kid to swim this summer.

The girls aren't as brave in the water as my boys are! Look at Boo's terrified face! HA!

 

After swimming & baths, I think all of the kiddos were in bed no earlier than 10pm that night. I know they were worn out! (So were Mommy & Daddy!!)

Sunday, of course, was Father's Day and the kids gave their special gifts & homemade cards to their Daddy. This was my attempt at getting a special photo for his office of the kiddos. I don't know why I was expecting them to cooperate. 

Yet another Pinterest fail! :)

We did get a somewhat decent shot for his special gift, though. I will never be a photographer! :)

And here is a sweet picture of Mr. Fix-it with our babies right before we headed out the door for church. 

Side note: don't bother taking a picture before heading out the door to church. Because 2 of the kids will discover a bucket filled with rain water on the patio that just needs to be splashed in and 3 kids will wind up getting dew-covered, freshly cut grass all over their church shoes & on Mommy's kitchen floor. Fun times. 

After a day of church, grilling out steak & shrimp, overindulging on high-calorie desserts, and plenty of playtime, it's safe to say that Mr. Fix-it had a wonderful Father's Day! 

I may be bias here, but I'm pretty sure my kids have the best Daddy ever! 

Snuggling with his princess during a "rain & funder" storm. She doesn't like "rain & funder." :)