Snow Days!

It took until the last week of February, but we finally saw some winter weather!
Hang on to your toboggans, this is a picture-loaded post!

"Snow Day" 1, which was actually more sleet than snow:

Snow Day 2:
(3 inches of real snow!)

Saturday Zoo Trip - Feb 21

Saturday was an impromptu trip to the zoo. "Impromptu" as in when we woke up we didn't know we were going, but just an hour and a half later 8 people were fed, dressed, and buckled into the car. In case you didn't know, this is no small feat.

The good times were rolling before we ever reached our destination. On the way, we saw this establishment:

...and said "Look! 'Daniel's Automotive!' ".  To which our own Daniel replied, "My 'motive? Huh!", in a tone of voice that indicated he was quite impressed.

On to the zoo....

Our butterfly with a butterfly:

Does every zoo start with large bird exhibits?

It wasn't that cold, but Levi was bundled nicely, anyway.

It was a beautiful mild morning, even though it was drizzly. We got to watch some African plains animals up close for quite a while! 

How many kids can we fit in an elephant's footprint? (Tyler wasn't interested)

Elephants are Brooklyn's Best! (that's Brooklyn speak for 'favorite')

Giraffes have got to be some of God's most amazing creatures!

Getting a peek at the rhino: 

Monkeys watching monkeys:

Brooklyn was surprised when this pacing cat appeared in front of her!

Checking out the white tigers:

Feeding the ducks and GIANT catfish:

One playful penguin:

Lengthy wrap-around aquarium, complete with birds flitting and flying above (and one rambunctiously bathing duck): 

Beautiful, happy zoo day!

Valentine's Fun 2015

First we got out our crayons and scissors...

...and got busy creating....

 Custom 'punny' valentines!

 Then we packed them up to exchange with our friends at our Children's museum play place....

 ...where apparently I only took pictures of Daniel.

On Valentine's Eve Gramps treated us all to Dairy Queen ice cream. 

 This is what the kiddos woke up to. It was almost like Christmas morning!

 Teddy bear from Daddy. :)

A "love-ly" Valentine's this year indeed!

Saturday Feb 7

We spent the afternoon today at the lake celebrating a friend's 4th birthday! The day was beautiful and mild. 

After play time and pizza and cake, we all set out to explore a campground island. The fourteen of us, yes, 14 - and that's just two families! - tromped and raced and walked and admired for an hour or so, then headed back to the 'mainland'. The idea was for the kids to keep running and playing at the playground there while the adults enjoyed some nice park benches. :)

But after we crossed the bridge and all turned right toward the playground, one little explorer turned left instead. His brown head soon disappeared down an incline, so I sent the others on ahead, and said we'd catch up. I quickly followed his trail, since he had been headed toward the water. 

This is how I found him:

My contemplative one.

Just enjoying the beauty of the water and sunshine.

Admiring it all as God's creation.

I'm always thankful for his perspective.

And always thankful that he can still be a kid. On this day, we enjoyed a few quiet moments together and then I easily convinced him to join the others at the playground.

Where we snacked on lunch leftovers.

And swang. (Dirty face alert!) 

Don't fun days like that wear you out, too?