Happy Birthday S!

Wednesday was my little guy's 2nd birthday!  O had preschool in the morning so S and I went to the zoo.  It was a cool day with some sprinkles but it was still a good time.  We, of course, had to ride the train.

Because of the weather, there were lots good seats available!

But the animals didn't seem to mind the weather... we saw lots of them!

There was a little game of peak-a-boo through the stroller

We left and picked up O at school, had lunch and a nap.  There was an early birthday surprise because Gaga came to visit S on his birthday!  After supper, there was cake!



Love the cake!!

S received a "bike" for his birthday.  It's still a little big for him but he was so excited to get it!

Maybe he was a little too excited...  a little bit of the possessive 2 year old behavior started to come out.  If he wasn't on his bike and O would start riding her bike towards S's bike he would run towards his bike with no regard for safety and say "My bike! My bike! My bike!"  I got  a video of it but it was by accident.  Here it is...

He is still working on the whole riding it but he does pretty well going backwards!

We had a great day!

First day of school

Last Wednesday was O's first day of preschool!!  How exciting!  It was "Red Day" so she was asked to wear something red that day.

These next two pictures crack me up.  Not because of what O is doing but because I told her to do it!  Growing up mom tortured hmmm asked us to stand in front of our door to take a picture the first day of school.  And I just did it too!!

On our way out the door...

S saw O put her folder in her bag and he decided he needed a folder also.

On our way!

On our way in!

It was rather sunny that day...

O was so excited about starting school...

she almost ran down the stairs to her classroom!

We finally made it!  We took a quick picture and S and I had to leave(no crying by O or me!)

And then S and I walked back to the car... just the two of us...

and drove away... in a rather quiet car...  S kept asking about "sister"...

S and I went to a store and then went home to play outside since it was a nice day.  He must have gotten over his confusion of leaving O at school and coming home because he wasn't happy he had to stop playing outside and go back to get her....

I asked O what her favorite part of school was.  She said painting(she painted red circles) and playing outside.  And then she said "Mommy!  We had apple juice!"  She was so excited about having apple juice. :)

Finally we were home...

to do fun and exciting things like standing in plastic bowls.

Walk to End Alzheimers

A year ago this past June my "Nanny" passed away. If you knew Nanny, you knew what a character she could be.  She was "Nanny" to all of my friends- Nanny because she said she was too young to be "Grandma" is the story I heard.  She was always there with a smile(and a big glass of instant ice tea!) whenever I saw her.  I knew she always was supportive of me.  If you happen to look at my wedding pictures and the picture of my Dad and I standing waiting to walk down the isle, you can see Nanny in the background.  When I saw this I started laughing and then realized that it was rather fitting that she was back there... always behind me and supporting me through whatever. 

 I always thought I was a favorite of her's... but every grandchild felt that way. :)  She loved roses and flowers... and Chinese food!  My lone relative that loved Chinese food!  I remember coming home from college and going with Nanny to lunch at the only Chinese place in town.  She also loved ribbons.  Ribbons where all over her apartment.  When we were at the nursing home right before she passed away, S was only about 9 months.  Nanny had one of her ribbon boxes hanging in her room and S was playing with it.  I smiled as he played with it thinking she would be so happy he was enjoying her ribbons. Even though we made it to her before she passed away, she wasn't able to recognize us. She hadn't been able to recognize us for a while.  She had dementia.  She had been fighting it a long time before she passed away(she was a stubborn lady too :) )  So next weekend, my family is going to join other family members and thousands more to walk to end Alzheimer's.  If you would like to join us in our walk or help by donating, please  go here. 

zoo

We made a good decision in the spring of this year to get a zoo pass.  We have gone so many times, rode so many train and carousel rides, and ventured out to "Africa" using the tram so much that I'm sure the zoo has lost money on us! :)  And just think if we didn't have a month of 95+ degree temperatures we would have been there more often!  Here's some pictures... not all are from the same trip.

God has blessed us with amazing neighbors... who also have a zoo pass!!  So we have gone together a couple times.  I would like to say I figured out how to make this picture all cool but the truth is, the camera was by my ice water in the bag and got foggy... 

(they are looking at otters!)

One of my favorite animals there is the polar bear.  All but one time that we have been there he has been doing this....

Aren't his feet huge?!?!

It's funny that sometimes the most fun thing at the zoo is a random empty building to run around in.

The last time we went we finally saw one of S's favorite animals... turtles!  I wish everyone could hear how he says "turtle" it's cute!  We see O's favorite animal about every time we go but I couldn't find the one good picture I've got of them... she loves the camels!

This is the peacock my children have to ride on the carousel.  They haven't been brave enough to actually ride the animals that go up and down but that's ok, their friends were happy to join them!