Zoo with Nana

I had a half day in September and decided it would be a great day to take the kids to the zoo. So, we asked Nana to go with us and had a blast!!  It was awesome to be at the zoo when no one else was there! Hunter wasn't feeling the greatest and the kids didn't get much of a nap beforehand but it was still a lot of fun!! We got to ride on 4 different rides and loved every minute of it! You can follow our adventure with the pictures attached...

Our first stop...the lion drinking fountain
(this was definitely a favorite of mine as a kid too!)

The pony ride...Mia wanted to make sure I wasn't holding on since she is a big girl and can do it herself! The pony didn't want to go back into her stall so we got to go 3 times around! BONUS!! The pony went for a 4th lap but Mia and I got off anyway!!

This is the closest we were going to get...the kids had ants in their pants and were ready to go to the next thing!

It was feeding time for the orangutans so they were swinging and playing...lots of fun to watch!!

Hunter and me cheesing on the carousel!

Mia being a big girl all by herself!

Nana & her favorite grandbabies!
We found out that the horses were stand-ins for the endangered species that were getting repainted!!

Mia running out of the kids escape

Hunter loved running through here...I thought I was going to have to follow him in since he thought it was hilarious to turn around and go the opposite direction before I could reach him, the little squirt!!

Everyone needs a picture on the Kimono Dragon!!

Mia of course didn't want anybody else to get on!

Trying to pet the animals through the glass

Nana pushing FAST...I believe Hunter had poop in his pants so we needed a bathroom STAT!

This is as close as we could get to the giraffes although Mia certainly tried to coax them over.  The zookeeper told us to see the goats, they're a sure thing...you won't see a picture of goats from this visit since they were all in the barn!! So much for a sure thing!

Hunter teasing the ostrich that kept trying to peck his shoe!!

Boat ride with Nana...definitely starting to get tired!

Mia & Nana on the train ride

Me & Hunter on the train

Hunter thinking he's hilarious (He really is, but don't tell him!)

Peek-a-boo! Hunter could have gone back and forth between the windows for an hour if we would've let him!

Obviously we had lots of fun and can't wait for next season and more zoo trips!!!!!

I'm 30!

For my 30th birthday this year we decided to have a bunch of family and friends over to celebrate!! The weather didn't cooperate as we would have hoped but we still managed to have a lot of fun.  We had a few people in the pond until the storm came in.  Then we moved inside for more food and cake! All the kids went home early and we continued on into the night! It was a lot of fun and I can say I am embracing my 30s with open arms!!!!

Hunter splashing in the pond with Aunt Leah

My cake made with love by Shalynn

Grandma & Grandpa clowning

Nana & Tony

Pops & the kids munching on some goodies!

Cake with friends

Hunter's favorite cousin Nolan!

Closest thing we could get to a family picture

Sisters!!!

Me & Sara BFF!

I am working on updating all of our summer time fun.  Most of this you can probably already piece together via facebook but I wanted to share on here as well.  I have a bunch of posts coming and some may be out of order so please don't be critical! Most of the posts won't have a lot of details with them since the events took place a few months ago.  Hopefully I'll be all updated over the next couple of days and be able to stay on top of it more as winter sets in! It always seems easier when you are forced to be inside more since the weather isn't as much fun!! Thanks!!

Daddy Working

Erin & Zach put up a shed this summer and Jared poured the slab for them.  The kids and I went over to watch so we could see Daddy at work.  Mia was scared at first but she warmed up to it a little bit by the end!

Mia playing intently in the sand pile

Kylee posing

Working hard...

Hunter & Daddy...he loved the truck

Beep! Beep!

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Hunter REALLY liked Zach's trailer.  There were a lot of fun tools to play with!

Mia & Daddy

Cheese

Kylee's turn...Thanks Uncle Jared!

Crooked Lake

This year Mom & Dad rented a house on Crooked Lake for a week and everyone got to stay for at least a few nights.  We went up as a family on Sunday.  Jared was able to stay through Tuesday and the kids and I stayed until Thursday!  It was wonderful to have no set plans for the week...we just laid around, played games and floated in the water!  It was fun to just spend time with each other and watch the kids get a chance to play.  Here are a few of my favorite pics even though you know I have a TON more.  (Thanks to Grandma we have a photo book to commemorate the week!)

4th of July

Once again we had a small gathering at the house on the 4th of July.  It was mostly family which is nice and relaxing.  We had a busy weekend so we were a little tired but I think we all had a great time.  It was a gorgeous day so we hung around outside and played in the pond.

Mia getting her beauty sleep before the party starts!

Kurty testing out the kayak

Daddy & Mia relaxing in the water

Catching some rays by the pond

The boys floating on the raft with some brews and Brady :)

Nana, Pops, & Mia paddle boating around the pond

Grandpa Andy & Hunter discussing the deliciousness of chocolate goldfish!

Mia & Nana working on the "hole"

Blakester getting ready to go down the slide

Mia being her crazy self

Hi little birdie...

A little closer...

I don't want to touch it!

Hunter really liked the bird

Crazy Birdie!!

Mia taking a rest on Nana's lap

Uncle Joel & Hunter riding a bike

Jeep time!