Zoo Trip #1

Our first trip to the zoo was May 12.  We first met Mom at a 5K for the North Highlands after school program.  It was the inaugural run so there were not many runners.  Mom was having some leg pain so she decided to walk the 3K and push the kids while I ran.  Not the best idea since I could have really used the kids as an excuse as to why I did not run very well! After the race we raided the refreshment table and stocked up on bananas, oranges, and peanut butter crackers before heading to the zoo. 

It was a great day for the zoo.  It was a nice cool morning and the kids were super excited to go for the first time.  Mia was happy that the zoo was open again and the animals would be awake! The kids were great although you could tell they were getting tired by the end of the trip.  We skipped the Australian Adventure this time but I'm pretty sure we hit most everything else! Here are a few pics of our first trip...


Grandma & Hunter watching the monkeys play

Mia & Hunter watching the white "peacot" spread its feathers

Beautiful white peacot

Mia & Hunter running into the rain forest

Playing the gong!

Too precious not to share...Mia being a nice big sister!

Carousel time

Grandma too! We love our ride pass!

Mia's so big she thinks she needs to duck while she runs through!

Giving the Orangutan a smooch!

Mia sleeping like the cheetahs

Hunter copying Mia

Feeding the giraffes...look at that tongue!
(Hunter, of course, threw his piece of lettuce on the ground before it was our turn!)

Ringing the bell of the little train

Success!!!

WHY?

So, Mia's definitely at the stage where she asks why for EVERYTHING! Last night she asked me if it was raining.  Obviously it was, so I told her yes it's raining and then it all started...

Mia: Why is it raining?

Me: God is helping all the plants grow.

Mia: Who is God?

Me: (How in the heck do I explain this to a 3 year old) He's in Heaven watching over us.

Mia: Where is Heaven?

Me: Heaven is in the sky.

Mia: So God is in the sky?

Me: Yep.

Mia: Why?

Me: Because we need someone to watch over us.

Mia: Why?

Me: Because he keeps us safe and happy.

Mia: Will he keep Hunter safe too?

Me: Yep.  He keeps everyone safe.

It went on a little from there but then we were done peeing and were able to go play again. Thank Goodness! 

This is a picture of Nana trying to explain to Mia what Pops & Daddy were doing as they were cutting down the big trees.  At one point Nana looked at me with an expression saying "how many times will she ask why?" It's really hard (but kind of fun) to try to keep coming up with different answers! I, of course, just smiled thinking, "haha, your turn!" Sorry Nana!!!

Hunter's Birthday!

For Hunter's birthday we made yummy cupcakes for daycare and then we had swim lessons in the evening and went to East of Chicago for dinner with the Hitzfields & the Dohrmans!  The kids had a lot of fun eating out together and everyone got a cupcake that I saved from the daycare kiddos. 

Making cupcakes...excited!

Sibling Love!

PIZZA!!

Can I be done?

Making a wish!

Yummy!

Mia tried so hard to let Hunter
do it by himself! :)

The following Saturday we had Hunter's party.  It was nice because EVERYONE (except Uncle Andrew) was able to make it.  We even ended up having a little birthday surprise for Noah since everyone was there.  Hunter was a little ham bone while everyone sang to him and he tired of opening presents quickly, luckily there were several cousins and a sister nearby that were able to step in and make sure he got through them all! :)

Happy Birthday Dear Hunter!

Big Boy!

Hooray!

Family time :)

Cars Umbrella!

Noah's surprise cake :)

Mia's Weekend

So I figured I should get down all the wonderful fun we had over Mia's birthday weekend before all the fun of summer hits and I get even more behind!

Mia's birthday was on a Friday this year so we made some beautiful cupcakes with Tinkerbell toothpicks and sent most of them to Angie's house for an after lunch snack.  We definitely saved a few for our special evening at home with just our family.  Mia was adamant that we needed to have party hats and balloons so I had to make a quick trip on my lunch break :)


Singing Happy Birthday to a 3 year old Mia!

So proud that she knew to pull the candles
out and lick the frosting off all by herself!!

Getting ready to gobble up
that cupcake!

Yummy!

Hunter loves the frosting!

BEAUTY & THE BEAST!!!!!!

Tinkerbell Sheets!!!

After presents we blew up a bunch of balloons and watched Beauty & the Beast :)

Dad loves filling balloons :)



Silly goose!

Oh my!
The balloon is stuck on my head!

So happy!!!



This might be the "scary" part
when the townspeople go to
 kill the Beast. Yikes!

The next morning, the kids and I baked the cake for Mia's party and then went to the mall to play with Shalynn & Macie. The kids were definitely pooped on the way home! 

Then on Sunday was Mia's party!! She got a lot of fun presents and I think everyone had a great time.  Once everyone left in the evening I cleaned while everyone else vegged out.  Definitely a great weekend!

Birthday Girl!



Family Time :)

Make a Wish!



Pop's made this for all
Mia's dress-up stuff!

Lady & the Tramp!