Ticking some Teeth and jumping around

It's Spring Break! That means F-U-N for McKinley! All in one day we packed in the Zoo, a Dental Visit, a Jumpy-Place visit and dinner at a pizza place where a train delivered our drinks. We were all exhausted afterward but what a fun day.

The zoo was good to us as always, and it was so nice to have Nonna along for the ride...train ride! We didn't get to see many animals because we again stood in a very long line for the train, but who cares because it was a beautiful day and our boy was smiling from ear to ear. He insisted on sitting with Nonna during the train ride - precious.

Soon we were back in the car heading for McKinley's dentist. Upon our arrival McKinley promptly headed for the basketball court. Yep...BASKETBALL COURT at a pediatric dentist. Nice. We played together, then McKinley was ready for his cleaning. The dentist called it 'tickling some teeth', which really stuck with McKinley and made him giggle. I'm so proud to report that those sweet little chomps are flawless.

Cue us jumping back in the car to head to the 'jumpy place' where I surprised McKinley by meeting up with Robin, Savannah and Austin. It's a good thing we were at a jumpy place because he was a jumpin' when he found that out!

The kids played (i.e. slid, jumped, bounced, climbed, weaved, shimmied) for over an hour. Well worth the price of admission...and an excellent way to work up an appetite!

Again...back in the car to the pizza place. McKinley officially thought this place was the bee's knees. Train stuff EVERYWHERE. A locomotive and cars were lined up in rows where we would sit and a miniature train brought us our drinks. McKinley was a kid in a candy store. So much so that he could barely eat! Oh well, he had fun.

Soon McKinley will be back at school, so it has been so nice to spend this time with him all week, much like we did every day until he started school this year!

Happy Spring Break!

Lynn

A weekend of Christmas Events

With inclement weather undoubtedly on its way, we decided to make our second annual trip to the Christmas at the Zoo on Friday evening. Along for the ride was Savannah, much to the delight of all! I was pretty impressed with how quickly Cary and I and Robin threw this trip together!

We began our journey by listening to the Polar Express, the we listened to some Christmas Carols, and Savannah even grabbed a quick nap. When we arrived at the zoo, Cary and I strapped the two strollers together with Robin & Rick's handy-dandy-stroller-strappy-things and in we went to the beautiful zoo.

I made hot cocoa for the trip, which proved to be a real bonus for the kiddos, keeping them toasty on the inside. Before we even got inside I was doling out some yummies, resulting in chocolaty mustaches all around. Too cute!

Our visit started at the Oceans, where the seals and sea lions were all too happy to be the first entertainers. What a welcoming crew they were! Savannah and McKinley laughed and laughed as they swam by so fast.

On we went, walking through the darkness and enjoying the beautiful lights - it was gorgeous. We found Santa's village, inside we purchased two cookies for the kids to decorate. Both of them were BIG fans of the sprinkles. Mounds of sprinkles atop a strangely shaped cookie...love it! We sat down with a few other treats and drinks before heading onto the next stop, McKinley's favorite: THE TRAIN!

The line for the train was crazy long, but worth it! McKinley and Savannah insisted on sitting together, which meant a little cozy seat for me and Cary - and a great and rare photo op of the two of us! McKinley and Savannah were snuggled side-by-side under the blankets, grinning from ear to ear the whole time.

When the train was over (and beautiful it was...as always) we ventured to the carousel. Savannah said she wanted to ride an elephant, we found one right away! It was in between a monkey - for McKinley, and a horse - for me, as requested by Savannah. Fun, but cold...that horse was really, really cold. Funny how you don't notice those things when you're little.

Our night was far from over, time for the dolphin show! The kids LOVED the special Christmas show and were itching for the dolphins (or whales, as Savannah called them) to get the 'meatballs' (the small balls suspended from the ceiling of the arena). When they finally got them I don't think two kids in the entire place were louder than our crew.

After the dolphin show we finished our walk around all the pretty lights - I really liked the way the splash park was lit with a sound and light show. Very creative! Savannah noticed a light display of a raccoon, which honestly resembled a cat more than a raccoon. She was eager to point out that it was Valentine! So nice of her to remember our girl! McKinley really liked the 'turkey' - aka peacock. And the falling lights tree was breathtaking and enjoyed by all!

We left the zoo and walked to the White River Gardens. It is always so beautiful, but huge Christmas tree and the butterfly observatory are amazing with the holiday displays. The poinsettias in the observatory are insane.

The kids enjoyed visiting with the reindeer. Savannah said, "Wow, Lynn, they have really big ant-a-lers" How cute is that??? McKinley begged for pennies to throw in the little coy pond. And both kids loved looking at all the beautiful trees on display upstairs.

As with most things the Vernon family does, we closed the place down! The kids were pretty pooped and we were all hungry, so we quickly loaded up the strollers, blankets and stuff. Equally as quickly, we agreed on Red Robin for dinner.

McKinley and Savannah happily drew pictures for one another while we waited for our food. When we were finished, Savannah could stand it no more and suddenly ducked under the table, reappearing on the other side, next to McKinley. She threw her arms around him - surprising him so much he turned to me and said, "Mommy! Savannah is hugging me a lot...really hard!" He loved it. The hugging ensued and a small crowd gathered. Savannah said, "Lynn! Take a picture!" Of COURSE I left the camera in the car...so cell phone to the rescue! Just after I took the photo both kids simultaneously fell onto the booth, still hugging and laughing hysterically. It was a moment...

We piled in the car and settled in with blankets. Soon both kids were sound asleep...a good sign that the night was in deed a success.

Below, some of our fun pics! Also mixed in are the Clabber Girl photos -- the blog is acting up and won't let me put my pics where I want them! Grrrr!

The next morning we had plans with the Semmler fam to go to the Build & Grow Clinic and on to Clabber Girl's annual Country Christmas. The four of us were pretty tired from the zoo trip, so we agreed to pick up the kits and make it a late date at Clabber Girl. My Mom came with McKinley and I (sadly, Cary had to work today...) and we met the Semmler's and immediately dug in for some Christmas Crafting fun. McKinley and Savannah had their faces painted (McKinley, a candy cane. Savannah, a snowman) got a special personalized gingerbread cookie, they helped make a 'mouse' cookie, created an elf out of a little rolling pin, a reindeer out of a clothes pin and made a sweet bottle of sand art and a cookie-cutter ornament. We all had lunch together before Savannah and her fam had to leave for a family gathering. My Mom and I took McKinley over to see Santa. He still remembers that last year he got to watch Santa come back from his break by way of an elevator. This year, Santa waited for McKinley in his sleigh, but was his usually jolly old self. Santa asked McKinley what he would like for Christmas, McKinley told him he wanted a big bicycle and a big drum set. Santa asked if McKinley had been a good boy, he said, "Uh huh." Santa said, "If you get that bicycle, promise me you'll wear a helmet with it, okay?" McKinley said, "Okay". He was a little taken by the red-suited one this year. Not afraid, just feeling it!

Sadly, we had to opt out of the horse and wagon ride with Bud (we've really gotten to know Bud well over the last 2 years...). It was too rainy, but under my umbrella we gave Bud some love...who promptly nudged my umbrella. Hey, Bud, that's Coach...watch yourself! hahahaa! Guess Bud has good taste...

McKinley had a wonderful time at Clabber Girl. I'm so impressed with what they have to offer each year...good wholesome family fun and a beautiful atmosphere!

Happy Holidays!

Lynn

Get Lost

Well, it may be hard to believe but Fall is here! All of the beautiful festivities are right around the corner and yours truly can hardly wait! Zoo Boo, Street Fair, pumpkin and apple picking...it's my very favorite time of year! Tonight we visited Hobson's Farm with the Semmler Fam and had some great kid-sized fun.

For starters it was dark when we arrived...and dark for all of the activities, but we made it work! We fed some animals...I'm still not sure what we fed because it was so dark. I think we fed goats, a miniature horse and a donkey! After that we decided to head out to the corn maze - prepared with our make-shift flashlights...our cell phones. We ended up getting lost...but just a little. We found our way back out, and the kids loved every second of it!

After the corn maze we made many trips down the roller slide (FUN!) and then did a lot of jumping on the giant pillow bouncer (SERIOUS FUN!). I don't know about the other adults in our party, but I definitely had a few moments where I felt like a little kid again. Those things ROCK! I loved watching Cary and Rick bouncing high into the sky and their little 3 year olds bouncing up and down on the bouncer like popcorn. They weren't REAL sure about what their Dads were doing, but in the end they enjoyed it...and let's face it...it was really funny for Robin, Austin and me to watch!

We sat for a few moments by the fire and were back at it in the soybean maze (much easier, by the way). McKinley and Savannah enjoyed a few rounds on the corn 'train', and gave our furry friends a late night snack.

Two hours flew by! We are already planning a 'next time' but want to be there longer and earlier. Great time with great friends!

Happy Fall!

....Almost!

Lynn

Down on the Farm

This morning McKinley and I visited a farm on our play date with Kylie & family, Robin & family and a few other friends and kiddos. We drove into the country to the home of The Wrightsman family. Of course, it was raining...but we were prepared! McKinley had his rain boots on and was so ready! We did have to patiently wait inside the house for a little while, but eventually the rain let up a bit. The kids headed out to pick some corn to feed to the horse, then we headed out to the fields of animals. The horse was a wee bit intimidating for the kids and most of the ears of corn were tossed just inside the fence. The horse did not care! It was a real treat for her to get more than one ear of corn per day and so she happily chomped away, oblivious to the children standing around her, mesmerized.

Then everyone stepped inside the chicken coop. WOW! Turkeys, baby chickens, big chickens! EVERYWHERE! All of the children took right to feeding them, so excited! I looked away for just one second, turned back around and McKinley was fully-engulfed in feeding turkeys that were nearly as tall as him. I briefly thought to myself...huh! there IS some of me in him! I mean, you wouldn't know it by looking, but I grew up in the COUNTRY. We didn't have farm animals, but my grandparents owned farmland, my parents and I lived on 3 acres of beautiful country with a HUGE red barn, a little creek running through and wild animals abounding. It was a great upbringing and I treasure beautiful memories from it. I loved playing outside at my grandparents home and getting to do things like gooseberry, raspberry and blackberry picking. Anyway, there's my boy...clearly enjoying every second with these animals.

Soon it was time for the highlight of our visit...the alpacas. We've been around alpacas before at St. Mary's, and knew they are kind animals, so I was so excited. I actually stood eyeball-to-eyeball to them! We went INSIDE their little field and were standing next to them. Those alpacas RUSHED to the children (who were holding big buckets of feed), but they were so gentle and a bit taken by their little feeders. I got some amazing pictures of the whole thing, but I LOVE this one...this little girl stood and looked right at my camera! FUNNY!

And the look on this one's face...I couldn't stop laughing when I downloaded these photos!

After we were finished feeding the animals it began raining again, so we went inside to see if the chickens had laid any eggs...and they had! So each child got to collect an egg for their very own. McKinley was thrilled with his pick...and even more thrilled that Savannah placed her egg inside his bucket. He was so careful with them! Precious.

The day wasn't over yet! We took our eggs and moved onto the pear orchard where each child picked some pears to take home. The rain continued and the kids were hungry, so we went inside where the farm owner fed the kids pbj's, fresh eggs and cookies.

Can I just say how well McKinley napped? Frankly, me too. I don't often nap but man! Between the cool, rainy weather, the early morning drive and all the events piled into two hours on the farm, this mama was POOPED!

We had such a great time and were so thankful for the invitation. McKinley learned a lot and enjoyed his time with his friends...new and old...furry, feathered and otherwise. Despite the rain and the first real day with a fall chill in the air - it was perfect.

Lynn