Best Zoo Day Ever!

Like I said in my last post, it has been unseasonably warm here (thank you global warming....or climate change) but that's all changing this week.  It is COLD and snowing as I type.  Don't worry though, we took full advantage of every warm day we got.  A couple of weeks ago it was so nice that I packed up the boys and headed off to the zoo.  It could not have been more perfect.  The animals were out, there was almost no one else there, and the weather was absolutely perfect.

Austen had a blast and so did Archer.  I carried him in the moby wrap for most of the trip which he loved because he could see all the animals.  I'm pretty sure the elephants were his favorite because he was just mesmerized by them and he stared forever.  Austen was in charge of the map so that was fun.  We even stopped off at a little outdoor cafe section for a picnic.  The cafe is closed for the winter, but they still have the tables and chairs set up.  It was so fun because we were all alone!

Here's Austen taking a map reading break in front of the bears.

The bears were eating oranges.  It was amazing to see.....did you know they can peel an orange with their claws?

Austen talking to the polar bear statue.

He was so excited to see crocodiles. This was the one picture he was excited about. 

He was climbing up this fence right in front of the snow leopard's enclosure when the thing locked onto him and decided to pounce.  The leopard came flying at Austen and was spread eagle on the fence.  Austen was so scared that he fell off the fence.  I somehow managed to snap a pic right as it was happening, but it was really scary or as Austen said terrifying.  He kept asking me why the snow leopard thought he was prey and telling me he doesn't like snow leopards very much.

This pic is a zoo tradition!

  

About 2 hours in he was exhausted and slept for a while in his stroller.

Happy boy eating his lunch.

Playing Catch Up......AGAIN

You'd think I could manage to be a little more consistent with my posts.  I've started running again, so I have less spare time than I used to, which wasn't a lot to begin with.  Now that December is here, I'm sure I'll only get busier, but I really will try to keep my posts somewhat regular.  I'm almost done Christmas shopping (thank you Amazon), the house is decorated, and the wrapping has started.

Anyway.....

Brian works late one day a week now, so on that day he comes home for a long lunch.  I've started cooking lunch on that day instead of dinner so we can all sit down and eat together.  It's been really warm and pretty much just perfect weather, so we went to go play at the lake and then stopped for ice cream.

I've been trying to learn how to work my camera outside of auto mode and let's just say everyone is sick of me taking pictures now.....even Brian.  Here he is getting annoyed that I'm taking his pic while he's trying to drive.

I did manage to find a goose that didn't mind being my subject.  This one turned out just how I wanted....subject perfect and back ground super blurry.  Now if I could just get my kids to hold still long enough to get a portrait in this camera setting......

Austen found a stick that made for a perfect fishing pole.

I just love this pic.....isn't the sky amazing?

This boy is so handsome!  I love his cowlick....aka the superman curl.

Austen carried that stick everywhere and because it was so long, he was having trouble keeping it away from people.  Namely me....that stupid thing drew blood!  The joys of being a mom to boys I guess.

Throwing rocks.

LOVE!

Brian is really just the BEST Dad alive!

8 Months Old

My sweet boy is 8 months old today!!!!

He is still a really happy little guy, but he's developed somewhat of an attitude especially if you take away something from him that he wanted. His favorite food is squash, even though he's not big on food.  He doesn't like strangers invading his personal space.  He loves books!  His favorite book is Little Blue Truck and any book with a baby face in it.  He is obsessed with his brother and loves to watch him do just about anything.  He is super ticklish and loves to laugh (especially at Austen).  He can grab his passa and put it in his mouth, but he's not super attached to the passa despite my best attempts.  He thinks it's very fun to cover his face with his blankie and play peek a boo.  He loves to dance aka bob his head up and down.  He makes the "t" sound a lot and I'm pretty sure he says "hi" and "dadda".  He still won't crawl even though he gets on all fours and rocks.....he's pretty good at going backwards and NOT on purpose.  He scoots around while sitting up and that gets him pretty much everywhere he wants to go.  He gives me hugs and big slobbery kisses which are pretty much the best thing ever!

Prepare yourselves for picture overload because I was having trouble narrowing them down.

He is looking so grown up.....sad sad sad

I absolutely LOVE it when he sucks his lips in like this!

And then this happened....

"hmmmm....what's this?"

"Am I supposed to be touching this?"

"This is really on there."

"Let's see what it tastes like."

"She's not stopping me, so I'll keep at it."

"Success, I got it off!"

Those stickers only work for babies about 5 months or younger!