Zoo Follies

You know those times when your gut (and your husband) say you should just call and cancel some plan or other that you've made, but you don't? Well this zoo trip was one of those days for me. We'd made plans to hit the zoo with some friends and the morning of, Aurelia awoke with a sore throat and a fever . . . but after some breakfast and medicine she said she really felt up to going to the zoo . . . lesson #1 - never let your kids decide that they are well enough to do something fun - of course they think they are . . .

Well, I really hate backing out of things and I super really hate backing out of fun things that I've been promising my kids we'd do, so we packed a lunch and other necessities and headed out . . .
The first part of the day wasn't so bad - see the photo below? Smiles.
This next photo is where I learned lesson #2: IF you go out with a kid who's not feeling well, bring some back-up medicine with you! Poor Aurelia started eating lunch and guess what she realized was starting to hurt again? Yup- her throat and she was really heating up too . . .

My friend lovingly pushed Aurelia around in her jogging stroller so she wouldn't have to walk anymore. . .


and we made good on our promise to the other three to ride a ride and the train.


Aurelia was a real trooper . . . especially considering that when we got home her fever was at 104 and I rushed her to the doctor's office (thankfully they were still open!) and discovered that she had strep throat! Yup. I should have called that day off. Poor Aurelia. But the good news is that no one we knew got sick (not us, nor our friends anyway) and that story ended on a fairly good note.

And in the Center Ring . . .

I couldn't be more bummed that photos from the kids' birthdays wouldn't upload. We celebrated in high style Aurelia, Ezra and Oliver turning 6, 4 and 2 this year (March 31 - April 2) on the 10th with a friends and family party here at the house. Mima painted the awesome face banner (seen below) and faces at the party where the theme was "Three Ring Circus." One of our favorite college gals took photos for us, but they won't upload from my computer to this website, so I've posted three photos that I took on my camera.
Clown Aurelia and ladybug-lion Ezra.

Dog-lion Oliver, with a lolly sucker.

Lots of people showed up for the event. I decorated the kitchen like a circus tent with streamers and we had circus-fare foods. It was truly chaos of the most exciting kind! Everyone who wanted to got their face painted, kids were jumping on the trampoline, aunties, uncles, grandmas and grandpas, friends and family were eating and talking and enjoying the day. It was a wonderful time and the kids felt very loved. I thank each of you who were able to make it and those of you who called to sing happy birthday we appreciate too!

Six turns of the dial

Good morning, sweet six year old! Open your cards and presents - the best if yet to come!

New books and money too!


Aurelia patiently waits through two little brothers' birthdays before she gets to celebrate her own, but this year was worth the wait I think. She got to pick out a big-kid bike for herself this year and learn to ride it without training wheels! Here's mommy trying to help, but already expecting means she's much too tired to do this for long.

Daddy steps in and soon Aurelia is off and riding!

"Stay close, dad!"

Later on Grandy Rabbit comes to visit and eat burgers and blueberry muffins with us! Check out that smile!


Six with one blow! Little brothers always want to help!
I love you so much, little girl!

love, mommy~

No One's Fooled - We Know You're TWO!

Oli woke up on his birthday maybe a little confused. The decorations were now green and yellow and there were new presents to open!

Oli wonders "is this for me?"

"Oh Wow!" it's a Handy Manny dancing and singing tool box! My little music lover knows this is right up his alley!

Oliver wastes no time figuring it all out.

Daddy feeds Oli is two year old breakfast - just because he can! Eggs and Hashbrowns!

Then we head off to Pump It Up where Oli dominates on the big-kid slides. By the four time around (while mommy and daddy are sweating and begging for a break) Oliver has figured out how to climb all those rubber stairs and slide down on his own (with sissy and brother for backup).

But daddy is still getting in on the action!

Finally we head home, nap and awake to Mima and Grampa Scott here with more presents!! Check out this cool guitar! Oli knows how to play like a wild-thing!

Happy Birthday, dear Oli!!!!

More photos of the day include Aurelia's present from Mima - a new baby doll she named Sally.


"Thank you, Mima! She's just the one I wanted!!"

Ezra got a Wall-E robot! Thanks, Mima!!

So cool!


and Oli doesn't forget to say "Thanks," with a kiss, too!
love, Mommy!

Marching into his Fourth year . . . Ezra

My middle child turned four today! We started it off with decorations in red and blue! Here's his alien space cake!

His Happy Birthday Banner!

A pile of presents from mommy and daddy, Aurelia and Oliver!


Of course he gets to dig right in!

New unders! Spiderman is cool on anything!

A robot car toy thing and he's already sharing!

A hot-wheels carwash - Oli has to get in on the action!

And after a fun time at Chuck E. Cheese with a friend and Grama Sama (and Meli!) he gets to enjoy his space cake. I love that big grin!


mmmmmm. Happy Birthday, my sweet sweet Ezra!
love, Mommy!

Owl Puke if you do . . .

Aurelia gets to participate in some classes through her charter school, one of which I have the joy to teach myself! I teach two hands-on science classes. One for k-2nd graders and another for 3rd-5th graders. We have a lot of fun doing science experiments each week. I thought it would be fun to show Aurelia with two friend really digging into their science lesson.


In the end they found three skulls and many various rodent bones in their owl pellet. Pretty fun!

One (or) More Adventure(s) in March

One warm day in March found us marching our way upstream . . .
doing some heavy lifting . . .
throwing stones. . .
and splashing about . . .


Finally we are happy to announce that sometime in November a baby will come to our home and disrupt our lives and expand our hearts . . . another of the greatest adventures of all time . . . here's the proof.