There's another zoo?

Last weekend we decided to head out to KC for a visit since we hadn't been there since Christmas.  The weather was incredibly beautiful, so we decided to go to the zoo.  Matt hadn't been in decades and I don't remember ever having been there, though I'm sure I have.  I know the girls haven't, so we thought it would be fun to introduce them to another zoo, albeit it inferior to the St. Louis Zoo. ;)

We headed out after a morning at the playground by the house.  We parked, witnessed child abuse by an angry parent who had no problem calling his child a "m-fer" and then headed into the zoo.

First stop after we rented a stroller was the new polar bear exhibit.  It was pretty cool.  This guy was so playful.  He would play with his big rubber ball and was doing laps around his pool.  He put on quite a show for the crowd.  The girls loved watching him play.

 Next stop was the carousel for Charlotte while Audrey, Daddy, Grandpa, and Grandma checked out the Lorikeets.

Why, yes, that is a cute skirt Charlotte is wearing.  Where did I get it?  Oh, yes.  My basement.  Because I made it.  And I totally want to brag because I'm proud of it.  :)

There was a fun little Kid Zone near the carousel, so we stopped there next.  The girls wanted to play at the playground, but I reminded them that playgrounds are free but the zoo was not and maybe we should go see some animals.  The point was completely lost on them, but we did manage to drag them away eventually.

Charlotte and her new friend.  They were pretty cute chasing after each other.

The animal part of Kid Zone was pretty neat.  Lots of colorful animals and some super playful spider monkeys.  Audrey loved these exhibits.

The blur in the middle of the picture is Audrey jumping up and down with excitement over the little monkeys.  She loved them!

After the Kid Zone, we headed over to Australia to find the kangaroos.  Charlotte first instructed me to take her picture by a few statues.

This is Audrey running ahead of me after I told her we were going to get a snack.  This girl loves her food.

After a brief stop for a snack, we headed into Australia to get a good look at the Kangaroos.  (The KC zoo is divided into continents and that's how the animals are grouped.)  We were seriously this close to the kangaroos and there were no fences.  It was wild.  We watched a small group of them with a little baby.  He was adorable!

Protecting their food from the threat of a kangaroo sneak attack.

"Bye-bye, kangaroos!"

Audrey "talking" to some of the animals.

Showing Grandpa the elephants.

After Australia, we took the bridge to Africa.  Long walk, but it was a nice day and the girls were great.

Jumping off rocks with Grandpa.

The girls found this the most comfortable way to ride in the stroller.  What.Ever.

Charlotte loved the hippopotamus.  It still kills me that she can SAY that word, let alone make an immediate recognition of the animal.  When did she turn into a kid?

One of our last animal stops was the giraffe.  We got to watch him as he drank from the pond, which was actually pretty darn cool.  He couldn't just bend over; he had to spread his legs out so he could get his neck down far enough.  He ended up in this weird and uncomfortable looking tripod pose.  It was pretty neat to watch.

Waving sticks at the giraffe.  Monkey see, monkey do.

A serious meltdown was threatening, so we booked it out of Africa (ha!) and headed home.  As we were walking out, a guy laughed when he saw Audrey asleep on Charlotte and said, "Now that's a good zoo trip!"  So true.  :)

Grandpa Time!

As I'm sure I've mentioned before, we go to my parents' for dinner every Sunday night we're in town.  It was a tradition that started with my mother's grandmother, but was suspended when my grandparents moved to Little Rock.  After Matt and I got married, Mom started the dinners up again.  

I love being able to spend time with my family on a regular basis, but sometimes the visits can be a little rushed or we don't get to spend as much time as I'd like just hanging out.  With late naps, slow movers and just a general lateness trend with us, we often don't get there until right before dinner.  My mom is usually putting on the finishing touches with dinner and Dad is either starting the clean-up process, grilling if the weather is nice, or tending to something around the house.  That's why I really like the occasions when we host Sunday dinner.  It isn't often, but it gives my parents a chance to really spend some time with the girls.  

This Sunday, my mom went to Vegas for a conference (lucky lady), so we fed my dad.  While I finished up dinner, the girls got in some great Grandpa time.  They played toys, read books, and colored.  It was so nice to see them quietly enjoying a Sunday evening with their Grandpa.  My dad is basically the greatest dad around, so it's no surprise he's such a great Grandpa.  :)

Working on letters and drawing beautiful pictures, all while dressed in a tutu (Charlotte, not Grandpa.  He just wore jeans.)

Audrey, in her usual efforts to color herself instead of the paper.  She used that same crayon to put a little decoration on my cabinets in the kitchen.  Stinker.

Grandpa doodles

Let it Snow!

We finally got some significant snow fall that lasted for about a day, but it did produce about 2 inches overnight.  It started to melt almost immediately, but Matt did get the girls out in for a little bit to build a snowman.  It was Charlotte and Audrey's first snowman!  I was sorry to miss it, but I'm sure thee are many more snowmen in our future.  Charlotte could not wait for me to get home so she could tell me all about Frosty.  (Creative name, no?)

In front of her Frosty, with this broken flower pot nose and flower pot hat.  Not exactly a corncob pipe, but the hat was cute. 

Group shot.  Please pay no attention to the disaster that is our front porch.  It acts as our "Hey!  Kids live here!" sign.

Such a happy Frosty.  Too bad he's now all gone.  Charlotte came outside a few mornings ago and all that remained of Frosty was a bunch of leaves and a broken flower pot.  She was so sad- "Oh, no!  Frosty's all gone!"

Let's Go Ride a Bike

Despite bitter cold temperatures and a little snow on the ground, Charlotte decided she just HAD to get out of the house and ride a bike.  So we did!  It was frigid outside.  I cannot believe we stayed out as long as we did, which in all actuality was probably only about 30 minutes at most, but it felt like the frozen tundra.  There was a little snow on the ground, but a bigger snow came later that weekend.

Audrey not quite as happy at the idea of being cold as her sister was.

What?  You don't eat snow wearing one purple mitten , one pink glove, and your sister's hat? 

Hey, keep up guys!

Off for another ride around the block.

The sun will shine, the rain will fall, the seeds will sprout and grow up tall...

Matt and the girls started the seeds for our garden a week ago.  Charlotte loves checking on her plants and cannot wait to see them sprout (she'll be happy tomorrow- a few of her plants sprouted late today).  Audrey picked the bean plants, so her's was the first to sprout.  It spent the day in the sun today trying to absorb as much as possible.  I think Charlotte will have a great time helping Matthew with the garden this year.  I'm glad she can help now.  I hate dirt under my finger nails.  Matt's goal is to have a tomato by the end of May.  Well see. :)

Matt, the girls, and the starter plants.  Can't wait for spring!

Title from "My Garden" by The Reading Lady

What my Saturday nights look like now...

Cookie decorating:

With lots of sprinkles (what would a Saturday night be without lots of sprinkles?)

And playing in a castle...

With a handsome prince. :)

Maybe not the Saturday nights I used to have, but I think I'm ok with it.  :)