Thankful on Thursday

We made it through 2015! There was only one major health issue and it was planned and scripted and pretty much followed the rules. I'll take it. Well, and there was an allergy discovered, but we got a handle on that too. 

In 30 minutes we get the gift of a new year. It's a year full of so many promises and possibilities. We are SO thankful for that! 

Happy 2016! 

Wordless Wednesday: Natural History Museum

Zoo Life!

OI started going stir crazy on Saturday. After lots of days of not doing a lot, it was bound to happen. So I pondered what to do Sunday, when I knew the world would still be water logged from all the rain we've been having. And I came up with the most random idea - the zoo!

In a very odd twist, the only time Aubrey has been to the National Zoo is for Boo at the Zoo, this year, when we saw one animal. Logan went then and once when he was 8 months old. I go every year on the first grade field trip, and to be honest the national zoo isn't my favorite. But is is free! And a friend once told me the best time to go was Sunday mornings.  So I called my parents to see if they wanted to go, and it turns out they were going stir crazy too!

Good news...I've changed my view on the National Zoo! Apparently you just need to get there at 8:45 on Sunday mornings to have a fabulous experience!

 

We saw SO many animals! I think that was supposed to be a zebra up there, but you can't really see it. 

Aubrey wanted to take a picture with every single animal statue. 

We even saw a panda, which was totally a surprise!

See, every statue. 

We also rode the zoo carousel for the first time! 

Then a dinosaur ate my babies! 

In a fitting grand finale, as we were trekking back up the big hill, there was an orangutan on the o-line! I've only seen that one other time. SO cool! 

So yes, it was a fabulous morning. The small animal house and reptile house were also HUGE hits, and with very light crowds until about 11am it was totally awesome. 

Go to the zoo on a cloudy Sunday morning! It is the BEST!!!

Post-Christmas Fun

The day after Christmas can be a bit of a blur! We took it easy here. Panera for breakfast with grandma and grandpa K, naps, and lots of playing! 

They watched a movie in their tent and sleeping bags! 

We even got to play outside (and the hats were totally not necessary but the children are getting desperate for winter weather so they make it up!). 

We also used the geode kit and broke open one of the rocks to find awesome crystals inside! 

Them Logan and Peter got down to serious business - playing Battleship! You know the teacher had to inject educational fun a la board games! 

I started to go a little stir crazy, so we got out for some fun Sunday, which I'll post about tomorrow. But sometimes, "stay home days" are just fine! 

Merry, Merry!

We had a fabulous Christmas and hope you did too! 

These monkeys were quite anxious to get downstairs! They woke up at 5:45 but we held them back until 6:45 when Grandma and Pa Pa F arrived. 

I just so adore that picture!!! 

Then there was lots of stocking goodies. Santa likes to put necessities in stockings. 

Socks, glue, and underwear = Z necessities apparently. There was candy and a few other things in there too, promise! 

I find it ridiculously hard to take pictures on Chriatmas morning. It's just all too much excitement and I don't like to miss it behind the camera! 

But we had lots of fun with Christmas toys all day! 

The boy got lots and lots of games! 

Peter showing Grandma F around her new phone!

Yes, the kids got Kindles. Same game time rules apply, but now they have their own. 

And necklace making was a hit too!

I got a can opener. And lots of other fun things, but the can opener was the funniest and most useful. 

In the afternoon Grandma and Grandpa K came to visit! We got to open more presents! 

Babies and bows and arrows and fun, oh my! 

Then we had a yummy dinner! We had ham and I made corn casserole, green beans with brown sugar and bacon, hash brown casserole, pineapple casserole, and rolls. And it was all super yummy! Win! Them of course we had Grandma K's Christmas cookies for dessert!

Such a fun day! We have had lots more fun this weekend and have another full week to have more fun. Yay for winter break!

Thankful on Thursday: Christmas Eve

I am so thankful for family and a day of fun!

This is what my kiddos had to eat this morning (pancakes are under there). Basically they ate whipped cream and chocolate chips! 

How awesome does this guy look?!?! 2 weeks out from major back surgery? I'll take it! 

We decorated cookies...

Then we tried to make a Gingerbread house and it was hysterically funny and kept falling down. 

What, your front wall leans in too doesn't it? 

Them I decided we should all get in the car and look at Christmad lights. In our jammies. Because...tradition people. I live for tradition. Or making a tradition. 

Yes, all respectable...

And then, well, Aubrey wins the Christmas pic of the year award for this face...

But, we had a blast searching for lights (or in Aubrey's case, napping at 6pm...). Them we came back, watched Prep and Landing (because yes, I am obsessed) and read Night Before Christmas. 

Children wrote notes to Santa!

And then, Santa came (plus my parents). 

We are holding out for 7am tomorrow morning, when Grandma and Pa Pa F come back! Then tomorrow afternoon we will have Christmad with Grandma and Grandpa K! 

Then I will go into mourning because o hate when things are over. 

But, until then...Merry Christmas from the Zs!