to the zoo times two

in the past few weeks we have been to the 'big zoo'
a few different times -

we met the bird named alex
he can talk!!



we saw a baby turtle
i am fully aware that the water is disgusting -
but isn't it cute seeing the baby turtle in the middle of the big turtles

we spent a lot of time watching the grizzly bears
this is probably one of my favorite part of the zoo right now
the baby dolphin that was just born takes the top spot ;)

we played in the sand with our friends

we watched some beautiful butterflies



and even gave farming a try

we brushed the goats

a lot

poor chewy doesn't even get this much love

we made butter
yuck

and decided if we ever got a chicken
WHICH we NEVER will
this is the one we'd choose

we had two BEAUTIFUL days to enjoy all the animals
and
just hang out

and what's crazy ...
there's about 1/3 of the zoo that we didn't even get to!

these are the people in my ...

last night a group of us girls from our neighborhood
went out and did a little
drinking ...
snacking ... mmmm waffle fries
and uninterrupted chatting ...



we are SO blessed to be in a neighborhood
with a lot of families that know what life is like with
a few crazy kids ...
a crazy schedule ...
and an overall crazy life ;)

it's fun to have people to share in the craziness ...
and to make me feel like i'm not THAT abnormal ;) ha ha

thanks for a fun night, girls.
see you next month ...
and i expect you'll be there miss mullen.

just add water

it doesn't matter where we're at
or
what the temperature is ...

you give my kids some water ...



and a few friends ...



and they are going to have a blast!

today we went to our friend's neighborhood pool
and it was PERFECT!



there is no better way to spend a 100 degree day
than sitting and watching the kids play happily



while getting some sun
catching up
and
even jumping in periodically to cool off

what a fun group!

so fun in fact that most pictures looked more like this ...

because the fun NEVER stopped ;)

thanks for a fun afternoon, guys!

a fun run

and ... we are officially done with baseball for 2010.

after playing a few VERY intense games yesterday
in addition to the few earlier in the weekend
we were eliminated from the tournament

BUT ...
it wasn't without some GREAT plays ...



some REALLY good hits ...
from his entire team!



a lot of concentration ...
notice his tongue ;)

and a LOT of patience!!



A LOT!
from the players and the spectators!
did i mention that the winning team had to play 6 games back to back JUST on sunday?!?!

thankfully the concession stand sold pixy sticks ...

our friends parked their 'party camper' in the parking lot
and that served as a perfect air conditioned retreat for drew and his friends ...

AND
ben had his lucky socks to keep him going -
the socks that he wouldn't let me wash
and insisted on wearing friday, saturday AND SUNDAY! ;)

we ended up taking 4th place out of 15 teams!!



nice season, hot rods!!!
you were SO fun to watch
and
it was a fun run!

only 9 months until we can do it again ;)

boom boom POW

we have a tradition each july
of going downtown to the aquatennial fireworks -
we've been going since 2001 ...



although apparently i didn't take any pictures of us
until 2004 ;)
hard to believe that at one point i actually went a few weeks
in between taking pictures off my camera!



we've changed a little, huh ;)

SO ...
last night we headed downtown -
after all of the baseball had ended ...
thank you, boys, for not putting yourselves in the 7:30 game ;)
for another year of fireworks!


the boys wanted to stop and take a 'fountain picture'
as we were walking from the car
and i'm never one to turn them down when they're offering me a shot ;)

another year of EXCELLENT fireworks off the bridge
another night of alex covering his ears THE ENTIRE TIME
and
another night of tired boys ...
but SO worth it!

well played

this weekend is our final baseball tournament

drew's team won on thursday
BUT
then lost back to back today
MEANING
their season has officially come to an end.



the played some great games -
and actually had a great record going in ;)
BUT ...
they simply got out played.



it was a really fun season
AND
they have come a really LONG way -
kid pitch is NOT easy!
- to watch or to play ;) -



NICE JOB, BLUECLAWS!!!
you had a great season!!

fun from every perspective

today kicked off with another drop off at safety camp
AND the highlight of alex's day -
giving 'the guys' a high-five ...



it found a magic show somewhere in the middle ...

along with
swimming at a nearby pool to learn water safety
seeing a k9 actually attack someone in a special suit
AND
placing random kids in random emergency vehicles ...



the day ended with drew's final ceremony -
where he learned that his camp counselors
are actually a fireman, a policeman, and an EMT!



their goal is to teach the kids that people in uniform
are just everyday people -
AND that they know how to have fun too!
lesson definitely learned.

we got to hear their group cheer
and see them practice the alphabet shuffle
i wonder how well that would work around here when i'm trying to get them out the door ...
hmmmm.

all it all ... a good night.

BUT ...
it doesn't end there ;)

you see,
ben ALSO had something going on tonight!
it was his almost end of the baseball season kickball/grill out party.

can i just say i am REALLY glad that i have leather car seats ;)

the boys came home just WIPED!
thankfully the 3 cans of pepsi ben took in didn't stop him from falling hard
the minute he hit his pillow.

it was a VERY full ...
VERY fun day ...
from EVERYONE'S perspective.

even alex's ...

funny how giving a 4 yr old a camera
gives you a glimpse into the things that REALLY matter ;)

safety fun

for the next two days
drew is involved in 'safety camp' -
it's a special camp put on by the city -
firefighters, police, and multiple volunteers
for kids going into 4th grade.

(this is drew's group - which is just one of 6)


so far drew LOVES it!
he says it's the best thing he's ever done in his life ;)
"well except being born"

today's fun included:

*a bit of fire safety
including dancing to a DJ under the spray of a fire hose

*learning a few self defense moves
yes, he has already tried them on ben

*a visit from a man injured in a drunk driving accident
who now is in a wheel chair
but is an incredible artist -
using his mouth!!

*learning about electricity - drew's favorite of the day
they got to see a few demonstrations using real electricity.
things such as what happens when a ladder hits a wire.
how quickly a hot dog -
a.k.a. your heart -
cooks when it comes in contact with certain types of electricity
and
how a kite string can carry a charge

AND FINALLY

*the visit from the state patrol helicopter
OUR favorite activity of the day -
because it's the only part families were invited for ;)

the kids got to ask the pilot all about his helicopter

they got to experience a landing

and a take-off -
both from no more than 50 yards away

they even got to check out the helicopter close up!



it was very cool!

i can see why he had so much fun!
they got to learn a lot of things they don't know
they got to do a lot of things that they typically can't
and they even got a free helmet out of the deal ;)
did you notice drew modeling it in the pictures?

can't wait to see what fun they have lined up for tomorrow!!
maybe a lesson on how to do laundry safely??