Lions & Pink Ducks @ the Little Rock Zoo

Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend. We spent most of the weekend outside and it was beautiful, but hot. We went to the Little Rock Zoo on Sunday with Amie, Olivia and Dave. The kids were excited to go and see the animals and Noah and Rachel hadn't been in about a year. I think the last trip we made was with Noah's 3 year class last spring, so Rachel really got a fresh look at the animals this time around being a big 2 year old now. Aunt Amie got a big surprise in the Lorikeet attraction when one of the birds landed on her head. Of course, the kids were thrilled and thought that was awesome. I think Amie was just relieved that she came out of that one with clean hair. They also liked seeing the baby gorilla with it's mommy. The Grizzly bear walked right up to the glass wall and seemed to say hello and then walked back to her spot near the water. It was like she knew the kids wanted to see her up close and was happy to oblige. They loved the snake and reptile house too and showed no fear when right up against the windows face to face with the creatures. When asked what their favorite parts of the zoo were, Noah's reply - the lions (this has held true since his very first trip to the Knoxville Zoo - he loves lions) and Rachel's favorite? Pink ducks... She was so excited to go to the zoo and see... yes, ducks. However, these 'pink ducks' were her very favorite (don't try to tell her they aren't ducks... she won't hear of it). The girl continues, as always, to crack me up. You can see from the kid's pink cheeks while they rode the train in the top picture that they were hot and by the end of our day there they were worn out. I love to go to the zoo... there's nothing like seeing the wonder in a child's eyes as they look at all the animals... I still feel much of the same wonder myself while there... and I love to take pictures... Bet you couldn't tell that at all though, huh?

Some of my recent favorites...

Just sharing a few of my favorite photos lately. I drag the kids out every so often and try to get a few good shots of them... Of the three hundred or so I take I was lucky this time and got several that I just fell in love with. They grow so fast and change so much. Looking at them lately I'm seeing little things that I hadn't noticed or realized had happened... like, how did Rachel's hair get so long? When did she get those long legs and arms? Where did my baby go? Noah has grown so much too. He is an inch over four feet already... everyone who sees him thinks he is a seven year old instead of a boy new to five years. Both of them have dozens of tiny freckles popping out all over their faces. They continue to amaze me each and every day. You can click on any of the images above for a closer look.

Noah's Last Day of Preschool

Today was Noah's last day of preschool. The kids opened the day in the usual way with songs with Miss Suzie and all the other classes and then the four/five year olds recieved their certificates from Miss Stacey. It was cute to watch how proud all the kids were as they recieved their certificates. Then we all headed over to Mills Park to enjoy the rest of the day together with playing and cupcakes. Noah had a really good time and Rachel was excited that she got to stay and play with the big kids. It was a good day. It is amazing to think that our little (big) guy will start kindergarten in just a couple of months.

A Kiss for Papa

and a silly girl singing a song...

Burns Park and Conquering the Trike Bike

Amie and I took the kids over to Burns Park on Saturday for a day of playing on the play structures and also for a bike ride on the trails there. This was Rachel's first time riding her trike bike after just learning to pedal it a couple of days before. Her maiden voyage you could say and she also took her first big fall... poor girl. However, true to her nature, she cried for less than a minute and didn't hesitate when I sat her right back on the bike. She was determined to master the art of pedaling that tricycle, no matter what. I love that she is so determined. Noah has been riding for about a week on one training wheel and is learning to balance better on his two big wheels everyday. He is getting really close to shedding that second wheel... We know he can do it, but he has to believe he can do it. He has also learned how to catch himself and recover pretty well when he swerves off balance. It's so fun to watch them learn and discover. Noah also had fun climbing all over the tank that is parked in the fields there at Burns Park. He thought it was a really cool thing and kept trying to pry open the top of the tank so he could climb inside.