Odds & Ends

Well, school is definitely back in session -- long nights at the kitchen table have begun.  Both of the girls are enjoying their new schools, have great teachers and have great attitudes even though they have to work twice as hard as others to achieve the grades they want.   As for the mom -- I really miss those homework free days of summer.  I keep telling myself that I need to be thankful that they have those positive attitudes and that they both love school.  BUT I still miss summer vacation!!!!  :-)

Spirit week was the same for both girls and they had fun dressing up.  This particular day it was Favorite Salad Dressing day for Hailee.  She was Western.  Gabi experienced her first pajama day -- she had a hard time believing that they wanted her to wear pajamas to school... this uncertainty shows on her face .... she wasn't convinced that a lot of kids would be wearing them to school.  But they did!!!

Hailee attended Homecoming with a small group of friends.  They decided to just meet at the school ... we arrived first and waited quite a while and no one showed.  Those mom fears kicked in for me and I couldn't help asking what she would do if no one showed up .... her response.  "Go in anyway mom, there will be other friends there."  Wow, what confidence ... I was impressed! 

Shortly after her friends did show and she had a great time.  I had to laugh when I picked her up and asked how the dance was and she told me that it was exactly like middle school dances except they didn't stop couples from dancing close.  Below is Hailee & her friend Stephanie. 

I'm sure you all know how much we've enjoyed having Jonathan and family close for the last 2 years,   Jonathan took a new job which gives him a lot of possibility for growth in his career, however, it 's in Florida!  We're very happy for them, but sad for us.  We've enjoyed seeing them so much.  And for for those of you who haven't seen them in  a while --- Jonathan still hasn't grown up! 

During a recent visit Jonathan & Amanda honored us with babysitting the boys while they had a little get-a-way weekend.  It was a beautiful day so we headed to the Racine zoo. 

I know I've probably said this before but I love this zoo ... you get up close and personal with the animals.  See the lion just behind the kids?  There is no glass around him so you're able to hear him clearly ..

Kodak moment in the monkey house .....

Hayden loved the monkeys best -- the zoo has huge tree trunks placed in front of some of the monkey cages and it's wonderful for little ones.  They climb right up to see what they want.  Of course Hayden had to climb up on each and every one.

Can you see the kangaroos behind Hayden and Hailee?  They are enclosed in a fenced area but they allow people to walk around inside and the kangaroos are there -- if they would let you come close to them you could pet them.  Shortly after we took this picture one of the kangaroos got up and hopped over the rope right by Hayden.  He was so excited -- the kangaroo then hopped over to the other side. Very COOL!!!  

The penguins were pretty interesting ....

Jackson was his usual happy little self .... the only time he gets crabby is when he's tired or hungry.  It was the first time Amanda was away from him for the night and he did well. 

The zoo put in a huge playground ... fun for everyone!!

Another kodak moment.  The colors at the zoo were beautiful.

Hayden and Hailee had been up and down this wall a few times and Gabi decided that she had to do it too.  Once she was at the top she didn't know how to get down.  We tried to walk her through it -- put one foot on the next step and make your way down .... she was scared. 

 She finally sat down ..... and worked her way down once Hailee went to the top.  And I bet you thought this was a huge wall she was coming down .....

But to her credit she went back to the top, Hailee waited at the bottom and Gabi did manage to work her way down the wall standing up. 

I'm not sure what this contraption was -- the kids could sit or stand on it and spin in circles.  Hayden spent a lot of time on it. 

 Even Jackson had a little fun.  I think the girls had him on every animal .....

Doesn't he looked thrilled?  Auntie Hailee was having a good time.  She always says that she's not a babysitter type of girl ... but you know what?  She is!  And Gabi is too, she was the one following Hailee around to capture all these special moments with the camera. 

 Hayden LOVED this slide ----

Hailee and Gabi had just as much fun as Hayden did with this spinning thing.  They took turns standing on it while the other spun them .....

Jackson took a little rest while the others played. 

Hayden is at the top of the slide ... he convinced Auntie Gabriela (as he calls her) to go down.  It took a lot of convincing ... have I ever mentioned that Gabi is a bit of a chicken when it comes to this type of thing?  Well, it doesn't matter to Hayden, he wasn't giving up until she went down that slide.  :-)  I think he may have a bit of his father in him. 

It really was a wonderful day at the zoo ......

Just had to post this picture --  Jackson is going to be crawling soon!  Amanda is going to have her hands full!!!!

That's it for now .... Happy Halloween to everyone!