Friends Everywhere

Friday. 

The twins were found lounging on Gigi's bed. 

Firecracker is on the left and Jumper is the big guy. 

They often cuddle together like this. 

So darn cute!

Saturday. 

Gigi's friend Ella came over to see our baby chicks and to play. 

They get along famously and her mom said she's going to bring her by more as the weather gets warmer. 

So they can run and play in the good ol' outdoors!

Sunday we went to our friends' new home in Normal. 

I went to college in Normal. 

Meet these boys' father in Normal. 

It's so sweet to see my kids and his kids as friends now. 

We went to lunch at an Illinois State institution, Avanti's. 

It was a beautiful day so we went on a walk to get ice cream and to enjoy the sunshine which no one has seen in 6 months!

We walked through the campus. 

Saw the old and new of my alma mater. 

It was really fun. 

I didn't take any pictures Monday. 

Oops. 

But yesterday (Tuesday) the girls and I went to our local zoo. 

It opened for the season and we saw our friends, the wolves and the penguins and the camels and the zebras and the list goes on and on and on. 

Gigi wanted to swing in the baby swing at the playground. 

Ummm, I think she's too big. 

And long. 

Zoe talked to Tilly the wolf. 

Tilly is the alpha wolf of her pack and sometimes the girls can get her to howl. 

Traditional Trips

Post 2 of 2 in a series titled "Traditions" from my
blog group Homesteaders and Homeschoolers.

 

 

 

Traditions are a part of our family vacations. 

Not in that we travel to the same place year after year (but that would be super fun!). 

But in what we do when we go on a vacation. 

Now, if you know me well, you know my family loves animals. 

Exotic animals. 

Farm animals. 

Sea animals. 

Reptiles. 

Bugs. 

Birds. 

We dig it all. 

So, when we travel, we always go to a zoo. 

Even before we had kids, Chad and I would visit a zoo whenever we traveled. 

We've been to the zoo in...

Portland, Oregon

Fort Worth, Texas

Paris, France

San Diego

Los Angeles 

The National Zoo in D.C.

St. Louis, Missouri

Columbus, Ohio

Chicago (of course!)

Houston, Texas

There are so many more for us to visit. 

Each city gives us a new opportunity to have an animal experience. 

Yet at one zoo, we have the same experience. 

Whenever we go to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, tradition stands that Chad and the girls will pose in front of the lion grotto and I'll snap a picture. 

These are just a few in our arsenal.

There's always a way to get up close and personal with creatures. 

We love to pet and feed anything we can get our hands on. 

We all get giddy with excitement if we can pet an emu or feed a giraffe. 

Giraffes are always popular. 

So friendly no matter where we encounter them. 

Sometimes we do stay local and visit our hometown zoo which is awesome. 

We've met up with cousins and friends at zoos in different states.  

And we've watched our children grow up with wonder and respect for the world at their level. 

They've learned about conservation, extinction, and nachos. 

They understand the difference between a monkey and an ape. 

And the difference between an Icee and a snow cone. 

They've seen sea lions, okapi, elephants, rhinos, tortoises, constrictors, meerkats, eagles, millipedes, crocs, koala bears, and every other animal. 

Except one. 

Panda Bears are on the list, yet to be seen by these two animal enthusiasts. 

Learning to love all creatures on this expansive planet is a big tradition of ours. 

A tradition of teaching our children that we are all a part of this thing we call life. 

Visiting a zoo on a vacation is a family tradition of ours. 

I can't wait for them to see those pandas!

7 Days

A few things from the last 7 days...

On Tuesday I witnessed our hermit crab Rascal remove his body from one shell to another and it was the most hideous thing I've ever seen.

His body that's encased within the shell is large, bulbous, white, and kinda wet.

I barfed in my mouth a bit and want a cat to scratch my eyes out.

On Monday Zoe had her monthly blood draw to make sure the leukemia is staying away.

It's still staying away (Yay!) and Dr. Niebrugge said she can come every two months for blood draws now (Double Yay!)

On Sunday we were in Columbus.

In Ohio, ya know.

And upon the recommendation of our dear friend Z, we had some ice cream.

But ice cream that takes your taste buds to a new and exciting place.

Where pistachios and honey intermingle.

And where goat cheese makes a cheesecakey flavor in your cup.

Brambleberry crisp enters your mouth and you let out a deep and satisfied sigh.

A place called Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

On Saturday we explored The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with Chad's cousin Melissa and her family.

We saw koalas, elephants, manatees, okapi, gorillas, stingrays, moose, and polar bears.

It was a perfect day weather-wise and company-wise.

On Friday we drove through two bad rain storms and a dust storm.

For a few minutes, I thought I had time traveled back to the 1930's and I was a victim of The Great Dust Bowl.

That dust-dirt was some scary stuff.

Last Thursday...I don't remember last Thursday.

Wednesday of last week the horse vet came to give Buttercup her spring shots.

She got three shots and did the "bugged-out-eyes pony look" for each one.

Oh, and I had to follow the goats around to get a poo sample for the vet to check.

Update: Day 8...we have to make an emergency run to Petsmart this morning because Rascal has no shell! Jesse booted him out of his and he's hiding under the log tunnel in the crabitat and he's naked and vulnerable.

Ewwwwww.

Hermit Crab Joy

Hermit crabs.

They are boring.

Those are Zoe's words.

And I would have to agree.

They burrow into the dirt in their tank and we don't see them for days.

They don't eat.

They don't drink.

Are they pooping?

Who knows.

The only way we know if they are still alive and breathing their little crab breaths is to dig them out and put them on mom's kitchen table.

Nice.

Then they are all like "here we are!"  

They are rather gross to look at up close.

And I like gross, but it's almost too alien for me. 

This is Gigi's hermit crab.

Her name is Jesse.

And this is how she usually stays when she's on the table.

She even stayed like this when she pinched the crap out of Gigi's hand a few weeks ago.

Do you know how hard it is to get a hermit crab to release it's pinch from a four year old's hand?

Hard.

All Gigi cared about was this..."why doesn't Jesse like me?"

Gigi was wearing a hooded sweatshirt at the time and I told her that Jesse just didn't recognize her with her hood on.

She bought it.

And doesn't wear a hood around the crabs anymore.

Jesse did eventually come out of her shell when we had them on the table the other day.

Took her about 35 minutes, though.

   

Hermit crabs.
They are so interesting.
Not.
Really, we should have gotten a guinea pig.

Spurs and Crabs at Christmas

Well, we have made it through another holiday.

Christmas is over and my gut has expanded.

Again.

My tolerance and patience have been extended to the max.

One word for that...Gigi

But, we have two healthy kids at home and we want it to stay that way.

Santa did not bring any snow along with him.

Dang it, I say!

A white Christmas makes for a cheerier Christmas.

But we made do with barbie heads to "make up". 

We have enough Legos to last Zoe through Easter.

Spurs for her boots and a huge jar of pickles for Gigi (her nickname in utero was Pickles, by the way.  She comes by her addiction to vinegary cucumbers naturally.)

Lots of games, both electronic and those old fashion regular type games like Bingo, Shark Diner, a Gardening board game, and Headbandz.

And, then because we are gluttons for more punishment as parents, we let the girls spend their Christmas money on hermit crabs. 

Here's hoping 2013 leaves us with no really stressful events, lots of good health for Zoe, and no more pets.

Sunshine

Good day sunshine,

Good day sunshine,

Good day sunshine.

I need to laugh, and when the sun is out

I've got something I can laugh about,

I feel good, in a special way.

I'm in love and it's a sunny day.

~Lennon and McCartney

If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious

excitement and affection, you must be a cat.

~Author Unknown

Agreeable Friends

We have a farm and must keep it stocked with animals to maintain our status of hobby farm.

We don't do anything fancy with the animals.

There's no goat milk, no selling of baby kids.

The biggest splurge we have offered people is free horse manure for your compost pile.

We have a companion animal hobby farm.

To teach our children about compassion and responsibility.

To have fun, love, and a whirlwind of fur childhood experience.  

Animals are such agreeable friends -

they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

~George Eliot