The Zoo Crew....

We celebrated Poppy's birthday with a lot of wild animals... and I am not talking about the children... just look at the picture below.  It was a very strange Memphis day with low humidity and a high in the low 80s.  Addie and Drew loved getting to share time with Ninnie and Poppy at the zoo... which is one of their favorite places.  We had two special experinces that day!  We had the chance to feed the giraffes.  Addie was a little timid and Drew really did not want a part in the experience.  Kyle let one eat the lettuce leaf from his mouth (which Addie's reply to that was "you are not getting a kiss from me until you brush your teeth")  and I was just amazed at how long their tongues were.  

Addie and Poppy also rode a camel.  Addie is not ready to trade in her car seat for a camel and gave it a big thumbs down in comfort.   What a great day full of family and fun!

Tripp loving the zoo!!!

Kristen, Addie, and me feeding the birds...

Checking out the zebras...

Kyle being the cool dad:)

Spring Break Fun...

Spring Break came and went.  It was nice to just be.  No dance, gymnastics, or soccer.  No school or work.  Just time with my favorite people.  We had a great road trip to Chattanooga and the Mountains.  We did some swimming at the hotel... the highlight of the trip and then took in the aquarium.  

 Drew's favorite part was running up and down these rocks outside the aquarium... boys will be boys!

We can always find a Nemo...

They do love each other...

 Addie is still in love with the penguins.

After visiting Chattanooga, we headed up to the Mountains to stay at a cabin for the weekend.  We went hiking, ate pizza, rode the Sky Lift for the kids, and watched some movies in the sleeping bags.  

We hiked up Laurel Falls.  The last time we hiked up this trail, Addie was almost 3 and Drew was in my belly.  Kyle and Poppa carried Addie the two miles.  This time around Drew rode in the stroller and Addie hiked up the trail.  She was not excited but liked the end result of the hike.  

After our weekend trip, we stayed close to home for some fun.  I took the kids to the zoo for the day.  We rode the train... looked at the elephants and giraffes (still our favorite)... and had a lot of fun just the 3 of us.  

Ordinary {Summer} Days....

We are in week three of summer vacation and we are loving life.  We have been sleeping in... playing with friends... swimming A LOT.... and just having FUN!!!!

Me and my little shadow...

 

Drew hanging with Aunt Kristen...

 

Drew loves hanging BY the pool not IN the pool.  He is a lot more reserved around the water compared to Addie at 2.  He takes about 2 hours to warm up to the pool but it is getting better each time we visit a pool.

 

Our Little Mermaid

 Addie loves the water and cannot get enough most days.  She just jumps off the diving board and swims to the side really well.  Sometimes she forgets to use her arms to stroke but she is getting really good.

 

We spend most mornings outside playing and watering the flowers.

Drew loves this chore.

 

This was a fun art project that the kids loved...

 

Addie painted a flower...

 

We went to the zoo with Kelli and Hayden.  

It was unusually cool a few weeks ago and we seized the opportunity.

Addie and Drew with the gators.  

Addie said, "These are on that show daddy likes."  

Her little shout out to Swamp People.

I never thought I would see the day when Addie would be the one looking at the camera.

Just look at those boys being boys!

The zoo is running an exhibit called "Dino Track"  We bought tickets last time we were at the zoo but could not use them because a storm rolled in and we had to leave.  So we did the Track this visit and my children are not Dino lovers yet.  Drew would just shake his head and say "NO... NO"  and Addie hid under the shade of the stroller.  However, Addie did like the baby dinosaurs hatching out of the eggs.  If I recall correctly she stated, " Oh they look so cute, don't they mommy.  Now lets go!"

 

Drew liking but not loving the carousal ride and Hayden on his first ride.

 

King Drew on his throne

And finally it is that time... the potty training dairies have begun.  

Drew as pee-peed in the potty for Granny Franny many times, but gets a little shy for us at the homestead.  He is getting better about not crying when I put him on the potty but that is about all.  He likes to pee in the shower but no where else.  Truth be told, I really did not want to start this month pushing the potty due to VBS, Swim lessons, and beach vacation... who wants to travel with that in the back of their mind to Florida????  

 

Zoo TIme...

This is a flashback blog...
A few weeks ago, we took the whole Sanders/Primm family to the Nashville Zoo. It was St. Patty's Day and who knew the zoo is a hot spot on March 17th???? The line was crazy long to get in the zoo. Maybe it was the search for the leprechaun's gold or the fact that Dino Track just opened. But at any rate it was a wonderful day at the zoo for all!

Addie, a zoo veteran, was our stylish guide.
She took great pride in being the map holder.

Drew and Kyle checking out the monkeys...

LiLi and Addie counting the zebra's stripes.

They are ready to ride.

Poppa and Addie checking out the flamingos.

Addie doing her job and plotting our next stop.

Trying to get Drew out of the Meerkat hole.
He loved running in the tunnel.

Waiting to ride the zoo train...

Hayden and Kelli riding solo. Drew could not make up his mind about the train. He would cry to get on, cry to get off, cry when it left... so we just went to look at the tigers.

Kelli and Jason

Drew and Addie hiding from Mommy and her camera...

Drew picked the bear to ride next to... yes he would not get on top. No amount to begging or showing him how much fun everyone else was having was going to change his mind.

We saw the tigers and elephants... no lions or bears at the Nashville Zoo (or park as Kyle likes to say because he is a Memphis Zoo snob). We got in the car before the rain started.
What a great day at the zoo.