Miller Park Zoo

Last Saturday we went to a Cat company picnic in Bloomington. It was chilly and rainy all morning, but around 1:30 it cleared up and warmed up and we went to the Bloomington Zoo which was literally just steps away from the company picnic. It took about an hour to go through the entire thing. Its grounds were very, very nice. We had a great time.

Aren't they growing up?!?! They're little boys, not little baby boys.

Wallaroo

So this was in the "Wallaby Walkabout." As you can see, there is NO enclosure for the animals. Initially I thought, "Well, maybe these have been injured and can't hop around anymore." NOPE! They hopped all over the place while we were in the Walkabout. It was very, very cool.

The sealion was quite playful. We meant to go back for his 3:00 feeding but lost track of time.

This is the inside of the rainforest room. It was really neat. The birds are free to roam about, and we had to warn the boys as they are not very found of our feathered friends.

Just walking around inches from our feet.

Just grooming on the hand rail

The old point and shoot camera has a pretty decent zoom.

Had to have a picture of the "Budgie Bird Room" since Eli is our 'Budge.'

The Jr. Zookeeper teaching the boys to pet a guinea pig

Eli and I got separated from Cole and Ian. We were trying to catch up with them and Eli, totally not paying attention to his surroundings about walked right into this little girl. When I got his attention he stopped walking right next to her. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then she grabbed his hand and led him down the sidewalk to the bald eagle exhibit. After a little bit of time the girl's mom said, "I've GOT to get a picture of this," so of course I started snapping away too. The little girl did NOT want to let Eli go. She was a woman who knew what she wanted, and holy cow, was she adorable! Eventually, we pried them apart and she went on her merry way. We ran into her again in the gift shop as we were leaving, and she said, "Oh, there you are!" Too cute.

At supper that night we were talking about what each of us liked at the zoo. I said I liked the Wallaby Walkabout, Cole and Ian liked the monkeys, and Eli liked his girlfriend. It was so sweet, but I don't think I'm ready to be dethroned as Eli's Number One Girl.

Cancun 2012

Vacation has come and gone. BOOOOOOO!!!!! It was 10 months in the works and over within four days. Geesh. We had a very anxiety producing passport fiasco in the two weeks before vacation, and as I ranted to anyone who would listen I began to feel very, um, out of touch with reality. If my biggest concern in life is whether or not our new/renewed passports don't show up in time for our first international family vacation, I'd say I have a pretty easy life.....which I already knew.

Anyway, vacation was a blast, regardless of the fact that our children were NOT ready for a four hour plane ride followed by hours standing in line at immigration. Here's a photo recap of the trip.

Waiting to leave town

"Who Face"

We got caught in a hail storm on the way to Chicago the night before our flight.

We got to see a partial solar eclipse on the way. Can't tell from the picture

We stayed right across the road from O'Hare.

Right after falling asleep.

Right before waking up.

Buckled in, waiting to taxi out to the runway.

Still in a good mood.

Our resort.

The ONLY time Flat Stanley made an appearance. Ol' Stanley really liked the room.

Breakfast at Albatros

Giovanti's On The Beach

Quiet time

Mexico Night

Boys LOVED standing on the "cake" in the middle

Best kids' pool ever!!!!!!

Fountains (off at the time)

Time to head back to America. It was a BAD flight....bad behavior, LOTS of turbulence, the worst landing ever!!!!!

I Remember When...

...Ian used to do this on a daily basis.

And I vividly remember when Eli used to do this on a regular basis.....because it was just last week.

However, Eli has recently decided that he no longer needs a daily nap. I assure you he is WRONG! Monday and Tuesday Eli threw 45 minute and 30 minute temper tantrums and then finally fell asleep. Wednesday, Thursday, and today were just hour long psychotic rages that resulted in no napping and a thoroughly ticked off mother.

The behavior around our house today has been awful. Hitting, kicking, screaming, biting, more hitting, yelling, scratching. I'm ready to pull all of my hair out and it's only 4:00 which means I still have multiple hours before Cole gets home from work. The good news is.....when I talked to Cole earlier, he agreed to early bedtimes, followed by Date Night In, followed by (Cole doesn't know this yet) "The Vow." I've already rented it online for pick-up at Redbox.

Now, if I can just make it until 7:30.