Ft Worth Zoo

We took the opportunity of the great weather and got outside to the Ft Worth zoo on Saturday morning. It was beautiful and walking around alone was well worth it. We knew right when we got there, we had to ride the train (or we'd be asked over and over again all morning) so we hopped on the Yellow Rose Express. A fun ride and fun to be back in Texas at a zoo where everything is named after the things of this state. Seriously, sometimes I have to pinch myself that we are here.

Boarding the train

The boys riding the train

Me and my kiddos on the train

Drew and the engine

Petting zoo with the goats - the kids just looked, they didn't care to touch

Dilan and me in a stage coach

Disembarking the stage coach

This alligator was a little freaky - when you walked into the gator exhibit, he looked real at first.

Beautiful bald eagle

Loved this saying about Texas I read while Drew was getting a drink

Looking at the giraffes

Our tradition of getting a souvenir penny wherever we go

Black Rhino - never seen one of these

Who me?

Dilan was obsessed with reading the zoo map

Drake and David with a rhinoceros in the background

The chimps

Drake and me in front of the monkeys

Abby the Guinea Pig

We were fortunate enough to take Abby, the guinea pig, home for the weekend. Abby is the first grade pet at Drew's school. We signed up and we got her the first weekend she was available. She ended up being a lot of fun for the kids but a lot of work to take home and bring back to the school. Abby came in a big cage with a lot of supplies, and I even had to purchase some new bedding for her. But it was all worth it as we created some great memories which included feeding Abby lots of lettuce and carrots.

Not sure why Dilan is making this pose lately for pictures but she sure is a cutie

Petting Abby - each morning the kids would wake up and talk to her while eating their breakfast.

Drew was one happy camper having Abby at his home.

Dilan does Dance!

We heard about an opportunity last week to get Dilan in a dance class. A woman in our church does the class at a friend's home. I thought at first she'd be on the wait list but I got a call that Dilan was welcome to join this year. The classes are once a week until the end of the school year. I drop her off (so no parent-watching) and then in December, the parents can attend a class to see how much their little ones have learned. At the end of the year, Dilan will have a recital with a costume too. The best part was going to the dance store. The teacher told me to let Dilan pick out her own leotard, it didn't matter the color and to get her pink ballet shoes too. Dilan immediately picked out this purple ballerina outfit. I had her look at all sorts of things but she saw this first and that was it. It has some bling at the top and some roses on the skirt. She was fitted for ballet shoes (size 7.5) and $50 later, we were out the door. David was kind of complaining that Dilan was too young to start dance and that we were going to spend a lot of $ on this adventure, but when he saw how happy Dilan was, he could not stop smiling. It was precious. So fun to have a little girl!

Dilan's first day of dance class went well. I brought her in and only once did she look teary-eyed. But when all the other girls came in and began to dance with the teacher, she joined right in. She's the only one in purple too (that's my girl!). After I left, the teacher said she did great on her first day!

Dilan spinning around so I caught a picture of her hair. The teacher said it has to be up and out of her face. How could I not put it in a bun? :)

My little ballerina reading a book

Dallas Temple

Our Primary had an activity at the Dallas temple Friday evening. The kids sat on the steps of the foyer and sang, "I love to see the temple." It was beautiful to hear and quite a special moment for the kids to be inside the temple and meet the temple presidency. As we went outside to the grounds of the temple, things changed quickly. The kids began running around and it was hard to get control of them. We didn't last too long, only time for a few quick pictures and then we went to eat dinner at Chili's with some new friends!

Drew in front of the temple (shirt untucked already)

David and the boys

Drake is crawling like this when upon cement or grass, his knees won't touch at all.

Dilan would not rest for me to take a good picture of her so I had to catch her as she was looking at the temple.

Our attempt at a family picture in front of the Dallas temple!

10 months!

This kid is 10 months old now which really is no milestone per say BUT the fact that he's only two months from his first birthday. I'm looking forward to it already, especially because we can celebrate with family this year.

Drake is pulling up on everything, trying to stand on his own, still has only two teeth on the bottom, eating table food, has developed an outrageous gut-wrenching scream when he's mad at me, still likes his pacifier and STILL doesn't sleep through the night! But Drake's a happy baby and we love that he is growing a mohawk all on his own too! His newest development is grabbing a train and moving it back and forth on the floor to play with his brother and sister.

Labor Day Picnic

Labor Day here was a gorgeous day - high of only 86 and quite the breeze to go with it. So, we had to get outside and we chose to have a picnic at the playground with the kids. Drew kept asking if we could do it again soon and that's when you know you've had a fun day!

David and Drake on our picnic blanket

Eating some watermelon

Playground time

Eating green beans by the handful

Drake had fun playing with Beva's leash

Trying to get some family shots of our picnic

Baseball Season 2011 - GO YANKEES!

Drew is playing baseball this season! Technically, it's t-ball still because Drew's birthday falls in the summer and the cut-off was April. But that means he's one of the older kids on his team and that's good for a change. Soccer was actually full by the time we moved here, but I have also wanted to get him exposure to baseball. We know many people who are obsessed with "America's game" but we just aren't. We are football people, a football family, and baseball is just a little too slow for us. That being said, I want Drew to make up his own mind about what he likes and we want him to try many things. As a rule in our family, you have to be involved in something athletic each fall and spring (to teach the importance of exercise, team work, making new friends, winning/losing) and even though kids Drew's age are playing flag football, David thinks he is still too young.

Drew did ask to play football because "it looks like they run a lot." And when I asked what Drew liked about baseball the most, he said, "running bases." This kid just likes to run and he's pretty good at it. While other kids focused on hitting the ball and casually getting to first base, Drew was in an all-out sprint, nearly running into the kid in front of him running from base to base. He may end up being interested in track and field one day but for now, we'll focus on the team sports.

We had a lot of fun at Drew's first baseball game, but it was hot! I got a lot of pictures because David was in the stands with me (instead of busy being the soccer coach) and it was kind of nice. There are three innings in which each kid gets a turn to bat and field a different position. Drew hit the ball on the first time all three times he got up there and he fielded the pitcher's mound which got him some action catching and throwing the ball.

Drew was assigned the number 3 - his Dad's old football number.

Before the game, the kids got in their dark blue and gray clothes in support of Drew and smiled for me. Dilan got this pink Texas Rangers hat at the store today. She's excited to wear a baseball hat! Drake kept taking his hat off.

David and Dilan playing catch outside the fields. Dilan is so ready to play sports!

A precious baby drinking his bottle at a very hot game!

In the stands watching the action.

Drew in action

My number 3

In the dug out

Dilan decided the bleachers were a great place to lie down.

Literally jumping up and down on first base so excited to hit the ball and run there.

so hot outside and Dilan's hair had had it.

Picking up the ball...

throwing to first base.

Drake's snack time.

Drew is ready to go!

Hitting the ball...

running with a smile on his face...

scoring a run! (no score is kept)

End of the game