Brookfield Zoo 2013!

I headed to my Mom's this past weekend with the kids for our much anticipated Zoo trip! I get more excited about the zoo every year because Gavyn gets older and wiser and more interested in these things. It was also Alli's first time at a zoo! Gavyn had a great time. We saw so many animals and Gavyn was so excited about all of them. We saw the dolphin show and Gavyn picked up a little dolphin toy and has been doing "Whale Shows" for us ever since. He talks about the frogs a lot too. 

We also had fun hanging out at Nana and Papas for the weekend. Papa has the spoiling part of being a grandparent down pat. He is always ready with new and fun things for Gavyn to play with! Nana cooked us some yummy food and helped a lot with the kids.

Getting clean for the Zoo the night before!

Using their new stroller too!

Lets go!

A baby!

The Living Coast was a big hit

Penguins!

This is the best one out of about 20 pictures like this my Mom took

At the dolphin show!

As good as I could do for a group shot

Having lunch - Gavyn passed the time by using the picnic table as a balance beam

He was looking at the big Dinosaur that moved!

Butterflies!

Our First Summer Vacation

Being a stay at home Mom is the toughest job I have ever done. Really, there are no vacations. Going to work would qualify as a break. There are lots of perks though. One of them is being able to go anywhere I want whenever I want! I take my job on the go and we are able to spend lots of time at our family houses in the North land. John has decent vacation too, so we were able to take two weeks to go to Lescher Woods in Wisconsin - my Mom's woodland property, and Black Duck Lake in Minnesota - a place I own with my brother handed down from our Ol' Man. Both these places are very special and I'm so glad I can spend so much time there. The kids love exploring new places and learning new things. 

I'll go through the rest of the trip in pictures - because as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. 

Nana with her babes

Wearin' my girl

Tom and John

Playing in the pond

Gavyn was catching pretend turtles

Nana and Papa

Look at that pony!

A little badmitten

Gavyn was the scorekeeper

And Alli the cheerleader

Snuggling after nap

Alli kisses!

Sneakin snacks

I barely ever get pictures with my husband anymore - so here is one :)

I just love when they play together!

Big girl!

On the move!

With Aunty Dot

More moving...

Getting firewood

Finally a good fishing year!

Tom teaching John how to properly clean a fish

breakfast

Happy Girl!

Sink bath!

Getting a fire started on a chilly morning

boat ride

Enjoying the scenery

Mr. Serious

Alli and some hobo that was having issues with her contacts the whole time. 

Having a fire

Theboys

Me and my pride and joys

Gavyn caught the fishing bug bad

Kolton out on the raft