Fort Wayne Zoo

Saturday, June 4th, we loaded up and headed south into Indiana for some family fun time. My Aunt Joan just remarried Scott Huffine and they have a newly constructed home where they were throwing an open house party. Lots of family I don't see fairly often were attending, so we naturally wanted to go. Once on the road we realized we hadn't had breakfast, so when everyone was complaining of rumbling tummies we decided to stop in Auburn at the Cracker Barrel. Both girls ate well, especially Mia, eating almost all of her humongous pancakes and devouring at least one slice of my french toast. After our breakfast we continued on to Fort Wayne. We saw the mall on our left and the turn for the zoo coming up on our right. Mia coughed and gagged a bit, then I heard Andy say, "Oh gross!" I turned around to see Mia covered in her previously eaten pancakes and french toast. Now my car is usually a pig sty, but with some prompting and help from my husband we completely cleaned it out the night before. The only things left in it were car seats, a stroller, sippy cups and a small diaper bag with a few diapers, wipes, and snacks. I then told Andy to go to the mall instead of the zoo to buy Mia a new outfit. I stripped her down in the parking lot, wiped her up as good as I could and became one of those parents who takes their child shopping in a just a diaper. We ran into the first store we found, grabbed the first dress of the rack and bought it and dressed her right there in the store. We were pretty sure her getting sick was due to eating too much and her body needing to cough up some junk. She wasn't running a fever and seemed fine. So we attempted to try the zoo.

Andy and Olivia enjoying the scenery

The zoo did have some gorgeous landscaping!

Look out animals, Mia's at the wheel!

Always time for a carousel ride

Mama Canada Geese with their little ducklings

Let me first suggest to never go to a zoo on an extremely hot day, especially when the zoo is crowded. We started off in the African safari section, which is a super long loop with very little shade. Most of the animals were trying to hide from the sun and sleep. We were all dripping sweat within no time. Olivia did a bit of whining, but we still managed to drudge on and enjoy the zoo the best we could. By the time we were out of Africa, we didn't have much time left, nor did we want to stay much longer. So we headed to the primate area, mainly because the orangutans are my favorite. We're on a first name basis with one another. So we were able to get to more shaded and even some air conditioned sections of the zoo before heading out to go visit my Aunt Joan and Scott's new home.

Eating in front of the giraffes

Relaxing by the orangutan statue after getting cooled off in the water misters

Potawotomi Zoo

Acting like monkeys in front of some monkeys

Andy headed up north for a few day the end of May to get our camper and property ready for the season, so The girls and I loaded up and headed to South Bend to go to the Potawatomi Zoo on a Saturday morning. It was a great day for it, nice weather, not too hot, and not too crowded at all.

These flamingos were fearless and would get right in your face

He was one determined goat going for the leaves on the tree

Both girls loved the goats, but only Olivia was really into petting them

Say, "Cheese," farmer Olivia and Mia!

The camels were quite affectionate with one another

checking out the wild boars

Standing in front of the emus, wallabies, and kangaroos

We left the zoo for lunch at Steak and Shake, followed by a quick trip to the mall. We came home to visit with our cousins a bit and then were excited when daddy came home that evening. It was a fun filled weekend!

Dancing with Cousins!

Olivia had her first dance recital Saturday, May 21st. She did an amazing job! We were all so proud of her! First she did her sweet and delicate fairy dust ballet. Then she showed her attitude side during her jazz and hip hop number where the song was "Please Don't Stop the Music." The recital was quite an event to put on with over 40 acts in it. Olivia received numerous bouquets of flowers from family and loved ones. She's already decided next year she wants to try tap lessons. Sadly they would not allow photography during the recital, but I didn't know this until the night of dress rehearsal, to which I did not take my camera. So sadly I know no photos of Olivia in her costumes. Our friend Lauren took some amazing photos professionally for me, so we do have some keepsakes coming.

Olivia is holding her vase of flowers from Jackie. Jackie was unable to come to her recital, but arranged for flowers to be delivered to Olivia at her recital since she couldn't make it. Olivia was so excited to get some special flowers from her Jackie!

We are also thrilled that my sister and Jared have moved back to Sturgis! We had three of the kids over to play a couple of weeks ago. They all enjoyed dancing and being silly up in the girls' room.

The kids all rocking out. Mia, Jadon holding Jane, James, and Olivia

Sweet little Janie will be one year old on June 11th! My how time flies.

Easter

Well, the Easter Bunny visited our house as he usually does, but the Easter Bug also visited poor Mia. She's been getting every illness that's being passed around. The day before she had an out of the blue vomit, but seemed better later on.
Well, Sunday morning, we were changing diapers every 10 minutes. She still enjoyed hunting for her basket and eggs, as did Olivia. Mia and daddy stayed home and napped while Olivia and I headed to church.

Olivia found her basket! The Easter Bunny was extra nice to our girls this year. The Tangled DVD and a personalized bag for dance were among some of Olivia's new found treasures.

Mia found her Easter basket in the snack cupboard, but immediately pulled out the Spongebob Band-aids. She loves band-aids!

I loved this photo! We're full swing into potty training. The Easter Bunny even brought her some big girl underwear, but sadly it was not the day to start wearing them.

Later in the day, Mia seemed to be back to her old energetic self, so we ventured over to Nana and Papa's. The girls enjoyed yet again, another round of hunting for eggs and baskets from both Nana and Papa, as well as Aunt Jen.

A trail of bunny paw prints led the way to eggs and baskets! Mia had more fun finding the paw prints than anything else I think.

Mia finding an egg. What could be inside?

Olivia found a basket in the bathroom!

Another egg for Mia!

You are my Sunshine, Olivia Jane!

We enjoyed a delightful Sunday with Nana, Papa, and Aunt Jen with delicious food to indulge in. Mia made it just fine and dandy. That is until we got home. She immediately vomited upon our entry into the house. So an extra day home with mommy was had the next day. Overall, it was a great Easter, minus the sickness. We hope everyone else had a blessed Easter and was able to celebrate to reason behind the joyous holiday.

Grandma Patty's Easter Birthday Party

Olivia finding her basket.

Saturday, April 24th, which happened to be the day before Easter this year was Patty's birthday. My dad and Patty had us over to color eggs in the morning and we went over later in the day for a birthday/Easter dinner and hunting for Easter eggs and baskets. The girls look forward each year to coloring eggs with Grandma and Grandpa McNeil.

Mia finding some eggs with mommy watching closely by

Mia found her basket and is checking out all the goodies while Olivia looks on

Grandma's birthday pie, strawberry rhubarb!

Make a wish Grandma!

Olivia loved Grandma letting her play with make up too.

Kisses for Grandma Patty on her birthday.

We hope your birthday was fabulous. We sure had a great time!

Time with Family

We were so fortunate to be able to see a lot of family back in April. Andy's grandmother came up form Arkansas, and his Aunt Doris came from New York. Andy's Aunt Ruth and Uncle Rich live in the Toledo area and came up for the day too. With them their children and grandchildren also came. It was great to have so many cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles gather in one place. It doesn't happen often enough.

Great Grandma Bailey with all her great grandbabies (all girls) Olivia, Kourtney, Kendall, and Mia

Grandma with the grandchildren who could make it and all her great grandchildren.
L: Andy, Amanda, Mia and Olivia, Middle: Kris, Julia, and Kourtney and Grandma, R: Jason, Melody, and Kendall

Ruth, Esther, Grandma, and Doris
All the sisters with their mother

Kalahari Amusement Park in Wiscon Dells

Above is a collage of photos from our trip to Mall of America and our first time to Ikea. I think we are the first people to ever leave Ikea empty handed, but we went to see what all the fuss was about and plan on going back, hopefully soon. We went to Minnesota for Andy's swim team's last meet of the season. On our way home with a few other swim families we stayed at the Kalahari Water Park in Wisconsin Dells. What a fun place. I didn't want to risk taking my camera into the water park, so all the photos I have are from the amusement park. Olivia loved it, especially laser tag. We've had to promise to take her to play laser tag around here this summer.

Olivia and Mia coming out of a slide in the kiddie area

Olivia and Melanie being silly on the carousel

Andy on the high ropes course

Mia driving her sister around