Ka-Boom! Fun on the Fourth!

We love the 4th of July --

celebrating our country and our freedom is so special -- 

and  let's be truthful here . . . 

having an extra day off work is also very nice!  :)

We had blasted hot, hot, hot temps before the 4th,

but then rain and chilly weather in the days leading up to the 4th.

We were hopeful for clear and sunny skies, and finally the clouds moved out,

the humidity moved in and the

 temps soared!

Look at that camel  whispering in her ear!

Maddy and I went to the zoo in the morning when it was rather

unseasonably cool out and NO crowds at all!  Sweet!!

After the skies finally cleared off, we headed to the pool 

for noodle races, ice cream sandwiches and 

the lovely smell of sunscreen!!

However, the chilly days prior along with a lot of

rain made the water temp icy cold! 

Brrrr!

Love the shades, but they are hard to see clearly through!

Then it was time to hit the fireworks stands!

Although I've been buying fireworks for what seems to be a million years,

I always forget which ones are the faves.

I neglected to get any artillery shells (really, I don't like to light those),

but smoke bombs, sparkling balls and some screaming bees and sparklers

all made their way into our bags.

Guess I have toned the fireworks way down

since the boys were young and every single year, we had a

fireworks-related "incident!"   

Not kidding here -- one time, a lighted firework fell over and ignited 

a bag of other explosives - burning a hole in our patio umbrella

and a burn mark on the patio table! 

Luckily for us, some neighbors had a quite a show

of artillery shells and we could see the

Country Club's fireworks from our driveway!

All in all, it was a fun and safe 4th -- just the way I like it!

KA-BOOM!  

Ka-Boom! Fun on the Fourth!

We love the 4th of July --

celebrating our country and our freedom is so special -- 

and  let's be truthful here . . . 

having an extra day off work is also very nice!  :)

We had blasted hot, hot, hot temps before the 4th,

but then rain and chilly weather in the days leading up to the 4th.

We were hopeful for clear and sunny skies, and finally the clouds moved out,

the humidity moved in and the

 temps soared!

Look at that camel  whispering in her ear!

Maddy and I went to the zoo in the morning when it was rather

unseasonably cool out and NO crowds at all!  Sweet!!

After the skies finally cleared off, we headed to the pool 

for noodle races, ice cream sandwiches and 

the lovely smell of sunscreen!!

However, the chilly days prior along with a lot of

rain made the water temp icy cold! 

Brrrr!

Love the shades, but they are hard to see clearly through!

Then it was time to hit the fireworks stands!

Although I've been buying fireworks for what seems to be a million years,

I always forget which ones are the faves.

I neglected to get any artillery shells (really, I don't like to light those),

but smoke balls, sparkling balls and some screaming bees and sparklers

all made their way into our bags.

Guess I have toned the fireworks way down

since the boys were young and every single year, we had a

fireworks-related "incident!"   

Not kidding here -- one time, a lighted firework fell over and ignited 

a bag of other explosives - burning a hole in our patio umbrella

and a burn mark on the patio table! 

Luckily for us, some neighbors had a quite a show

of artillery shells and we could see the

Country Club's fireworks from our driveway!

All in all, it was a fun and safe 4th -- just the way I like it!

KA-BOOM!  

Zoo Crew Update - Baaad Horseys!

A little Zoo Crew update for you!

Maddy has really been enjoying her 

volunteer gig at the zoo this summer! 

Most of the time, that is!

Looks cute and sweet -- but this horse is one of the biters!

Last Monday, however, a horse (one of the naughty small horses)

bit her on the inside of her arm!

Ouch! 

 While it didn't totally break the skin, it left scratches

and a big bruise.

Then she worked on Wild Wednesday evening

when the zoo is open until 8 pm.

One horse was DONE and ready to head back to the 

stalls when about 5 kids came up and needed rides.

Since the other two horses had already left, Scout (the horse)

was stuck doing all the rides.

Scout was not happy about that.

To show how unhappy he was, he tried to rub Maddy

off on a fence as she led him around on the horse ride

resulting in a huge scrape and sliver on the inside

of her other arm!

Battle scars from the zoo!

She's still enjoying being a part of zoo crew, though it's winding down with

school starting soon.  She has weekend assignments

until the zoo closes in October.

She is definitely watching out for the horses!

Her favorite assignment is the butterfly pavilion -

who doesn't love butterflies! :)

Bonus -- it's right next to the most adorable Wallaby families!

We don't have a huge and fancy zoo like Omaha's, but

we do love our children's zoo!

It's Friday - TGIF

Yippee - it's Friday!

Just a few random thoughts and updates from me today.

Jane LOVED these very cool works of art in the bear area!

Last Friday - one of of the coldest days we've had

so far, Maddy and I headed to 

the Number 1 zoo in the country -

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo -

with Catherine and the little kids!

Even though it was cold and windy initially -

we had a great day!

The zoo has plenty of indoor exhibits and that saved

us!  The aquarium there is world-class!

First time that I've ever been in without a thousand other

people!  So cool!

We also saw some favorites  - the Big cats

and the bears!

It was a great outing! 

 Thanks for inviting us to 

tag along Catherine!

And, I leave you with this --

 Cboo at Halloween! :)

What you are doing this weekend?

Make it a fun one!

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday!

Whoa -- it was a very hot and humid weekend, 

but . . . 

good news -- a polar vortex

(remember those from last winter? Brrrr!!)

is headed our way and cooler temps expected!

Maddy finished up a week-long half-day theatre camp

last Friday.  There were 95 kids in the camp and

they all did a fabulous job performing!

She starts a new theatre camp today!

Hope she enjoys it just as much!

Do you see what these photos mean?

Very happy news for me.

I have a guy working on the floor trim!!

Yes, Finally!

The job that started in April 

may actually finish in July!

And, we've been so happy to have the

little kids here in town!

Spent some time at the zoo last weekend!

The heat and extreme humidity gave me a whopper migraine, but

was loads of fun and more to come!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Enjoying the Summer Heat?!



Whoa -- can you say H. O. T.!!! 

It has been so extremely hot ever since

Maddy started school last week

and

guess what . . .

 

 

 

The new air conditioning at school did not get completed yet! :(

Oh my -- bless those teachers and students  -

 it isn't easy working or

thinking or concentrating when it's so hot

and the only relief is a few fans!

 

So, they've been getting out of school a few hours early every day and

they are praying at Mass every morning for a cold front!

 

We braved the hot temps and went to the zoo the other day.

Yes, call us crazy! 

Even the animals were sweating!

 

 

We were there with about 9 other people and some very hot animals

who were mostly sleeping! 

 

 

Somehow the llamas don't mind the heat -

even with that cute curly hair!

Rock the Crocs

When I heard our zoo was having a special event called

 "Rock with the Crocs"

I jumped right in and bought tickets!  

 

I spy a croc!

 

Maddy deemed it a perfect occasion for

 Swampy (from "Where's My Water") to attend with us!

 

 

We love, love, love the cute little dwarf crocs at our zoo. 

They are the last critters to

arrive at the zoo and among the first to leave when the chilly temps return.

 

But they are currently in residence and so very happy!

Look at that one grinning! 

 

 

There was an animal exhibition portion of the event.

 

 

Of course,

Maddy and I were hoping one of the crocs would be put on a leash and

brought over for it,

 but no, just a boa constrictor!

 

Lincoln's very own "String Beans" performed also.

Maddy is a bit beyond their 2-5 year old
target audience, but it was still fun.

  

Leo the Lion Trash-eater!

 

Bonus, we got to wander around the zoo

without crowds of people!

 

Stare-down between the llama and Maddy -- guess who won??

 

We love their special events!

 

 

Next up --

"Brews and Blues!!"
What a fun zoo --
 bet you wished you lived here too!

 

 

First Day of Summer Vacation

Lucky me --

I had the first day of Maddy's summer vacation off work! 

It was special and sweet and someone

who usually is a little hard to wake up for school was up earlier than ever . . .

on our day off! 

How does that happen?

 

 

So, as we do almost every year, we made a visit to our local zoo. 

We had been there earlier on opening day in April,

but not all the animals had made it back then.

 

 

Even the dwarf crocs were back and usually they wait until warmer weather! 

 They were a tad bit chilly though and were crowded together in one corner snuggling. 

 Who knew that crocs snuggle??

  I'm not sure why,

but Maddy and I LOVE those crocodiles! :) 

Weird, I know.

 

 

In July, Maddy is enrolled in a Jr. Zookeeper class -- she can hardly wait! 

Wish they had a class like that for people my age!  :) 

Wait, it might be called Sr. Zookeeper and I don't really like that title,

 do you!

 

I'm sure we will be back many more times and

will coax a smile out of the crocs!

And ride the train again!

 

First train ride of the season in April, 2013!
 

The Zoo in Winter

Let me tell you -- the zoo looks a whole lot different in the winter! For one thing -- not very many people are visiting. The zoo is now closed, but is having "winter weekends" and open each weekend in December. For some crazy reason, Maddy and I decided to visit on Sunday, when the high temp hit a balmy 20 degrees! Can you say BRRRRR!! It was so cold!!

Maddy visited the reindeer. They are preparing for an epic journey soon!

Pretended to be an Eagle!

Visited famous zoo landmark, Leo the Lion -- he eats trash -- really, he does!

Saw the new Penguin habitat.

Our new penguins are warm weather penguins and

were off in an indoor heated pool somewhere - aren't they smart!

And posed with our fave little bear wearing shades -- she said he was really cold!

And we ended our visit with someone very special in the Zoo boutique --

more about that later! :)