1:00 Church

Maybe 1:00 church won't be so bad...

Winter Zoo Trip

Adam was going to Ouray, Colorado with his friends who were going to be ice climbing.  He hadn't seen the kids all week because he had been working overtime and would be gone all weekend, so on Friday morning I drove him to my parents' house where Aspen, Bentley, Colter, and Dahlia were taking a little vacation.  He was able to give them all kisses and hugs before Sean pulled in to pick him up there.  The kids had plans with Mamie and Papi to visit Hogle Zoo.  Since I was dressed, already out of the house, and finally feeling well, I decided to join them!  We spent approximately two hours walking around the zoo.  Inside and out.  And, boy, were we glad we had our gloves and hats.  It was COLD!  

Highlights of our trip: 

A giraffe's licked another giraffe's stream of urine and gleak it, yes, that's right!

One zebra was trying to bite another zebra's bottom, who was trying to kick the first zebra.

One of the zookeepers told us all about the orangoutangs story. (See below)

We rode the carrousel.

The reptile house was warm and stinky! (As always)

The Orangutans at Hogle Zoo:

Acara is currently the only orangutan in the exhibit.  Her mother and father, Eve and Eli, recently passed away.  Eli, 24, died this past September due to complications from breast cancer.  He had a great personality and was eager to learn.  Eve, also 24, gave birth to a baby boy in November and died due to an undetermined cause just 3 1/2 weeks later. She had been at Hogle Zoo 19 years.  Her health had not been well for many years and towards the end of her life she was failing to thrive.  The zoo is hopeful that Acara will bond with her little brother and become a surrogate mother to him.  She is being taught "soft touch" and has been holding his hand through the bars that separate their living areas while naps.   The baby's name has not been released yet but will be once he's bigger and ready to receive visitors in the coming months.

Eve and Eli

 Acara (9-years-old)

 Baby boy orangutan

Sushi with Girlfriends

    Janet, Karlin holding Edison, Francine, Val, and Hillary

An impromptu sushi night with girlfriends is always good for the soul.  We talked about my cancer treatment, shared rolls at half price, and closed the place down.  We moved the party, to Hillary's house, 5 minutes away, where we met her adorable new puppy, Lola, ate candy from Hillary's cool candy machine, and laughed and talked until the wee hours of the morning.  What would I do without these girls?  The only thing missing was having Azy there!

Colter's Selfies

Kids Sleepover

The kids love to sleep together in the front room during the week-ends.  Dahlia just recently joined the team.  I couldn't help but snap this picture when I saw her with her arm wrapped around Bentley.

January Girls Book Cub

Book: Everything on a Waffle
Author: Polly Horvath
Activities: Picking paper waffles off the wall and answering questions on the back, waffle building contest, and making recipe books of all the recipes in the book.

    Waffle building contest

    Aspen and Maggie stacking toppings
    on their waffle

    Virginia tallying the results

    Maggie, Claire, Emma, Aspen, and Sabrina

    making recipe books

Audrey's First Birthday Party

First Cousin Sleepover of the Year

We love cousin sleepovers! Adam cooked party pizzas for dinner and then the kids made their beds on the front room floor and watched a movie. 

Reagan, Lily, and Aspen

Lucy, Alli, and Bentley

Colter and Mason

Dad and Dahlia making pancakes

(Dahlia didn't want her picture taken)