Wednesday, August 22, 2012

First day of school

 
I have been waiting for the first day of school post until Hannah started preschool.
 
Brooke started 3rd grade on August 15th. She's getting to the 'please quit taking pictures of everything' stage. Well, that is one battle she shan't be winning :)
 
 
 

 
"moooommmmmmm" 
 
This is the first time that I haven't walked her into her class, gotten a pic with the teacher, etc. My first-day picture mojo is all screwed up now. They lined up in the hallway and all went into the classroom together, so it just didn't work out. Here's Mrs. Kipp, her teacher. Notice how Brooke is the tallest one in the class. Still.

 
Today, the munchkin started Pre-Kindergarten. My last first day of preschool moment. As Matt and I drove away from the school I said, "Well! It's time for another baby!".
 
I'm not sure how much he agreed with that thought (and it's not gonna happen anyhow), but it was for sure a bittersweet moment.
 
I can tell you now, that taking this one to all-day kindergarten next year is going to TEAR ME UP.


 
With one of her three teachers, Mrs. Patti. Who is like, theeeee greatest preschool teacher in town.

 
And Mrs. Tara, another superfab teacher of hers.

 
These little girls have been BFF's since they were 2 and in Moms Day Out together. They are so precious together!

 
Another start to the school year in the books. Not in the scrapbooks. That would require me to sit down and scrap. Which hasn't happened for a long time. But maybe, just maybe, I'll get myself in gear one of these days and at least start working on some digital books.
 
Happy 3rd Grade and Pre-K year girls! The time has gone so fast!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Tanganikya Wildlife Park

Today we went to the Tanganikya Wildlife Park for the first time.

I'm not sure why we hadn't been there before (other than it's way far on the other side of town and it's pricey!), because it was awesome! Way more exciting than the Zoo I have to say.

But it was pricey. Grandma and Grandpa treated us by paying our admission (thank you).


It was overcast (though it didn't really rain) and it was COOL. Amazing for August in Kansas.

At the entrance is the nursery where there were several babies on display. That is always a favorite part for me at any zoo-type place I go.  Several babies from the big-cat family, a baby honey badger, and I can't remember what else.

Then we were onto these Monkeys. I could have packed a picnic and sat and watched the monkeys all day. I was particularly enchanted with this little guy, one of the babies in the monkey cage.

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On to the children's area, where we got to walk amongst and pet KANGAROOS....



BUNNIES.....



Tortoises, goats and guinea pigs (didn't get any pics of those)...

And then.... one of the many highlights...Remember when the Miniature Horses came to our house a few weeks ago? Ever since then, Hannah has been talking about riding a horse and being a horse girl when she grows up. Well, for $4 each, the girls got about a 3 minute horseback ride. Hannah was in heaven. Brooke wasn't going to do it, but we talked her into it.




They loved it! Then it was off to play at the playground for  a little while before continuing on our animal adventure. We saw Cheetahs (and saw them chase a ball), gorgeous Snow Leopoards (who were very interested in watching the cheetahs play), and some other (very vocal) monkeys to name a few.

Then it was into the bird area. I let Brooke get a cup of nectar ($1) and Hannah was mad that she didn't get one (I didn't have any tokens left). I think, considering how they swarmed Brooke, it was good that Hannah didn't have any! She might have freaked out! Look at her face in this picture, the one bird that is landing on Brooke's hand had just zoomed in right past Hannah.



They were pretty gorgeous birds!


As close as Hannah got....I don't think one landed on her the entire time....


But a few stopped by to visit Matt on our way out. They must have thought he was sweet or something, but they quickly changed their minds. Good thing, because I don't think Matt was loving that moment!


We had to stop by the bunnies and kangaroos again. Can you believe I actually forgot about the whole babies-in-a-pouch thing? Look at this one, you can see baby legs sticking out of the pouch. That was pretty cool.


Finally it was off to see the Lemurs before we left. They said that if you just sat on the rocks, they would come see you even if you didn't pay the $2/each to feed them (which the girls and I did anyways). They jumped all over us. It was so funny! Their feet were so soft and it felt so strange having them just all over you! We were all giggles.


Brooke is pointing at one that was on the hut or rock right above us that soon jumped down to our laps.



They told us that we couldn't pet them, just to let them explore on us. It was hard not to pet them, but they were pretty fast anyways.


I had a hard time snapping pics so I didn't get one of Matt. This is one that the photographer guy took, I snapped a pic from the screen at the display center. Matt informed me later that he would have to take a shower tonight simply because he had lemur butt on his head.


I cannot tell you how much this tickled!


Really such a fun outing. So glad we went and that the weather was cooperative!
Thanks again to Gma and Gpa for taking us!