11.13.2014

Zoo Day





Autumn gave us an Indian Summer, so we packed a day bag and made our way to the nearest zoo, ready to soak up every last ray of sun until looming tantrums drove us out of it.  The zoo was the perfect place to go.  It's so big that we didn't even make it through the whole place before we were all too tired to go on.  We started with Australia and ended with Africa, though, so we covered a good portion of the world's creatures in the span of one long morning/afternoon.

Sawyer chose to examine everything through the viewfinder of his Lightening McQueen camera, determined to take pictures for Nana to see, while LouLou preferred the vantage point from Jeff's shoulders.  My place was the usual but with the added glory of having Jeff along to bring up the rear, cart around snacks, carry one chubby tired little body and chase down the untiring one.

Back home, when the sun was gone and our little animals were bathed, fed, and put to bed, we both agreed that while the zoo was grand and the weather was great, the best part of the day was each other.









Post zoo shenanigans with the boys crying, "CHARGE!" and running at one another:



11.11.2014

Down on the Farm





























We've gone country.

At least in a touristy kind of way.  Lake Farm Parks is near enough to pop over regularly to ride tractors, watch horses being brushed, and greet farm animals.  I find myself chucking about trading the Mall of America for a Farm Park, and I still can't believe we all get excited to get our boots on and visit the "big barn," but then again, the park is actually really cool and there are so many places to run out energy, er I mean, explore and learn, that in a lot of ways it's much more refreshing than some other outings I've dragged the kiddos on. Like the time I took them trousseau shopping on behalf of my good friend. We all needed major recovery time from that one. It was, in fact, probably the exact opposite of fun, fresh outdoors and farm values.....