I Refuse!

I refuse to admit that Mila is old enough to be in nursery already.  However, IF she was.....This is what her first day of nursery would look like. :) 

 I just cannot get enough of her curls!  I hope they will forever be that curly! 

She didnt seem to have a rough time going the first week but was REALLY excited to see Mom when I came to get her.  The following weeks she has gone but I have had to be a bit more stealthy when leaving. :)
That is IF she was old enough to be in nursery.  ;) 

Helping Hands

Helping hands are always nice to have!  As Kinley is getting older she is wanting to help more and more. Often times she is REALLY helpful and sometimes its not always so helpful, but it is always a good learning experience.  Luckily she has a patient little sister! :) 

One morning as we were trying to get out the door to Story time at the library I told the girls to go find their shoes.  Moments later I walked out to see this scene. :) 

Makes a moms heart happy! 

What a good big sister! 

Thanks for your hep big girl!!!

There Were Green Alligators, and Long Neck Geese

Each year for Alex's Birthday we go to the Zoo.  Luckily this year everyone was healthy and got to enjoy it a little more than last year! It was also the first year we all got to see Rocky Shores open!  It will be really cool when they have the African Safari remodel done too! 

I hope you are ready for Picture overload because heaven knows... Its something I am good at and it is sure as heck comin'!

The first stop we took was to see the kids favorites!  We always seem to spend the most time watching the Elephants!  It has been a lot of fun watching the baby grow each year too! 

Kinley and Braxton definitely had the best views!

 and... Mila didnt think hers was half bad either :) 

Now, I know what you are thinking!  Man, those kids are cute!  You should see what they look like from the other view. ;) 

I always seem to get the most genuine, "in the moment" pictures of Kinley and Nick at the zoo looking at the elephants.  I LOVE it! 

This girl LOVES her daddy... and I am pretty sure its safe to say the feelings are mutual.  And Me?  I just LOVE them both! 

Kira and I get one of these on a yearly basis too. TRAAAADITION! Gotta post it for posterity! :)  

 Kinley got to get a CLOSE look! 

This Trip to the Zoo was also another first to see the bird show!  In past years we have always managed to get there just after the last show!  This year we noticed people walking in the arena right as we were walking past so we hurried and got in just moments before they closed the door!  It was so much fun!  Both of the girls thought it was REALLY neat!  They let out a big horned owl and had it fly right over us!  Almost Everyone had gone silent and Kinley shouted "OH My!  Its a freaking owl!"  It was one of those face to palm moments for me but we laugh about it now. :)

Kinley whistling like the macaw!

After the show was over they had a donation box that you could go up and give a donation to the Foundation that rescues birds and releases them back into the wild.  But, It was a little cooler than that. You gave your money to a cockatoo that put it in the box for you!  Uncle Wayne REALLY wanted to go see it more up close so he gave each of the girls a dollar bill.  (kids are such a good excuse to get away with doing things like that! Its awesome!)

Kinley was really nervous and dropped the dollar bill twice as the bird got closer to take it out of her hand but the bird trainer helped her and she thought it was pretty  neat after it was over.
It was pretty cute :)

Mila However had NO reservations and thought it was the funniest thing EVER!  She laughed so hard when the bird took her dollar!

The whole gang!

Mila didnt want to ride the rino but Kinley definitely did.  There was a whole crowd of kids on it and we tried to leave a few times but she was determined that I take a picture of her on it. 

Mila had fun playing with Uncle Wayne, and Aunt Missy, as always.

and Kinley with Uncle Chris

Its so nice to have such good relationships with family and get to be so close to everyone! 

Both of the girls also really loved watching the giraffe that was out.

Then we got a REAL treat!

Kinley: "Look Dad, a tiny one just like me! Weellll, kinda tall like me too!"

The new baby that was born this year decided to come take a peak outside!

The next thing we went to look at was Milas FAVORITE!  The LITTLE monkeys.

Oh my goodness.  I could hardly  pry her away from that glass! 

and when I finally did.... we got quite the little tantrum :) haha! 

It didnt last long though.  We headed to the carousel and  after a little tickling waiting for Dad and Kinley to stand in line she was her happy self again! 

Pretty soon it was their turn to ride!

Braxton was NOT a fan! 

Everyone else really loved it though! 

Kinley was lucky and got to ride twice. The second time she got on the Eagle.  We thought it was fitting considering our earlier experience/outburst at the bird show! :)  

As she went around she flapped her arms like she was flying.  What a goof! 

We ended the day with an icecream cone on the way home since both girls did SO well staying in the stroller all day! 

We are already looking forward to next year!