Our Day At the Zoo

We decided to spend our last Friday before school started exploring the Denver Zoo. We have never made it all the way through in one trip as it is a rather large park. But we did pretty well this time, probably due mostly to the fact that William slept in the stroller for the second half.

Eleanor climbing a tree.

Nick ready to pounce.

Peacock

The third seal.

A four humped camel?!

How did they get in that enclosure!

Will's usual activity on our zoo trips.

Yum! Ice cream!

Nick sculpted his into an "opposable thumb". (I wasn't sure what look he was going for, so I had to ask.)

Stopping to smell the roses.

At the primate exhibit.

All three are fascinated.

On the zoo train. Will's favorite part.

Monkeys island.

Will consulting the map.

It was a wonderful day! Everyone behaved beautifully for me. Fortunate, as the three kids to one adult ratio in a public place has potential for disaster. So glad we were able to have one last hurrah before the beginning of school.

Eleanor's Cheerleading Finale!

Elle Belle has been taking cheerleading classes all summer and today she had her final class and the opportunity to show off for her family. She did great! Remembered all the words to the cheers, all the moves, was the leader for her group, and was also the loudest kiddo in the class. Sometimes not having an "inside voice" does pay off! Her teacher, Miss Kendra, loved Eleanor's bubbly personality and endless enthusiasm. So do we! Good job honey!

(Trying to post a video, but Blogger is being cranky.....)

Just had to share my big "score"!
I was walking through Home Goods in search of a soap dispenser; when what did I see on a clearance rack?

Two of these Spode serving pieces.

I know how much they cost full price as I drool over them in the Williams Sonoma Catalog each fall. And sure enough, they still had their WS price tags on:

Guess how much they were at Home Goods?

Yep. $18 each. Score!!
Woo hoo!

I went on a William hunt the other day as it was suspiciously quiet upstairs. Here is what I found. Will all snuggled into our bed, clutching a handful of Nick's toys. Nick was outside playing with a friend, and William had seized the opportunity to get his hands on contraband. "I have all Nicky's Gons!" he told me with this huge grin on his little face. (Gon is toddler speak for Bakugan). It's a good thing he's so cute!

WATER FIGHT!!

I sent the kids outside to play while I did some laundry. Armed with bubbles, new sand box toys, and lightsabers; I assumed that they would stay out of trouble long enough for me to finish folding. Wrong. Eleanor (why do all stories start with our daughter?) armed with the garden hose blasted both boys, the dog, the house, the trash cans and a cooler that I had washed earlier and placed in the sun to dry; and our deck.

They had loads of fun as you can see.

Meanwhile, I am left with one wet and smelly dog; a pile of soaking wet, grass filled kids clothing; wet and grassy trash cans; and a couple of soggy rooms in our home as windows were open when they started spraying.

Isn't it time for school to start again?

Poor Will didn't want to get wet. He stood on the deck yelling at the kids "stop it"!

Durango, part V

Ellie checks out the scenery.

The conductor steps out on one of the water refueling stops.

An abandoned gold mine on a hillside.

The train pulls into Silverton.

Durango train ride (Part IV)

The kids were transfixed for the first half of the ride, no one moved. The scenery was breathtaking, so beautiful.

We're Moving!!