We ventured to the zoo again to take advantage of the nice weather. First stop was the sea lion exhibit, which if you're there at 10am you get to watch a training/feeding session! It was really fun! Houston was growling at them over and over and Heath was just mesmerized.

 King Louie put on quite a show for us with his blanket. Heath still isn't very sure about these animals that look so human like.


Then we checked out the insect house (we haven't made it that far yet)  It was really neat, but they had a few spiders which sent Heath into panic mode, so I carried him through screaming as quickly as I could to get out of there and spare everyone's ears. I am to blame a bit for his spider fears, when we've seen a spider i've made it very clear that they are mean and not to touch them, but what else should a mother do when brown recluse were so rampant in our old house. We did see the butterfly house though, that was really neat. They were flying all around and landing on us. they really liked our red stroller.

 We also haven't seen the elephants or hippos yet, so went to check them out. The baby elephant put on quite a show for us We probably stood there watching her for at least 15 minutes. It was really fun.

 Her Mommy climbed in too after a while. They were splashing and having a grand time.

 Poor Houston was so tired, and actually did fall asleep for about an hour. That almost never happens. It was such a good thing!

 We were in the snake house looking at a Giant Anaconda and a little boy came over and said "Wow it's moving, Ive never seen it move! and ive been here lots!" Then I realized when it was just Heath looking the snake just sat there, but as soon as Houston got up by the glass it came right over. IT wanted to EAT my BABY! Good thing it couldn't get out of the glass!

 I read on it's packard that it usually eats only one big meal each  year. It's time to feed must be getting close!  In the wild Houston would have totally been a goner. Just like Mowgli he was so attracted to that snake.

 Am I grateful we don't live in South America right now? Yes.

Houston really like the turtles too. When we would try to move on he'd run back to them over and over again.




Is so fun living here, with all the fun free things to do and learn from.

 The boys and I finally made it to Grants Farm. We've wanted to see the big horses for a long time.
 When you first get there they take you on a tram ride up to the farm. That was quite a highlight. Heath loved the "Train" While it took us through the park we saw buffalo, white tail deer, ostriches, emus, long horned cattle, and Sherwood Forrest deer (they're a lot smaller than deer found around these parts, and red rather than sandy coloured. Heath loved seeing deer that "Robbin Hood would have seen" as the tour guide man put it.

Once you get to the top of the park they kick you out (not literally) and you get to explore.

The little goats were crazy! The boys were a little scared at first, but Heath quickly warmed up to them. Houston wasn't ever too sure about 'em.

You can go inside to pet/ feed them a bottle and Heath really wanted to, but every single person that entered the fence was attacked by goats.

We watched one lady take her Heath sized kid in without holding her, and she had goats climbing all over her. She spent the whole time yelling, "Mommy!"

Since it was just me and I made the rule that we can only go inside if Daddy's there too.

Heath found some goat droppings and tried to feed them to the goats. "Their food mommy!" he was so proud. (no goats ate any poo, don't worry)

Houston LOVED the guinea pigs! He probably could have watched them jump around all afternoon.

Heath was kinda freaked out by them and watched from a distance periodically saying, "lets go mommy."

They had zebras, lemurs, camels (one of Heaths favorites), elephants, parrots, eagles, a giant turkey, and several other things im probably forgetting. After checking everything out we went to one of their free shows. "Animal Encounters"

Houston who wasn't very interested in what was going on spent the whole time walking back and forth in front of us eating snacks and making faces at the people near by. He's pretty cute!

It was a pretty fun show, they brought out lots of neat birds. Some of them did tricks, most of them flew for us.

They have little perches at the back of the seating section, so the birds would soar literally right over our heads. It was really neat to feel them go past.

After the show they turned on some really loud fun music and Houston went crazy! He was dancing up a storm. It was so fun! That little guy sure loves music.

The Eagle was Heath's favorite, and after the show he got to go check it our closer. He was pretty happy.

Then we went to the Horse stables to check out the Clydesdales.

This one's for you Uncle Sterling. Heath thought it was so cool that there was a horse that had your name.

They were getting fed so we got to hear some of them whinny. Houston growled back. They were so Big!  Heath was in horsie heaven!

 Heath has become quite the photographer. If i ever leave the camera within reach he has it. He has taken 100s of pictures of randomness that have mostly been deleted, but I just love this self portrait.  So happy!

 Houston has found a new favorite toy. He loves bags. He puts treasures inside, then walks and walks and walks letting it drag behind him. You can see from his grin that he's pretty impressed with himself.

 Heath has become very hair conscious lately.  He will get up and say, "Mom I need to make Nile Hair." Apparently Uncle Nile has hair that is to be sought after.

 Houston is becoming a real little individual. He has such a sweet personality. He loves everyone around him. When we're out in public he waves and smiles to almost everyone that we pass. They love it, and so does he. It makes him so happy when they respond and wave and smile back. 

 Houston loves to say, "oooh."
Whenever something is cool, or exciting, or scary to him, that's his reaction.

 Houston's favorite place these days.

 Heath enjoys helping with the mess too. Matt got locks put on all the other cupboards, but we ran out before this one got finished. Someday we'll get around to it. Then we'll have two sad little boys.

 I had made biscuits and left a flour mess on the counter to change Houston's bum. Heath who loves to eat flour, helped himself.

 Heath has been very inquisitive lately. One day something in him just snapped, and he started asking questions. It has been a non stop flow since then. I  am asked about 500 questions in a day, and if I don't consciously answer them with all my concentration on him, he asks it over and over again till he gets the answer he wants.  Many of the questions he already knows the answer to, but just wants me to reassure his thought I guess. If I turn the question back on him to answer he says, "No what do you think im doing Heath, ... What yours doing mommy?" and just asks it again. I've just resolved that Im just going to be answering questions all day and that it's probably just a phase he needs to go through to learn more about the world around him. But it sure is nice when Matt comes home from school and Heath asks him questions for half and hour or so to gives me a little break.

 Heath has been doing pretty good at potty training. He can usually make it most of the day now without an accident. The other day though, he and Houston were playing in the living room and I was in the kitchen, Houston came toddling in holding something, with his hand outstretched saying, "oooohh" with a look on his face of, mom you'll be so proud of me look what I found!  As he got closer I realized what it was said, "Oh wow baby! thanks! Heath don't move please! Ill be right back" and grabbed Houston up to wash his hands. Luckily he hadn't tried to eat it. Then I stuck him in his crib and went to Heath, he'd had an accident and it had smooshed all down his legs. I picked him up to put him in the bathtub and he started kicking his legs and laughing, which got poo all over my pants... blugh! We got everything cleaned up and sanitized and we all survived. It was close though.

 The apartment maintenance man, Mr Craig, came to work on our bathroom door because it wasn't shutting all the way. (Houston could push on the door and open it, it wasn't good) When he got here Heath had been running around in a tshirt and underwear. (remember we're working on potty training.) I noticed Craig was totally avoiding looking at me when he was asking questions and talking about the door. It was enough that I noticed it anyway and I thought it odd. Heath had been standing right in front of me (the boys are always so curious when he comes to fix something) and I finally looked down and saw that Heath was standing there completely naked. I half yelled, "Heath where are your underwear and clothes!" and we walked away to make him decent. How I did not notice that before hand? ?  ?  Poor Mr Craig. How embarrassing for him.

Heath has been really hard to get to nap these days, but around 5 if he sits still long enough he usually falls asleep. Since this is usually about the time im making dinner, I don't mind it so much, except that he usually wakes up a super grouch!  But he sure is cute when he's sleeping. 

When we first moved here I was talking to someone at church about who we are, why we are here etc. and he said, "Oh optometry, get ready to become a single mom for the next 4 years." at the time I though, yeah right. Like that will happen, and for the first month it seemed he was wrong, but now that Matt is really diving into the program I'm starting to wonder if there was a little bit of truth to that statement. : {  Matt has been studying so much lately, we sure feel sorry for him but sure are grateful for his sacrifices for our family. It still hasn't been quite so bad as that brother made it out to be, but we sure don't see Daddy like we did when he was working full time. He looks super pitiful in this picture, this was a day when he had 3 tests and just came home and zoned out for a bit. Normally it's not that bad I promise. He also hasn't shaved since Eddies Wedding in August. He's got a pretty sweet beard coming on now.  : ) We sure love our Daddy!

 Pete, Amy and family made a stop at our house for the night on their move back to MO from KY. It was so much fun to see them! Grandpa came along to help them also, so we had a great time visiting and staying up too late.

Owen was so fun to watch toddling around with Houston and Heath. He doesn't look so pleased here, probably because his cousins are swiping all of his crackers.

Sweet Lily showing off the "earrings" she made.

Heath just loves Bertie, they had such a wonderful time causing mischief together.   : )

Such a sweet little guy!

Maren is a sweetheart! We sure love her!


All too soon they had to take off and finish the second half of their move. We hope everything went well at the other end and are sure glad we got to enjoy them for a bit. : )