The Zoo

So I am back! I lost internet service for a bit... I actually broke it. To top it off I didn't have my own computer at work either so I've been waiting for a long time to get back on here. Finally I am back!Almost 3 weeks ago now I went to visit my sister & brother in law in the bay area. I know how it is to move, so I know the more often you see family the more bearable it can be. My sister in law Jennifer & niece Cailee came a long too. We had a lot of fun. We met Deanna at the San Fransisco Zoo. Once in the gates we needed to use the restrooms. So we went into the gift shop since we didn't see them right off the bat. Jennifer stands in line to ask where they are located... why wait there is someone right over cleaning?!? So I go over (person is bending down)... and say " Excuse me Mam..." At this point the employee stands up... It is not a women at all, it is a young boy with chin length hair. I just bust up laughing instead of finishing my question. He gave me this funny look in response to my "Mam"... Then I said " Sorry... Where are the restrooms?... if you wish to tell me?" We laughed about that all day. I know that happens to everyone but what they found so funny was I just laughed as soon as I realised my mistake instead of apologizing right away... Like I laughed at him... oh well.

After a ridiculously expensive lunch we went to the see animals. I took Wesley into the "Family Farm" which is a petting zoo. We did not touch the animals... He liked being so close to them though. We visited quite a few different creatures. Wesley had fun but I thought he would be a bit more impressed and excited. We had fun though. If anything it was nice to get away with the girls and get a break from the heat!

(The Zoo had these adorable photo ops... So cute!)

My favorite photos came from the end of the day. We stumbled on a park when we were leaving. Cailee and Wesley had so much fun. These pictures with them both are so special to me. They are only 10 months apart and hopefully will be close like I was with my cousins. Too cute!! He just loves Cailee too, he takes her pacifier out to give her kisses all the time... So much that we have to stop him sometimes, he smothers her with love! He points to these photos and says "Babyy, Ca Lee" He can't say Cailee quite right, and Baby is him.

My favorite photo from the day

We should have just convinced Deanna to meet us a park and save gas money!

Family

(Try to follow along... Starting on the left lower side: That is Bella sitting on Craig's lap, next to them is Kara, slunched over is Tessa and Anne, Then Wesley is crying on Curtiss' lap with Jackson in front. Then in the back row is Granny, Papa, and on Papa's lap is Jason (JT) )

Recently my cousin and her two boys came for a visit. It has been a couple years since we have seen them. Since they had been out last there have been quite a few additions to the family. There were a lot of new faces to meet. It was great to see them and have a reason to get together. One really cool thing was all the great grandchildren were FINALLY in one spot. I guess the picture was going to happen if Wesley was there or not so I am so glad we could make it up and he could represent... There are 9 great grandchildren and 4 of those are 18mo and younger.

Of course over 1/4 of the pictures I took of the group on the lawn Granny had her eyes closed!! I counted she had her eyes closed in 12 of the 41 pictures I snapped! Out of 41 pictures no one is perfect at the same time. We are dealing a lot of really young ones so I love the pouty faces and the slouched over kids... it makes me smile.

Papa of course would rather be on the play ground with the kids...

We had a great time. We played this crazy game of baseball. Actually it was so not like normal baseball... I don't even think the two games can even share the same name. I played 2nd between two very competitive people... and I am not a sports person in the first place so my skills left much to be desired. I did not strike out though... the ball was as large as a cantaloupe but that is besides the point. I also made it all the way to 2nd!!! WOW! Umm ya we only played 5 innings. The goal was the normal 9. My team lost... oh well.

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Wesley had his 18mo. check up finally. He is about 22 something pounds and 31 1/4 in long. He had grown the most in his height. Just more of him to love! He amazes me. Right now the most awesome thing is he is developing a longer attention span. You can actually sit and talk and play with him. He stays interested. He also is starting to play silly games. He all the sudden will run from Maggie and hide... She is like cool he left the room, one day I am sure she will chase him. Everything can become a rocket or a telephone, you just have the think hard enough. He is convinced he is speaking English even though not one word is recognizable. He points out the window of the car and tells a story. I just look at him and think "I am so sorry, that sounded important but I have not a clue what you are talking about..." Real words spill out often, and are coming more and more. "Please" is finally in his vocabulary. Sometimes he says it with out any prompting... sometimes if he says is real fast I think he will get whatever it is he wants quicker:). I love to play with him and hold him... He melts my heart. I just think all the time how lucky I am to have him... God choose ME to be his mommy:) it puts a smile on my face all the time!