Zoo with Cousins

We met the Ditches at the zoo for some cousin time.  We each picked out animals we wanted to see:  elephants for me, monkeys for Steve, flamingos for Hannah, and zebras for Olive.  We fit in all the above plus sea lion show, bird show, rhino painting, train, boat, tram, sky safari, and carousel.  The girls had a blast together as usual!  And it was great weather, too.  Fun day at the zoo!

 

 

 

 

Steve said the word tunnel...
 

 

 

 

 

first time inside the lorikeet cage- Olive loves birds!
  

 

It was way past naptime and Olive did NOT want to take a picture, so 3 out of the 4 cousins.
 

She couldn't resist those chubby cheeks!
 

Trike Rider

Olive has been practicing on her tricycle for awhile by using her feet to walk it.  As soon as her feet were long enough to reach the pedals, she was zooming all over the driveway!  I asked her if she wanted to go up the sidewalk to corner...and she did...and then insisted on going all the way around the block.  A couple days later she did her first trail ride with Hannah on a half mile loop.  This girl is amazing!  Also, notice the leftover 4th of July bling she attached to the tricycle.  She has style, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher Kid Water Party

We had a water party in the backyard for some of my teacher friends.  We had 7 kids four-years-old and under.  Ollie and Hannah were super at the slip 'n slide.  It was a blast!
 

 

 

 

 

 

Belton Railroad

Instead of riding Thomas this year, we tried the Belton Railroad.   Steve and I liked it much better.  The train ride was longer, it was way less crowded, and the train itself was neater.  It had a 1920's passenger car (that was from New York and featured in the movie Biloxi Blues) and an open air car, too.  We could also explore the caboose and engine after the train ride.  Both girls got to pull the whistle.  It was a great Saturday morning activity!

view from the caboose
 

passenger car
 

 

 

 

open air car
 

 

inside the engine
 

There were also an old engine parked nearby.
 

 

Olive at the Park

 

 

Pump It Up

Our first time at Pump it Up.  It is two rooms of bounce houses and slides.  Hannah was in heaven.  Olive, not so much.  She went down the slide with me twice and once through the obstacle course...that ended in tears.
 

 

It took forever, but Hannah climbed this twice.  Each level was a web of seatbelts that would move and let you fall through if you weren't careful.  She fell through a couple times, but kept at it.  She figured out that she could use the red sides for stability.  I am always amazed at her climbing and problem solving skills.
 

 

Olive's favorite thing was the cozy coupe car.
 

 

Olive worked up the nerve to get in a bouncy house since it was just Hannah and her.  And of course she loved it once she was in there.
 

Nap Time

Olive uses her blue owl as pillow and always want her "owl bankie" to cover her up.  The rest of the crib is filled with other friends: owls, zebras, giraffes.  Hannah likes to sleep on her Tinkerbell pillow holding "Hannah Owl" with her Tinkerbell blanket.

 

 

Interview with Olive

Canoeing, Camping, Hiking, Wedding

The girls went to Grandpa and Grandma's house after the 4th of July and Steve talked me into a canoe trip and camping.  I think it has been about ten years since we've done that.  It was a lot more fun that I thought it would be.  We floated the Little Niangua River, which is VERY shallow.  We had to get out and pull the canoe several times.  It would really be perfect to take little kids on their first float trip.

 

Steve made me fun of me getting down to go under this "bridge."  But seriously.  A person couldn't fit sitting up.  Except Steve.  He sat up.
 

We saw so many cool things.  I really wished we had the girls with us.
 

 

 

 

 

 

And camping!?!  The girls would have been all about setting up the tent and building a fire.
 

On Saturday we went to Ha Ha Tonka State Park.  I wasn't too impressed with the "castle" ruins.
 

I did learn about karst topography, though.  Steve really liked the land bridge, sinkholes, and natural springs.  I liked the wooden walkways.  Although after 319 stairs my legs were feeling it.
 

 

After checking into the motel and cleaning up, we were ready for the wedding in Nixa that night.  It was an outdoor ceremony and reception and the weather was really good for July.  Now that we are out of weddings for the summer I don't know where I am going to get my dance fix.   It was an awesome weekend!