Tulsa Zoo!!!!

With this unseasonably cool late July weather, Brandon and I decided to take Elizabeth back to the Tulsa Zoo!! We took her last year and a great time, but now that she is older she really enjoyed all of the animals and can now tell us what they are!! So, here is our fun filled journey!!

This first picture was in an indoor rainforest. There were little monkeys climbing around and catfish as big as Elizabeth!! She kept asking "what are those, look at those BIIIIG Fish!!!!"


Ahh the penguins...... The last time we went to the zoo they had a few penguins swimming around, but not much more, well, this time, they had a zoo staff member telling about the penguins, elizabeth wanted to go "up there daddy" She wanted to go up over the glass and get in the water with the penguins!! The exhibit was really neat!!

The kids zoo was open this time, it was closed last year for renovation. Elizabeth had to go in and pet all the animals. There were goats, sheep, and rabbits. You couldn't get the rabbits out of the cage and she wanted to hold it so bad, last year we saved a rabbit from Brandon's mom's garden from a snake, and since then she loves bunnies!! As they were roaming around, a goat decided it needed to relieve himself in front of elizabeth (#2 to be exact) Well, Elizabeth hasn't seen a goat actually go, she has seen Grammas goat's poop on the ground, but not the actual process, so when he was finished, she was quite fascinated with the poo, and didn't know what to do, there were a couple of other kids that were watching her examine the poo and said to their dad "She doesn't know its poop" then Brandon and the other dad had a laugh about it!! Brandon had a private conversation about the importance of not stepping in nor picking up goat poop.

The first thing Elizabeth saw was the train that takes you around the zoo, " we gotta catch that train!!!!" After a day of lots of animals, we had tokens that we didn't use last year to ride the train, so here are Elizabeth and Brandon before the train took off. Elizabeth said " I'm RRRREADY!!!!!" She loved the ride and held on tight!!! She would say, "Daddy, Mama, we're ridin the train!!!! Too cute....

Last but not least... the merry-go-round, Brandon took her on the first run, she wanted to ride on the giraffe, well they were on it and the nice merry-go-round man came up to Brandon and Elizabeth and told them that the giraffe is the only one that doesn't go up and down, so a switch was in deed in order... she ended up picking the reindeer, well that didn't suit her either, so she ended up picking the jaguar!!!! She loves going round and round!! I usually leave the merry go round to Brandon, as in my older years....:) I have developed some motion sickness, well, after they road, she told Brandon , "i want to ride with mama" so, i picked a spot stuck to it and around and around we went (only mild dizziness for mama) This time she rode the zebra!!

We left around 5:30, she napped for about 20 minutes on the way there, so she was exhausted on the way home!!! She finally fell asleep in siloam springs,,,,,,we stopped for some charlies chicken and a quick bath and she was out.. she actually asked to take a bath!!!

We had a great time and enjoy her so much!! She is such a good little girl, she said today, "i'm not a baby anymore, I'm a big girl!" Oh my, are we in trouble!!!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!

We started a tradition about 5 years ago on the 4th when Brandon was introduced to artillery shells (spelling?) at the fireworks stand, my oh my, oh say can you see the gigantuous home display you have ever seen!! Wow, forget bottlerockets, sparklers and those wormy things, these thing are amazing!!! Brandon's mom and stepdad live on top of a hill, so the sky is endless and is absolutely fabulous for this display. Brandon and his niece kierston usually run the show, but since kierston is working this summer, she wasn't there. I was going to take her place this year. You notice i said "going to", well, Elizabeth was all hyped up about watching the fireworks, until she heard the fireworks, she was okay for about 15 minutes, then was ready to go inside, Since i have seen this wonderful display before, i gave her her bath and put her down, so Brandon's family could watch the show. His Aunt Gaye took over and did an outstanding job!! This morning before we all left he told her that she was on the team and a t-shirt would be made for her! I haven't earned the t-shirt yet. We had a great time with family, late nights and lots of stories with great company. (Brandon's Aunt Banana and Uncle Grant were there) I didn't get any pics of the show, but the pics below you will love.

This morning Brandon found some snappers for Elizabeth to throw, it didn't take her long to figure out how hard to throw them and she was snappin away!!

Parachutes Brandon shot off for her, she called them "pair a shoes"

Uncle Grant, Aunt Diana, and Aunt Gaye

Helping shoot of the parachutes (no she didnt get to lite it) maybe next year...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE>>>>>>>>>>

The night of the 4th elizabeth wanted to go swimming again before dinner, (after dinner, after breakfast, and after lunch, she loves to swim!!) well, i had already showered and dressed, but got in up to my knees, but she really wanted me to get in, "mama go get your bafing suit", "baby it is wet and we need to go eat dinner" , "but mama get your bafing suit", i hear in the background, "elizabeth this is only for you" and i turn around and there is her papa in his bathing suit!!! So, here is Papa and Elizabeth swimming before dinner, she had a blast!!!!!! (thanks papa!!!)

Surpise!!!

For Fathers Day i decided to surprise Brandon with a trip to Mexico (playa del carmen)! We haven't been on vacation in 3 years!! and we haven't left Elizabeth for one night without at least one of us since she was born, so needless to say, this was a needed trip for all of us!! We left XNA on thursday 6/25 and returned on monday 6/29. We stayed at a resort we haven't been to before, the Barcelo Riviera Maya. It is an all inclusive resort and it was fabulous!! We have already decided that we are returning next year, but with Elizabeth. We missed her too much to leave her again for that long, one or two nights, that would be okay, but not four!! These are just a few pics of our trip: The pools were fabulous, yes i said pools plural, the swim up bars were good too(shhhhhhh a little tequila was consumed, but only in moderation) the food was great and the landscaping was amazing!!! The nightly entertainment was really fun as well!! so all in all we came back rested and relaxed!! Enjoy the pics and i highly recommend this place to stay!! WE have stayed at 3 others and this was the best so far!!!