Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Tropical Zone in the dead of Winter:

Jonas took Layla on an IKEA run this morning, then we all headed out to the MN Zoo.  It was tough convincing Layla that we would not be seeing the goats this time...boy will she be happy when they open up the Farm this Spring!  

I love how warm and humid the Tropical Trail is during our cold, MN Winters...




First stop?  Papa  needed a sandwich, so the kids split a cookie.  The lady at the counter gave it to us for free!

Layla's FAVE:  white frosting with sprinkles.  This is the kind she always wants at church.  :)


LIVING IT UP.


Checking out the Lemurs.

Reason #245 we love the MN Zoo:  all the cool places and tunnels for the kids to explore.  This fake Indian-style ruins made me think of the Jungle Book...




Underneath the coral reef.  



This screen showed all the different types of fish in the tank.
BIGGEST FIGHT EVER over who could be touching the screen.
*sigh*


If the kids had to choose a new favorite at the zoo now that the farm is closed, they would choose this exit from the bird fly zone.  They went in and out a gazillion times, and Finn was convinced his life ended the minute we made him leave.  



Turtles. 


Then we bundled up to go on the MN Trail.  

I love how close we get to all of these animals, but yet they aren't caged in crappy, cramped pens!

He ran RIGHT up to me at the window, but by the time I got my camera out he was gone.
*probably wanted to eat me...* :(

More exploring. 

Beautiful!

Checking out the wolverine!  



Friday, December 28, 2012

While Mama made dinner:


The sled from Grammy:




Snow play!

Jonas got home a whole hour early from work today!  I'm not totally sure why, but we'll take it!  :)  That means he was able to shovel in daylight for a change.  Our block is crazy:  the MINUTE it stops snowing everyone is outside IMMEDIATELY and have their sidewalks and steps shoveled off within minutes.  Us?  Well, like what I thought "normal" people did, Jonas does it when he gets home from work / gets around to it.  :)  We are always the very last people on our block to get it done...and Jonas isn't a slacker about it at all!  Yay for neighbors that care about taking care of their property!

Layla, getting in on the action with her shovel from Grandma...


URGH.  Mittens = bane of my Winter existence.  


Papa trying to get it back on him...and then he spotted a helicopter!!





Showing me her snow.  





The first ride in the sled from Grammy!!

They have NO idea the fun that awaits them.  :)


And we're off!

Jonas sent them down the driveway hill to me...

Rough-housing with Uncle Greg and Aunt Andrea:

The kids love Uncle Greg and Aunt Andrea because they physically play and rough-house with them waaaaay more than mommy normally does during the day.  Well, actually, mostly it's Aunt Andrea.  :)  She is always wanting to "get in a workout," so she does insanely hard and boring kid things over and over for the sake of physical gain and emotional cha-ching with Layla and Finn.  :)  

"Body slamming" Uncle Greg.


...then a cuddle.  

He is actually happy here, not sad...

1/2 naked Layla chasing Andrea.  

Upside down!

"I'm gonna GETCHA!"