Lions, Tigers, and Bears...

It is always a little bitter sweet for me to go to the zoo.  On the one hand I totally love going and so does Kennedy.  It is a fun activity to do outside and lets be honest, who doesn't love the zoo, but on the other hand it is a little hard for me to see all the animals caged up and I always feel a little bad going by and staring at them all locked up.  It is especially hard for me when you can tell their cages didn't receive any of the zoo's budget for the year.  But as always, we go...and don't get me wrong we have fun.  A few weeks ago, it was Niabi Zoo's free week, so like any poor college family...we went twice that week.  The first time was with a bunch of girls from the ward and the second time was with Brent.  Both times were a lot of fun and between the two visits we were able to see all the animals out and about.  It was so much more fun to watch Kennedy this year than it was last.  Its crazy what a difference a year makes.  She LOVED it!!!

         
         

Kennedy remembered the carousel from the Mall of America a little TOO well.   Check out our newest rock climber in the family.  Keep it up!

Work it girl....work it!!!  

I think Reilly was a little jealous of the new guy :)

          
          

Easter Monday

I was planning on doing Easter the night we got back from our trip, but since it was pretty late by the time we finally made it we decided to have our own little Easter the next day.  We did a really fun FHE with Kennedy; we read a story, played a easter memory game (suprisingly K did really well), and then watch a movie about Jesus.  After the serious part, we got to the NOT so serious stuff and let her put on some bunny ears and she was off to look for her Easter basket.  She LOVED it and it was SO SO SO much fun for us to watch.  Of course, she devoured her candy as she opened up each egg, and loved playing with her princess hat, gloves, and new pink purse.  The next day she was ALL about playing with everything EASTER!!!  

And yes, she insisted on going to the store like this...

Easter Sunday

Our easter was a little less than traditional this year...first of all we were in Minneapolis.  Second, we got to church to find out that stake conference was being broadcast instead and we were about an hour late.  We ended up hearing the prophet speak though and so that made things a little better.  And thirdly, our little weekend trip was coming to an end and we had to make the trek back home.  We decided that going to the temple would be a good Easter Sunday activity and it was a nice place to eat lunch, change from church, and let the kids get a little energy out before the big drive.  It was nice to do a little something more spiritual, than sitting in the car watching Elmo all day.  The kids loved it, we got some cute pics, and the ride home wasn't too bad!

Mall of America - Minneapolis

Well, my list really isn't all that long of "things to do before I leave Iowa", but going to Minneapolis was the biggest item to get checked off a couple of weeks ago.  Luckily some good friends of our here, the Kerrigans, were crazy enough as us to pack 4 adults and 3 kids in a minivan and make the 6 hour trek to Minneapolis.  Surprisingly the kids get GREAT in the car and we had a blast at the amusement park in the Mall of America.  Now this is my kind of mall!!!  Kennedy has been addicted to 'playing' lately and hates to stop and do anything but.  She LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the rides and would cry and throw herself on the ground when the ride was over and she had to leave (oh, the joys of an almost 2 year old).  I think by the end of the day though she was finally getting the idea that we wouldn't just go on 1 ride and the trantrums decreased slightly the more rides we went on.  We had a lot of fun though and the adults even got to ride a handful of rides too.  I have to say that nothing at Lagoon compares to one of the rides we rode.   SO SO SCARY...but SO much FUN!!!

Kennedy + Reilly Sittin' In A Tree...

Well, I definitely didn't think that it would start this early, but apparently Kennedy has been checking out the meat market in our ward nursery and has found herself a little crush named Reilly. We headed to the park a couple Saturday's ago with our friends, to enjoy being outside, and I guess Kennedy just decided that the atmosphere was right, she had the guy, and is all she needed to do was to make her first move. Here's how it went...

Pucker Up Baby!!!

I'm just not that kind of guy Kennedy...

I wouldn't mind settling for a hug though...

Wait!!!  Wait Kennnedy, I was wrong, so wrong...I am that kind of guy!

I know just the place we can go to get away from this adult supervision, come on Kennedy...

Are you kidding Reilly, I'm the leader in this relationship....

And I know just the right spot...

Aw....We'll live happily ever after...

That is, until the parents come back...Man adult supervision is really cramping my style!