A trip to the zoo and other fun moments!

We went to the zoo with my side of the family! It was a nice 60 something degree day. We even got sprinkled on. I was really surprised to see the bears so active. Usually they aren't anywhere near my camera, but on this day they felt really close!

After all of the reports of kids and encounters with animals I felt like it was too easy for a kid to fall in. I made Brandon hold onto Natalie tight.

Our favorite thing at the zoo is the carousel. 

Natalie was not a fan when it stopped and I had to take her off.

This Elephant gave us a free show.

 My favorite was the mommy elephant with her young.

Lorelei was hoping to see Flamingos. We have them in the Denver Zoo, but I knew they would not be in the Oregon Zoo. She did not believe me when I told her there weren't any. Sadly when we left it finally sunk in. However she was pacified with the ownership of a stuffed one.

She also loved aunt Mindy's dog Clancy. She babied him and asked to bring him home. I told her that was not an option and now she tells everyone with a dog that I won't let her get one.

Playtime with Nana and Opa!

Because it was too cool for sprinklers my kids decided to shred leaves and throw them at Nana. Eventually we told them to stop mutilating the trees and cut a couple of daisies to hold instead.

Independence day!

We spent the whole entire Independence day outside! Our morning started at a splash pad.

 

Afterward we headed home for lunch and put Natalie down for a nap. When nap time was up we cleaned up our toys, gathered bikes, some fruit for our dinner and scouted out a place in the neighborhood to watch fireworks. After that we bought happy meals and Jimmy johns and headed to another park. 

When Natalie raises her hands up like this she screams "I'm tall". Just now she walked into the room, looked at the picture and said "I'm tall". 

After we ate we headed to the church parking lot got our van into position and let the kids ride their bikes and let Natalie run!

Not a huge selfie person put I will make an exception for the fourth!

 

The city decided to do fireworks off the top of a butte instead of a park. This way it could accommodate the growth of the area and give people more locations to choose from. Sadly our house is shadowed by another house blocking the view. Next year we won't do the church parking lot because of the lights and it was still a little too far for our taste. My favorite part of the night was Brandon's music mix. At one point a song called "American idiot" by Green Day came on a blared a huge swear word. I of course told Brandon quickly to turn it off. I am sure the other watchers sitting on the grass of the church did not appreciate it, but it gave me a good laugh. Natalie decided by this time that her day was over. She cried through most of the fireworks and had multiple temper tantrums. Over all it was memorable and eventful day.