first "spring" trip to the zoo...even though it's still officially winter

When we heard it was going to be 61 today (it actually reached 69 degrees--it was wonderful!), we made plans to meet friends at the zoo. We spent much of the morning there and even brought a picnic lunch to eat outside. We topped it off with a train ride around the zoo (and we discovered that neither Ty nor Drew like the tunnels very much. I really can't blame them...they are dark and loud and smell like exhaust). But anyway, here's a picture of the three of us (daddy was in class--sorry, daddy!) on the train. You can tell that Drew was ecstatic. :)

book reviews by two, very qualified, critics

If I had to choose my absolute favorite children's book right now it would be Llama Llama Red Pajama! It's hard to say "absolute favorite" because there are so many great ones out there, but this is my book of choice as of late. It is so fun to read to my kids! It's a rhyming story about a baby llama who is going to bed but decides he's thirsty and calls downstairs for his mama llama. However, mama llama is busy and can't come right away. Then you see the progression from waiting patiently and humming a tune, to "starting to fret," to boo-hooing, to wailing, stomping and shouting. It's hilarious--and so true of little ones! They go from calm, cool, and collected to freaking out in full-panic mode if mama doesn't come right away! My favorite part of the whole book is, "Baby llama, what a tizzy! Sometimes mama's very busy! Please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama." I just love that...and I love reading it to my baby llamas. :)
Ty's go-to book has become The Gruffalo, which I discovered recently through my children's literature class (did I mention that I am taking this class?) My teacher is the wonderful, kind, and genuine Jerram Baars (did I mention that I LOVE him?) Anyway, Ty loves this book! He "reads" along with me: "A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood..." and "A Gruffalo! Why didn't you know?" and he goes around the house talking about the Gruffalo's features and about eating Gruffalo crumble, like the clever mouse does at the end of the story. I love it! It is amazing how much books expand a child's knowledge, imagination, vocabulary, and love of language (and how they can be so fun to read over and over...and over!

new wheels

Here is Ty on his new bike! I can't believe he's on a real bike with training wheels! Where did the time go, really? It was just yesterday that he was riding a tricycle! Notice the helmet that his safety-conscious mommy required him to wear. Isn't he so cute? His first time on it was the night of Drew's birthday party so he rode about 500 laps around our basement!

Drew's second FIRST birthday!

We celebrated Drew's first birthday for a second time this past weekend. (Yes, his birthday was a month ago!!!) We made homemade carrot cake cupcakes, filled the living room with balloons (which Drew LOVED...and Ty tried to pop!), and had Mimi and Grandpa in for the occasion (Nonna and Poppa were with us in spirit--we missed you guys!) :) Even though Drew was a bit under the weather, it was a really special time.
the homemade carrot cake cupcakes
Wow, is all of this for me???loving the balloons
his first bike, a Radio Flyer--love it!feeling yucky (from a little fever) when it was time to blow out the candle, which also made him drop the cupcake in pieces onto the floor rather than eating it
but, someone else thoroughly enjoyed his "pupcake" (that's what Ty calls them)
mommy and Drew

playing in the snow

I had kind of been postponing playing in the snow, much to Ty's dismay, until it warmed up just a tad. I just couldn't do 9 degree weather. We did, however, go out on the day it was around 40 and sunny. Ty was my little adventurer--he loved trudging through the snow leaving his footprints in the unmarked snow. And Drew liked being outside too (I think he was a little shocked by the cold and snow--he was super quiet!!!) But we were warm! Look at Drew's snowsuit, thanks to my friend, Sharon, who passed it down! :)