Natural Bridge~The Zoo & Elephant Ride Saturday-Part One

Saturday we decided to start the day off by visiting the Natural Bridge Zoo. We got there just as it started to rain. Thankfully it only rained for a few minutes and we were able to go and check out the animals. The rain helped cool it down it was another beautiful day. The highlight for me was feeding the giraffe's, for Ed and Christian it was the Humongous elephant that we rode! Yes that is right we rode an elephant. I was teriffied and the pictures will show it. Ed & Christian loved it and as you will see actually rode the elephant again. I will mark this down as something I have accomplished but one thing that I don't plan on doing again!

Waiting for the rain to pass

Checking out the alligator
So excited to feed the animals. Chrisitan was not scared at all!
Grandma & Benjamin taking a break Ed feeding the girafee- they had this huge fence with about 5 giraffes behind it. Their necks were just long enough to reach over and grab the food you were holding for them. I really enjoyed this it was probably one of my favorite things from the zoo!
Mommy & Christian feeding the Giraffe Feeding more animalsGrandma feeding some animals she has her whole hand in there its a wonder she didn't lose any fingers!
Christian wanted to do it! Grandpa Stanley & BenjaminFeeding more animals This is the GIGANTIC Elephant that we rode....
Gettting on the Elephant
Here we go!
I dont really know why but I was terrified and kept my eyes closed most of the timeIt is hard to tell but I am screaming in this pictureKayla, Mommy, Chrisitan & Daddy- I look so happy :)Christian had so much fun he talked Daddy into taking him on the elephant again!My tiny little man on that elephant! Wow this is what she would do they would have her stop and pose for the camera!All of us Grandma, Grandpa, Kayla, Aidan, Mommy, Daddy, Christian, & Benjamin

Natural Bridge~Friday

We took a trip to Natural Bridge this past weekend (8/3). We meet Grandma, Grandpa, Kayla & Aidan and had lots of fun. We fit a lot into a short weekend. Here are a few pictures. It may take a couple of posts to get them all up. Enjoy!!

Everyone playing around when we first got to the hotel. The kids were very excited to see each other!

After we got checked in we decided to go visit the Safari Park. Originally we thought we would take a wagon ride but we missed the last wagon so we had to drive through. It was probably best that we drove through I am not sure how we would have handled having the animals climbing all over us. They were VERY friendly and wanted the food we had. They would come right up to the car and stick their head in- if you weren't careful you were running the risk of having another passenger in your car. It was a lot of fun-if you ever go to Natural Bridge I would recommend making it one of your stops. One of the funny things we saw were HUGE camels. There was an RV in front of us and they were feeding the camel well the camel decided he wanted their bucket of food and he actually ate the food bucket and all! It was amazing!!

Riding in the front with Mommy getting ready to feed the animals! (Disclaimer: I NEVER let Christian out of his seat but they said that we could since we were on the "Farm")

Mommy & Christian feeding a ZebraHe was looking for more food!

Daddy feeding the OstridgeHe stuck his head right in the Van looking for the food we had to roll the window up to get them to back off! The HUGE CamelsDaddy feeding a camel look how his legs are higher than the bottom of the window in the Van they were HUGE!Eating the food bucket he took from the RV in front of usChristian's hand at the window look how small his hand is compared to his mouth! We kept the window on our side closed and just looked out at the Camels! The weather was perfect and the views were wonderful!Christian loved looking out the windowCatherine and Kayla feeding the animals from their car behind us

After we drove through there was an area to get out and walk around and feed some of the other animals. Here are a few pics from that....

Catherine and I pretending to be Kangaroo's I was almost to short I needed a small ladder

The kids playing with the goatsChristian watching Kayla and AidanChecking out the monkeys...Christian is such a climber Aidan got up on the the rail and Christian followed right behind!Look at this big ol' turtleOk so I dont often post pictures of me because generally I don't like them this one is ok so I decide to post it Christian and Kayla being Kangaroosback at the hotel after all the fun eating dinnerBenjamin decided he needed a nap!

We had a great room and this was our view from the patio it was beautiful!

More to come on the rest of the weekend in another post....this was all on Friday!

A Visit with Aunt Nadine & Uncle Billy...

These pictures are from Friday. On the way to Natural Bridge we stopped at Aunt Nadine & Uncle Billy's for a quick visit. This was the first time they met Benjamin and from the pictures it looks like he had fun!

Sitting with Aunt NadineChristian talking with Mike
Playing Lions with Uncle Billy

Uncle Billy making Benjamin laugh

Sweet kisses for Aunt Nadine
Christian, Uncle Billy, Aunt Nadine, Benjamin, & Mike

From the Basinett to the Crib- Finally

So I am sure some of you are thinking what- he is not in his crib yet?? Thats right we recently made the move from our room to the room he is going to share with Christian. Here are a few pictures from his first night in the crib.

Ed getting ready to lay Benjamin in the crib for the 1st time

In he goes... still asleep

Our little man laying in his crib. Please notice the little elephant he loves to listen to the music it plays. My dear friend Emily gave that to Benjamin when he was born. She gave Christian a dog and he loved that thing he totally wore it out. I think Benjamin is going to love elephant just as much!

Peeking as we give him his blanket

All tucked in and sound asleep- he LOVES this blanket from his Grandma and always sleeps with his lovey named Lopez everynight.

Sweet Dreams baby boy....

and sweet dreams big boy sleeping right across the room. Notice: he is sleeping with his lovey in his face to. How cute!

Here are a couple random pictures of Benjamin playing in the floor...

Take a look at those muscles!

Rice Cereal Anyone??

I often wonder where the time has gone with Benjamin as he reaches each new milestone. He is growing up so fast and is 5 months old today. He is such a blessing to us and we could never imagine our life without him. He is doing so much here is a list of some of his accomplishments:

*Roll over both ways (and if I might say he can get where he wants to most of the time)

*Has one tooth that has officially come in (you can see it!) and another one coming in right beside it

*Is drinking 8oz of forumula every 4-5hrs (this is so diffrent from Christian he never took 8hrs until he was almost 1 yr. old)

*Loves to play on his baby einstein mat, in his exersaucer, and has a new found joy in his Jumperoo

*Sleeps about 9hrs. straight (most nights)

*Has recently started sicking out his tounge

*Started "talking" all the time

*Loves to watch his big brother oh the spankings that will be taking place in our house I am sure of it!

*Can hold his bottle if he wants to

*Can sometimes get his paci back in when he takes it out!

*Loves the pool and Loves to get a bath

*Likes to play peek a boo- Christian like to play with him it is so cute he will cover Benjamin up and then say where the baby go then he will uncover him and say there he is!

*Can sit unassisted for about 20-30seconds

I am sure that there are many more things that I can't think of right now I will add more as they come to mind. Now for the rice ceral pictures (7/26/08)...

What is going on Mommy I want my bottle and your sticking me in my bumbo seat...

First bite...

not quite sure what to do with it or what to think!

It didn't take him long to get the hang of it look at him opening up for another bite

Dribble Dribble....I think I'll have some more please

Do you think he enjoyed it?

and of course Christian needed to have a bite...so we let him try it and believe it or not he asked for more! Well that sums up Take One of Rice Cereal at our house. We will see what take two and three bring.