Made it to Alaska

On my second day here I woke up to snow outside my window. I knew it was bad because even the Alaskans were shocked to see snow so early. Yikes. Frost was on my borrowed car this morning - looks like I better invest in an ice scraper! Will update as I can.

No photos this weekend

Getting ready to head to Alaska and kick some butt so I had much to prepare on the homestead. Heather had a classmate come over and play Saturday and I completed making Trevor's halloween costume - he's going to be a....FISH! Surprised, right?!

Trevor Fishing with Daddy

The boys celebrated the first week of Trevor's school with some male bonding time and fished at Burke Lake. They were successful!

Trevor first week of school

Trevor's not exactly a fan. He had two days of preschool and his first speech therapy session. While he said both were fine, he does not appreciate that his Daddy keeps dumping him off everywhere and stated that Daddy must not like him anymore! Broke our hearts! He refused to bring anything for show and tell and complained that a boy pulled his shirt on the playground. Hopefully week 2 will be better.

Trevor's first day of school

Today he started preschool. He was very nervous before he left. Eric took him and I waited with Heather on the bus stop.

Work Update

Many have asked what I'm going to do, so I figured this would be the best way to spread the word. Eric and I have decided to wait until the election and see where we stand. Either I will stay with my current boss or I will seek another member after the election.

We visited the National Zoo on Saturday

My boy in his glory - fish, fish, fish - see him glowing?!

The kids liked this bird - Heather said she read it was a pigeon.

They thought this Toucan was very pretty.

Taking a break from the walking and having some ice cream.

There's an elephant behind them somewhere!

Searching for elephants and following their "foot steps".

Exploring the butterfly exhibit.

The weather was so nice I was crazy enough to take the kids to the "big" zoo. We walked and walked and walked some more! Heather and Trevor freaked out everytime they saw a bee and there were a LOT of them. Heather's favorite animal was the horse - "it was quite a surprise and I found that very interesting and unexpected". Trevor's was....wait for it....the FISH! So...needless to say, we are officially done with the big zoo - its not worth the aggrevation to me and we shall now stick with either the national aquarium or petting zoo for our animal fixes.

Heather's First Day of School and First Time Riding the Bus!

Heather started the second grade today. Trevor starts preschool next Tuesday!

Addition for Natural Bridge

I forgot to enclose these pics in the zoo visit - Trevor was SO mad when the goat stole his empty bag of food and ate it!

Natural Bridge - the final departure.

They both fell asleep on the way back from an exhausting and busy weekend!

AHH...McDonalds. Finally - some REAL food.

Full drama.

Heather woke up crying - I attempted to take a photo but she refused. She was very upset. She wanted to stay forever and she would miss her friends and her bunkbed. Once we left and got back in the "real world" she was fine again!

Natural Bridge - Day Three

Warming up after we were attacked by water.

By day three we were over it and gave up on cooking over a fire and eating sandwiches - Trevor is literally saying "roughing it" here for our photo. That pizza was damn good and worth it the kids ate almost an entire pizza by themselves.

Today was the day to visit the Caverns. While they were a bit disappointing (there were no formations, etc. like you see on the commercials for Luray Caverns), it was the perfect amount for the kids and they were still captivated. Heather is still convinced she saw bats (ain't no way she saw any). They really enjoyed their trek into the earth and we did not have to carry either one of them. Afterwards, we stopped at Foamhendge for Eric. Its Stonehendge made out of foam. The kids were confused as to why one would build that and I gave up attempting to explain because I had no real reason why one would build it either. Eric liked it and was giggling and taking pictures like a little kid! We also visited Lorikeet Landing at the Safari Park, swam some more, played on the playground with their new friends and went on a water fight wagon ride. Getting pegged by a giant water balloon in the head and then a giant water bazooka does NOT feel good and neither me nor Trevor were fans. Trevor was shielded under my towel and I absorbed the brunt of the battle. I ended up getting really really mad and attacked with a vengance. Heather loved it! The evening we went on a flashlight treasure hunt and her new friends invited us out to the field where they lit luminaries which then rose into the stary sky like hot air balloons. The kids were impressed but exhausted and desparate to go to bed.

Natural Bridge - Day Two

Getting ready for the "glowy" wagon ride with our light up glasses and glow bracelets.

Here's where Eric started getting mad at me. I'm feeding this elk from the sunroof. He's screaming about scratching the car. The Elk ended up snatching my bucket.

The safari was packed but it worked out well because Trevor was able to take a nap.



Even Eric got into the feeding.

Our car is trashed. I plan to spend this week cleaning it up.

Back at the safari park.

Of course, my little model Heather looks perfect in this photo - she's the only one besides the tiger!

Riding the elephant.

Trevor decided to take on an alligator - all right so its not real - he was really into it!

After my llama mauling, I inquired where the kids had gone and why I was the only one in the pen. The response was several snickers. I think I was set up.

They loved the baby camel. He was so soft and keep bawling. He just wanted anyone to touch him and keep him company.

The zoo had lots of babies!

Back at the KOA campgrounds.

Saturday we went to the Natural Bridge Zoo, got lunch to go at the Pink Cadillac Diner (we were concerned about leaving the dog and his barking, but later found out he was doing great via a nice neighbor who let us know that another cabin had three yipping dogs and thus we had nothing to worry about), did another Safari Park tour, yet more swimming, played some air hockey (watch out the kids are pretty good if you challenge them), played at the various playgrounds and went on a night time wagon ride provided by the campground. The campground had daily and nightly activities for all the kids - that was an unplanned bonus but the catch was we didn't know to plan for it so we had to constantly purchase the gimicks at their store so our kids could participate. Luckily their stuff was pretty reasonably priced. Saturday night the wagon ride theme was glowy. They failed to mention that once the wagon started, you were to scream your heads off the entire time and use any noisemakers you have. Two kids next to us had whistles. Trevor and I did NOT appreciate the whistles and I honestly thought about shoving one of them down....well I degress. At the zoo we got our photo with a baby tiger and fed him milk. I also got mauled by llamas and we rode an elephant. After all that, you'd think Trevor would pick something exciting to be his favorite but my boy picks the fish tank that's in the gift shop right as you walk in. Heather's favorite was the elephant....I think. She keeps changing her mind!