Feeding the Sting Rays!

Every time we go to the zoo, we try to get there right when they open.  The sting rays, carousel, and children's zoo are all free for the first hour.

A couple weeks ago, we went on a Friday.  We got there a bit later than we wanted, around 10 minutes after opening.  Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but the weather was beautiful and it was near the end of most school years.  It seemed every elementary and middle school was there.  It was crazy busy! 

We rushed to the back of the zoo.  Abby initially said she didn't want to do the sting rays.  However, when we walked by them to go to the carousel, she changed her mind.  I of course groaned because the line was already really long.  But we decided to wait.  And we're glad we did!

It was finally our turn and we headed in.  We've done this many times before, but Abby gets a bit more daring each time.  She used to be very skeptical, but now has no fears. 

I noticed that the sting rays were VERY active this time.  More so than I've ever seen them before.  Usually it's hard to reach them and you don't get to pet all that many.  Not this time!  We were petting a ton of them.  I figured it must have been close to feeding time.  So, I asked the worker and she said no. 

A few minutes later, we were getting ready to leave and they came over the loudspeaker to announce it was feeding time!  I was right!  And best of all, they allow the public to feed them!  Yahoo.  We've never even been in line before when it was feeding time, let alone get to do it ourselves. 

For a dollar, you get a little cup of food to feed them.  I got three cups. 

Showing Abby how to hold the fish.  She was a bit skeptical at first, but quickly wanted to try after she saw me do it.

The problem was that you have to hold it below where the sting ray swims in order for them to know it's there.  Abby couldn't get her hand deep enough for them to see it.  She did get one to eat from her hand though.  

Noah wanted to try too, but his arm wasn't nearly long enough for it to work.

Spring Pictures

Our princess

The classic Noah "look."

Everything comes back to bugs with these two.  Looking for bugs is about all we've done this summer!  We've found ants, rolly pollies, moths, caterpillars, crickets, slugs, worms, and just yesterday a frog!

Stud.

Such a cute kid....sometimes :-)

Slipping and Sliding

Oh boy, what a story.  I mentioned earlier that we've been doing "naked time" with Noah.  We did some this morning, but it wasn't going well.  I think he starts not liking it when he realizes he has to pee.  He doesn't want to do it on the floor, but he's not yet comfortable doing it on the potty either.  He just wants to do it in his diaper.  He kept asking me to put his diaper on, but I knew that meant he really just had to pee.

He started throwing a fit about something else, so he got put in timeout.  A few minutes later, I went to get him out of timeout and realized he was standing about five feet away from his timeout spot.  I told him to go sit back down because he was in timeout.  He turned around and ran back to his spot.  Just then I realized the floor was covered in pee.  Before I could stop him, he slipped and fell straight on his back.  I rushed over to get him up.  Before I could get there he was already trying to get up.  He was slipping and sliding everywhere!  Seriously, it was like he was on ice, falling all over himself. 

I got there and picked him up.  He had pee EVERYWHERE.  If it wasn't so gross, it would have been (and in hindsight, was) pretty darn funny.  Noah didn't quite think so. 

A Fun Filled Weekend

Jon and Bobo were in for the weekend back in early April (yes we're a bit behind!).  They came in for the St. Louis 5K, monster golf tournament and adult egg hunt.

First stop for the weekend was the zoo.  I was at work, but it looks like the kids had a great time.

He just has this look like "This is my goat."

Watching the sea lions.

Playing baseball with Bobo.

And some golf of course.  The fairways have seen better days.  We've had two BRUTAL summers of heat and no rain (about 2-3 months with no or almost no rain) in St. Louis.  It's taken its toll on the grass.

Time for the 2nd Annual Monster Golf Tournament!

We didn't have a trophy last year.  So, the first order of business was to present last years winner with his trophy.  The trophy says "The Biggest Baller."  It is a traveling trophy, and will go home with the winner each year.

Explaining the rules.  It was the same crew as last year.

Teeing off on the 8th hole.

I had the biggest blue balls, beating Jon by 2 strokes.  Let me tell ya, there were a lot of inappropriate jokes during the golf tournament!  Tom made two awesome trophies.  The winner had to chug a beer from the red solo cup on top.  I'm so excited I get to keep the trophy!  It's proudly nested in its new home for the year, on top of the mantle!  Peggy didn't like the idea much, but eventually caved. 

That thing was HEAVY!

Noah and Abby really wanted to get in.

No drinking and driving, Ryan.

Eating dinner before the egg hunt.

Watching the Mizzou game on Jane's ipad.

And the egg hunt begins!  Haha, they sure didn't wait for the garage door to open much!  It's like zombies escaping....

The competition was fierce.  There was one silver egg, which had a $20 gift card in it....the big prize.  Matt found it in a hole in the ground.

The Bohlinger clan!