Pandas and Cheetahs and Giraffes... Oh My!

Today was a total and complete blast! We hit the zoo! The Genius was able to see her favorite animal, a cheetah! The Hippie got to see wild Mongolian Horses. They got to feed giraffes, ride a carousel and play bongo drums etc. We were all worn out when we left! We enjoyed a yummy Chinese lunch and came back and all hiked around the woods. I am beat! Tomorrow we are off to see some gardens and enjoy HIGH SPEED INTERNET! =)

Impromptu Science Lesson

We saw this dead snake on the side of the road and my husband found it too good to pass up. The girls got a first hand look at what is inside a snake. They were intrigued!!!

The view from here

We made it to my husband's family and boy, did we have some adventures along the way! We left in the morning and drove through some very, very heavy fog. We stopped off at our old stomping grounds and saw where he proposed and where we used to live. We got some coffee at our old favorite hangout! We stopped to see the farm where his grandparents used to live. When we pulled up there was a lady getting out of her car. It ended up being his aunt! We got to visit with her and the girls got to feed some fish in the pond. We left to see where my husband lived when he was small boy. We passed the house where his friends parents live and there were about 30 cars there. We decided to go see what was happening (we were assuming a family reunion). We walked in and found that my husband's friend's little sister was getting ready to walk down the "aisle". We literally CRASHED a wedding! It was mega embarrassing!!! Luckily they did not have a wedding photographer and my husband grabbed his equipment and shot the wedding. Me and the girls hung out and watched....in our short! =) We made it up to his family.... eventually. They had a surprise for us! They took us out to this farm where the had clydesdale horses!!!! Our daughters got to sit on one. Oh. My. Word. These pics do not do it justice! That horse was a GIANT! It LOVED the Hippie and her hand could easily have fit into his nostril (or snortle) as she calls it! She was so happy up on his back! Then they took us out for ice cream and we hope to have photos of that later in the week. For now, I need to get cleaned up for a picnic!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The girls have really been affected by the dog attack on June 29th. In regards to their Selective Mutism. They have slid backwards as to where they will speak etc. It has been real hard to watch because each step forward was so hard to achieve. Their doctor said it good. She said that they went through a trauma. It was horrible for all of us but hearing it labeled as a trauma is hard too. It made more sense when she reminded us of the events following the attack. At first the Hippie said she did not remember anything happening. But now she talks about how she was scared of "losing Sissy" and how she remembers this or that. The Genius usually seems fine but things do surface occasionally.
On a much happier note, the Genius is allowed to swim again (at least until her laser surgeries begin) AND just in time for our first vacation in 2 years!!!! We are beyond excited! I could spend all my time searching online for what we are going to do. First we are off to visit my hubby's family, then we are taking the girls to my parents for 3 days so we can go away for an early anniversary!!

One Month Ago today.... today's Wordless Wednesday

Just a reminder

Tonight as I was relaxing and watching Season 1 of Army Wives, I saw a friend's status on facebook that basically said, "He's gone." In the military family, we all know what that means. This friends husband was gone for a year, home 9 months and is gone again for a year. It just hit me that even though I am a military wife, I am guilty of forgetting at times the battle going on for our freedom. So I am off to bed with this friend and her family heavy on my heart and mind and I am going to pray for all the troops and their families. I encourage you to do the same.

Hitting the Pavement

It was making us a little sad that the girls are missing an entire 6 months of sports because of the attack on the Genius. She cannot do contact sports and of course, no place here, offers track for 6 year olds. We decided to take matters into our own hands. It has been FUN! My hubby took the girls yesterday, but today, we all went to the track. The Hippie, staying true to form, played in the sand the entire time! The Genius and I ran together for 1 mile and it was a real sweet fun time! She loved it and being type A really enjoyed having a goal to focus on. My husband ran on his own, but afterwards he took the Genius and did stairs with her. Then he had us all doing lunges out on the field, running backwards and other "fun" stuff =). After all that, he chased the girls and played tag with them. We all had a great time! Now the Genius wants a "real" pair of running shoes like her Mommy. So, tonight I making her a chart and once she hits a 20 mile mark, we will take her and let her get a pair of running shoes!