Just a couple stories today, after all, we've been very photo heavy lately!

1. My kids have made up their own language, and by that I mean they are mixing up words that we don't use on a regular basis or are hard to say. When we go to the gym for the bounce house there is a blow up obstacle course there. The kids can't say obstacle so they constantly talk about the "Popsicle" at the gym. And if that isn't cute enough, while we were pulling into Como Zoo yesterday Max saw Como Town's roller coaster and asked if he could ride on the "roller skate". Yes, my kids really are that cute.
   
   
2. Something not so cute? Max and Rory have been sneaking out of bed. Max will go and open Rory's door then they move all of the blankets and stuffed animals on Rory's bed into Max's room and from there they do any number of things. There has been fruit thievery, lotions squirted onto the carpeting, pages cut out of books, I tell you it's been bad. So bad we've resorted to locking their rooms until they are asleep. We always give them a chance to stay in their rooms nicely first, but the last three days have led to the last three incidents I've listed. So, it's been a challenge, to say the least.
   
   
3. Speaking of sleeping. Rory has been staying up way too late the last couple weeks. I keep convincing myself that she is just curious because every night at least twice, sometimes three times, she will come out of her room to find us and then after she sees where we are she turns around and goes right back to bed. I can't figure out if she just needs reassurance that we're still here or if there is something else going on, but it sure is creepy to suddenly see a little curl stick out of your moving bedroom door at 9:30 at night! This hasn't been such an issue since she's discovered all the fun she can have with her brother, which we're working on. (Read previous number.)
   
   
4. I met with Max's preschool teacher last week, we were getting concerned because Max seems to dislike his preschool teacher and it's starting to cause problems with getting him to go to school in the morning. His teacher is great, and while I don't know what exactly is leading to this problem I do have confidence in his teacher and trust that she is not doing anything to cause this. I left the meeting feeling not so great. I mean first of all I had to tell her my son doesn't like her and second of all it isn't like we could just have a solution ready to go. She's been working with him a little more one-on-one when she can without trying to give him any special treatment over the other kids (which was a concern of mine) and already it seems to be helping. While he still will insist that he doesn't like her, he's going to school happy. So I'm going to consider that a good sign and just know that I too didn't always like my teachers but still enjoyed school. (Any advice here is always welcome.)
   
   
5. I never did get around to writing a blog post on my 5 days of  Pinterest  recipes. A few weeks ago now I made a new recipe for the whole work week. Three of them were super yummy and worth sharing (the other two, not so much, but hey, I tried something new) so if you're interested; Pork Pot Stickers, Cilantro Lime Shrimp, Twice Baked Potato Casserole, and while this wasn't during my recipe challenge, it was amazing, Beer Cheese Bread good luck not eating the whole loaf yourself! Seriously? It was fun trying a bunch of new things, and gives me a little more appreciation for some of our regular meals too, I think I'll do that again once I get enough new recipes I want to try again.

I think that's everything I've been wanting to share. We've been really enjoying this weather. Not only did we go to the zoo yesterday but Daddy also pulled out the four wheeler for the kids and they had a blast. Today we're planning another walk at the State Park once Rory wakes up. It's supposed to cool off tomorrow and remain that way for a while, so we're not wasting anytime over here, we're heading outside!

We spent the morning at Como Zoo today with Becca, Conan and Grammy. Thanks to our warm winter it was a really awesome visit to the zoo and we had some amazing interactions with the animals! Our first stop was the monkey house where Max made a new best friend.

Grammy got up close to the big gorilla, two minutes prior to this shot he was throwing his hay at the window and giving everyone the glare but once he sat down Grammy went up to say hello.

We made our way over to the Polar Bears and not only did we get to watch this big guy finally jump into the water after a few moments of prepping (he was rocking back and forth on the edge of the water just building up the anticipation for his crowd) but then he continued to swim over to where the kids were and would lift himself up before doing a back flop into the water. It was so cool!

We also got up close and personal with some Koi fish.

See what I mean about some awesome animal interactions? That doesn't happen every day! Here are some more favorite photos from the zoo while visiting other animals and places.

Rory demonstrated her seal bark for us while watching Sparky the Sea Lion.

Conan was being his bashful, handsome self.

I got our mandatory giraffe picture. Someday I'll have to do something with all of the photos I have of them with the giraffes.

Rory was very intently popping bubbles as they trickled over from one of the many fountains.

Conan watching and learning how to be naughty and put your hands in the fountains.

Max, found a puddle. I had to get an action sequence.

Beautifully pregnant Becca escorting Conan and Rory.

Oh my gosh, once again an extremely photo-heavy blog! Needless to say, we had a great time.

Today Dusty and I helped Uncle Jeff with the cows. It was a blast, as always, and extremely exhausting. Grammy brought the kids out for a little while. Rory played by herself, she was content finding branches and walking around making up her own little stories.

Max? Well Max was there to work, according to him. So Daddy took him out to walk over a few cows. It was supposed to be easy but of course it wasn't.

That picture there? That would be the four cows that they had to chase. Dusty had Max sit down out of harm's way. But if you zoom in on this picture, that would be Max sitting on just the other side of the electric fence, right in front of where those cows came running.

Now, to be fair, there actually was a larger space between Max and those cows then what the picture shows. And, the cows never did get that close to him. So I had to show it off, because it is funny, and something I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, let Dusty forget. 'Cause I'm good like that.

The last couple days have been beautiful. You know what I mean, melting snow, upper 30's, basically spring weather in January. While I do wish I could take out my cross country skis, I'm not complaining either, it's been so nice to be able to spend a significant amount of time outdoors.

Yesterday, Max and I played a little baseball in the driveway. We played baseball, in the middle of January, and we weren't cold. Amazing.

And today we tried out a new path at the state park. While walking along the river we came upon an otter that started showing off for us. Did you read that? We got our own private viewing of an otter, in the wild, and not only did he not swim away but he started jumping up and down on the ice ledge showing off for us and playing with his food! I wish I would have had my camera, that isn't something you see everyday.

So I'm content with this weather for now. I realize a lot of people disagree with me and that's fine. I'm still happy.

There once was a cantaloupe who was living a lovely life in the warm sunny tropics. One day the farmer came by and told him it was time for him to go and do great things with his life and he was picked and put in a crate with many other cantaloupe.

The next time the cantaloupe saw light he was being unpacked into a store that was very cold but he was still with his other cantaloupe friends so he was happy and excited to see what great things he could do. He watched as hour by hour people came by, examined him and his friends, and then would take one of his friends away. After a couple days, he was boxed up with his other friends and brought to a discount grocery store where he again watched as people examined his friends and himself before taking one of his friends away.

Mr. Cantaloupe was getting pretty sad. All his friends were getting picked, one by one, and he continued to get put back onto the shelf. Was this to be it? Was his great thing to rot on a shelf with the other left over produce?

Then one day, along came a boy. His mother was very preoccupied as she had never been to this discount grocery store before and so as she tried to familiarize herself with the products and prices the little boy was walking back and forth down the aisles. Many a times there was a "Max, I told you that you have to stay were I can see you." Or a "Remember, look with your hands, not your eyes." That cantaloupe knew, now was his chance. He slid himself within the little boys' grasp and plumped himself up to looking oh-so-very appealing and his plan worked! The little boy scooped him up and started to bring him to his mother.

Splat!

Oh, the boy dropped him.

But don't worry, outside of the small bruise he was still fine. And the mother, very irritated, was not about to put back a bruised cantaloupe for someone else to buy. (Especially with the two evil ladies looking with their judgy eyes.) So the cantaloupe was happily brought to the little boys home where he heard "We'll eat it for breakfast."

Alas, the cantaloupe knew that his inevitable doom was near so he once again moved himself within the little boy's grasp and once again tried to plump up his bruised body. And once again, he succeeded, for that very night after the little boy was supposed to be in bed, he sneaked out to the kitchen and grabbed the cantaloupe.

Oh, was that naughty cantaloupe so happy, he was saved!

Except he wasn't.

For the next morning the little boy's mother found in her son's bed a wet cantaloupe who's skin was peeled by a little boy's teeth and who's body was so soft the mother had no choice but to throw it away. And when she asked the little boy what happened to the cantaloupe he replied that he was beating it up.

The moral of the story? Don't trust cantaloupe at discount stores, they're just there to cause trouble.

And also? Hide the fruit. Because not only was the cantaloupe stolen in the night but the oranges and grapes were accomplices to the murder.We are now out of fresh produce - you know the next morning after going to the grocery store - Argh...

Last night we celebrated our last Christmas with my cousins. It's always hard for me to talk when we're out at a restaurant since I've usually got to keep an eye on both my kids on top of trying to carry on a conversation and eat, but I played musical chairs a lot and was able to catch up at least a little bit. After dinner we took some pictures since we were all together.

Here's all the cousins.

And all the grandkids and great grandkids. (Poor Grandma got lost on the drive and after an hour finally threw in the towel and went home.)

Lastly, me with my cousins, because I wanted a picture with them.

Hopefully I'll get to see them again really soon as Tara and I are hoping to watch Nikii at the next open mic night she is planning to sing at. My fingers are crossed that it all works out!

We rang in the New Year up at the lake this year. Grandma, Bopa, Julie and Tom were kind enough to let us barge in on their celebration. Of course, the real reason we were up there had nothing to do with New Year's and everything to do with an extra day of fishing!

Yes, my boys really do love the sport of fishing, I'm just going to have to accept that.

Of course, it helps when you catch your own little fish.

Rory wasn't really into all the fishing, but if you were always left behind whenever a flag popped up would you really be into it?

Don't you worry, the poor little girl was perfectly content playing by herself inside where Max wasn't around to take her toys or tell her how to play. And when everyone was inside? Well there was plenty of time for Grandma and Bopa to play!

It was a nice weekend at the lake, with a great group of people, I mean look at how much fun we were having.

Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2012 is your best year yet!