Random March Moments

Here are a few photos I unloaded from the camera... cute enough to share.

Miss Maggie is 14 months old and full of personality.

She LOVES her sisters, especially the oldest one who gives her tons of attention...

Lately when you ask Maggie to smile or say cheese, this is what you get... the wrinkle face. Lilly can imitate her pretty well.

 It seems this is Claire's favorite pastime... the tablet computer.

 One of the best perks of desert life is the ability to have a winter garden. We've been enjoying fresh veggies and home grown salads all winter.

 We're getting ready for Easter at our house. The bunnies are out!

 Happy Spring!

Kansas Visitors

We just love visitors. Right before we went to California for spring break, Uncle Andy and Aunt Emily visited Phoenix on their way to the Grand Canyon.

We were happy to see them one evening for dinner, and we were very happy to get all of the kiddos together to play. 

Here's Uncle Andy's kiddos, Uncle Joe's boys and 2 of our Z Girls.

 Here is a closer photo of Maggie and Mary. They are just 13 days apart in age.

Thanks for visiting! See you again soon!!

 

Old Photos

Don't you just love old photos?

Here are a few I came across when helping clean out my grandmother's home.  I just love old photos... and scanning them in the computer makes them even better.

Here's my Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, Uncle and Aunt

Circa 1950's

 And my dad, age one in the late 1940's

 

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

We visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly the San Diego Wild Animal Park). It's a conservation park that is quite impressive. The girls loved it. We really needed more time to see everything, so I guess we will just have to go back. :)

This is probably the only family photo that was taken on the trip... it turned out well.

This is the Z fam before we climbed aboard the Africa Tram Ride that tours the entire park.

 Here's a view of the part of the park we toured on the tram... just beautiful. The animals are in  wide open areas instead of cooped up in tiny enclosures. On the ride we were able to see a baby giraffe that was experiencing his first day outside in this part of the park... tiny and cute!

 We were also able to see a baby gorilla! Awe!

 Lilly wanted to pose with the baby gorilla...

 Those gorillas are HUGE! The big daddy one was quite intimidating. Let's see how we stack up compared to a male gorilla...

 But Dad is close!

Look closely for our bats!!

 and our butterflies...

 Super family... super fun times!

Hotel Swim

What's better than a hotel with a heated pool?

Answer... A hotel with a heated pool, a water slide and splash pad just for kids.

One can only guess how many times we heard, "Can we go swimming?"

Both of the big girls LOVED the kiddie slide.

 And they were both quite good at riding the slide, with one exception...

After this little incident, we were happy again.

Lilly loved it too!

 It felt like we had our own private splash pad. Or, maybe it was because everyone else was waiting until the sun came out.

 On this particular day, Maggie didn't want to swim. She decided to lounge instead.

Gotta love the pool!!

SeaWorld San Diego

Shamu, where are you?

The girls were super excited to meet Shamu and friends on a beautiful, sunny day.

 Our first stop was the Shamu show... of course!

We were wise and avoided sitting in the splash zone. 

  Throughout our trip, Maggie wanted to be a big girl and sit on her own... even on the bleachers at the Shamu show.

 There was so much to see and do... what should we do next? Check out the map!

SeaWorld doesn't only have animals. Oh no, they have rides... ones that spin round and round.

 Our mode of transportation for the girls... the double stroller. And, when needed, Dad's shoulders.

 Claire posed for a picture with this sleeping polar bear. You can see him in the middle upper part of the photo.... on the other side of the class.

At the end of the day, it was time to pick a souvenir. SeaWorld has a gift shop at the end of EVERY exhibit- you have to walk through them to exit the exhibits. Genius on their part. But, for us, as you can imagine, the girls thought they needed something after each attraction.  After awhile they caught on that they should "browse" each gift shop and make their decision at the end of the day based on everything they had seen. So, at the end of the day, these were the choices... a Shamu for Claire and a baby seal for Lilly.

 Another great day! We will be back, I'm sure!

LEGOLAND

We made it to Legoland California!! Hooray!!

  We spent the day in this super fun park, enjoying beautiful weather and smiles galore.

Our girls cannot pass up a chance to wear face paint. Who can resist when they look so cute?

Hello Claire!

Pretty Lilly

 If you've not been there, Legoland is the perfect park for children under age 10. The rides and events are geared toward younger children. The girls, all three, had a blast. We will go back!

Besides having lots of things made of legos, including a car just like ours, they have all kinds of cute creations throughout the park. Claire liked this one.

 Lilly took her first opportunity to drive her first car... and she did VERY well rounding the corners and using the pedal. Claire drove one too... without as much success.

Maggie hung out most of the day and enjoyed observing her big sisters.

 Rob had fun too...

 The girls were told that if they behaved, they could each pick one souvenir.

So, when the time came, Lilly said she didn't want a stuffed animal or anything, she wanted a portrait... of herself. She sat still for a caricature drawing we will frame for her room.... right after she takes it to school to show her art teacher.

Lilly asked to be painted as a queen.

 And, as expected, Claire wanted one too. I'm surprised the artist could actually see the girls through their face paint!

Claire asked to be painted as Rapunzel.

 One of the best days ever!

We will return, Legoland, we will return!!

One funny story before I forget, at the end of the day, Claire asked 

"Are we going back to our show and tell?" uh hum... hotel. She called our resort our "show and tell" throughout our stay. Too funny.