Independence Day Scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy 4th of July

Saturday morning Dave, Kaitlynn, MawMaw and I went to Denny's for a late breakfast. Then we went to MawMaw Tommie's.

This tricycle was my younger brother's. I can't believe it's still around. It's over 20 years old.

MawMaw Tommie lives in the country. They have goats, cats, dogs, chickens, hens, and a rooster along with a lot of land.

Johanna, Brandon and Amy decided to get into the birds' pen.

Amy caught the rooster.

Johanna caught one of the hens.

Then Kaitlynn decided that she was getting in with them. Yuck!!

Time to chase goats!

Kaitlynn had so much fun running around. She didn't want to leave the goats' pen.

Dave, Kaitlynn, Josh, Angie and Maribeth playing ball

Kaitlynn and Beast

Maribeth, Brayden and Kaitlynn throwing snaps or pops (whatever they are called) on the ground. Kaitlynn actually picked one up and popped it between her fingers.

Angie helping Kaitlynn with a pop.

We had to move into the garage because it started sprinkling.

Kaitlynn liked sitting on the John Deere tractor.

Bubble Time - We brought 4 small bottles of "4th of July Bubbles" for Brayden and Kaitlynn to play with.

Kaitlynn loved 4 wheeling with Maribeth.

On the 4 wheeler with Virginia

4 wheeling with Daddy
We couldn't get Kaitlynn off the 4 wheeler, so everyone just kept riding her around.

Daddy's up at bat

Bubbles, Bubbles

Kaitlynn, Maribeth and MawMaw watching the pre-show (of the fireworks). After dinner, it started raining again, so we had to take cover in the garage.

Chilling with Josh

Watching the fireworks with MawMaw Tommie and MawMaw

Watching the fireworks with Mommy

We had a great time at MawMaw Tommie's - lots of food, drinks, fun, fireworks, 4 wheeling and guns. Dave and I checked out my cousin's guns. Dave even shot one, but that's just too much power for me. Even though it rained a little, we still got to shoot off fireworks and had a great time.

Zoo and Fireworks

2 more cherry tomatoes! Homegrown are so delicious!
Update on Turtle: We still have the turtle and it seems to be doing well. Kaitlynn isn't as interested as she was when we first got him, though.

Friday, Dave and MawMaw were both off of work. We decided to spend the day at the Zoo. Apparently everyone decided to do the same thing. The parking lots and the surrounding streets were full. I have never seen it that busy.

We viewed the tortoises near the Herpetarium and then went through River's Edge. Of course this was after stopping at a gift shop and MawMaw buying Kaitlynn a bag of rocks.

After River's Edge, we at lunch and went to the other gift shop. MawMaw bought Kaitlynn a momma penguin and a baby penguin. Kaitlynn was in love!

Waiting in line to board the train.

Kaitlynn got to say "All Aboard" over the speaker.

Kaitlynn loves riding the train.

Watching the bears getting fed.

Penguin Cove

Kaitlynn likes to watch the puffins, even more than the penguins.

Riding the carousel, not once

not twice,

but three times. We were so excited because the first 2 times, she decided to ride the lion. The third time she was tired and wanted to sit on the bench.

This chimp was laying in the tree, all spread out.

We watched and listened to the band playing at Jungle Boogie. Kaitlynn colored a gorilla picture for Dave and me and then one for MawMaw.
This is how Kaitlynn eats Pringles - A Pringles Sandwich!

"Stealing" some mulch

Playing in the drinking fountain

We had such a great time at the Zoo.

Later that evening, we went to a cousin's house to watch fireworks. We had a nice time catching up and watching the display.

Best Compliment

Tuesday night while I was at the Avon picnic, I received one of the best compliments. Tara told me that when I looked up at her my eyes looked just like Kaitlynn's. What do you say when you are told you resemble the most beautiful little girl ever??!!!

New Tricycle, New Baby, Grant's Farm Oh My

Sunday we had a busy day planned. But you know how that goes...

Kaitlynn, MawMaw and I met MawMaw Tommie for dinner.
MawMaw Tommie bought Kaitlynn a Radio Flyer tricycle. We couldn't believe it, but Kaitlynn was pedaling it as soon as she sat on it. As soon as I got the camera out, she stopped pedaling and put her feet on the ground. I think this is the best gift she has ever received. She held onto it while driving home. She even wanted to sleep with it, but we talked her out of it.

Monday we went to MawMaw's house. Kaitlynn loves her new baby that MawMaw bought her on Saturday.

Kaitlynn slept through dinner, so we took her to McDonald's to eat dinner and play since we were out and about. Plus she loves the Ice Age toys in the Happy Meals.

Tomato from our garden!

Tuesday Kaitlynn, Olivia and I met some friends at Grant's Farm.

Kaitlynn, Bailey, McKenzie and Addison had a good time together.

Kaitlynn, Olivia and I rode the carousel. I couldn't wait for the ride to be over. I just can't take spinning around like that. It didn't bother Kaitlynn or Olivia, though. In fact, Kaitlynn wanted to go again.

Mini Chef

Saturday Dave, Kaitlynn and I went to the Mills Mall for a kidgits event called Mini Chefs. After checking in, Kaitlynn got to spin the wheel. She won a dolphin and got to choose between pink and purple. She chose pink. Then we started the activities. First Kaitlynn made a licorice bracelet.
Then she decorated a cookie, using white frosting and M&Ms.

Yummy!

Kaitlynn decorated an apron.

Lastly, she made a lollipop flower. We walked around the mall.

Kaitlynn had fun getting on and off of the rides.

We went into Tilt to get Kaitlynn's gift for being a kid's club member. She got a princess rubber ducky.

We finished the mall event by having a blizzard from Dairy Queen.

Kaitlynn took a nap in the car on the way home. We got things ready to go to Jill, Emil and Nick's.

Kaitlynn and Nick played in his kiddie pool and on his swing set. Kaitlynn had fun swinging him.

We ate dinner and enjoyed some great conversation.

Jungle Boogie - J Rob

Friday Dave, Kaitlynn and I went to the Zoo for Jungle Boogie.
The penguins were the first animals we visited because of Kaitlynn's recent interest in "Happy Feet".
Kaitlynn loves seeing the penguins, but doesn't like being inside because she gets too cold. Although she didn't want to leave the puffins.

We were heading back into the Penguin / Puffin exhibit because Kaitlynn said she wasn't done with "her turn" to see the puffins when she spotted the Carousel. Daddy and Kaitlynn had a nice ride on the bench.

Kaitlynn loves to see the flamingos and ducks. We were looking for the turtles that are sometimes with the ducks, but didn't see them.

On the way to the Herpetarium, we stopped to listen to the band and watch the prairie dogs. Kaitlynn didn't want to spend too much time with the prairie dogs because she heard the sea lions. It was great timing because we watched them getting fed. Kaitlynn is so very caring. One of the sea lions (a female that has some problems with her eyesight) didn't eat one of the fish the keeper tossed to her. Kaitlynn was very concerned about it. She refused to leave until the keeper got the fish out of the water.

We finally made our way into the Herpetarium to see the turtles, but there weren't as many as they used to have.

We headed over to Big Cat Country and saw a lioness, a leopard, and all 5 tigers.

Jaguar

Kaitlynn wasn't too interested in seeing the zebras, camels, or ostrich (that is in with the giraffes). The giraffes and donkeys weren't out. Kaitlynn said "Donkey where are you?"

We dropped a few pieces of popcorn (poppy as Kaitlynn calls it) and this peacock came up and started eating it. I wasn't sure what the peacock was doing at first when she started approaching us and just kept coming closer and closer. Kaitlynn had no fear of her. We had to remind her to keep some distance and not to try petting her.
We headed back towards the band and hung out there for a bit while watching the small brown bear.
A trip to the Zoo for us isn't really complete unless we go through River's Edge. As we were walking through people passing us told us it was a waste of time because none of the animals were out. We really didn't mind, so we just kept walking through. The hippos weren't out, but Kaitlynn liked looking at the fish.

I have never noticed these after Hippo Harbor. Aren't these awesome?

We did get to see the hyenas and one elephant. So, of course, I told Kaitlynn that the elephant was waiting to see her. She thought that was pretty cool.

Dave and I noticed this really neat tree by the elephants.

J Rob was a good jazz / blues band. We liked a lot of the music they played and it was really neat to be able to hear the music as we were walking around the Zoo.

Kaitlynn cracked us up. While we were walking, she said to me "hold me. Hold your daughter." She likes to remind me that she is my daughter. She got on this kick from watching "Happy Feet."