Fort Wayne Zoo

When we visit Carl's Grandma in the spring/summer, we try to hit the fabulous Fort Wayne Zoo. Weather reports called for rain that day, but luckily it was sunny and warm. Lily loved splashing in the fountains, as always.

Posing with the frog in one of the fountains

This sea lion stayed close for a long time


Another close encounter

Honing those microscope skills

Taking a ride on the tapir


Always a favorite

Great Grandma's House

Making cookies with Aunt Ingrid

Fishing with Grandpa

Got it, Grandpa!

Catch of the day

Exploring the garden with Grandpa

Toad-ily cool

Taking a walk around the pond with Aunt Ingrid & Grandpa

Lily with daddy, Great Grandma, Grandpa & Aunt Ingrid

Lakehouse pictures

Lily had her ideal day on Sunday, playing with Mary & Katie in the morning and then seeing Lucy & Lainey in the evening. After we left Carbondale, we drove straight to Carl's Uncle Randy & Aunt Pam's lakehouse. Lily had a great time running around the house and backyard with Lucy & Lainey. We were glad we got the chance to see them before they headed home the following morning.

The girls with Livy (the 4 L's!)

Enjoying some smores. Lainey preferred to skip the graham and go straight in for the ooey-gooey stuff!

Meeting at the sprinkler

Good-bye hugs for Lucy

Enjoying a ride around the lake the following day

Taking in the view with her very hip Great Grandma Deetz

Wedding

The first stop on our trip was to Carbondale, IL for my cousin Jenny's wedding. We had a great time seeing our extended family, and Lily had a ball swimming with her cousins Mary & Katie at the hotel pool.

View from the wedding site

The happy couple

The "junior flowergirl" - so cute!

Lily has taken an increased interest in weddings and asks lots of questions about when and where Carl & I got married, why she wasn't there, etc. She decides on occasion that she is going to marry either me or Carl. :)

Mom with her sisters

Me with my sisters

Daddy-daughter dance at the reception

Magic House

The day before we left for our family vacation, we met friends (and friends of friends) at the children's museum. The Magic House has definitely become like the St. Louis Zoo in that you just can't possibly do everything they have to offer in one day. Although we have been here many times now, we always seem to find areas that we have not explored before.

Making sweet music (and bubbles)

Another fun exhibit in the musical instrument area. Each seat features sounds from different sections of the band.

One major area that we had neglected to visit before was the outdoor area (probably because it was colder when we have visited previously). But we won't miss it again! Lily had the best time. Here, she is running through the maze of healthy choices with her new friends. The maze has signs throughout that give children different choices. If they choose the healthy option, they proceed through the maze; unhealthy choices lead to dead ends. Since this would require reading, it is geared toward an older age group, but Lily loved running through it anyway!

Running through the moat surrounding the camping area

Taking a little duckie for a ride in the boat

Enjoying the cool water in the fountain on a hot day

Taking her main man, Jack, for a ride in the kiddie-sized boat

Some authors like to air their dirty laundry; some readers like to sit in their dirty laundry.

We returned today from our 8-day vacation odyssey. Three-hundred pictures were taken during this time, so it will take a while to get this trip properly documented on the blog. Needless to say, we had an absolutely fantastic time. We enjoyed time with many family members from both sides of the family as well as some time with just the three of us. I have some pictures to post from before the trip, and then the onslaught of vacation pictures will proceed.

Angela's graduation

On Friday, my little sister became Dr. Angela after receiving her doctorate in physical therapy. We are so, so proud of her!! Congratulations, Angela!!!

Here she comes!

Getting hooded

A few party pics...

Abby and Courtney

Aunt Alice and Angela

One of Aunt Alice's famous pies

Dad with some of his siblings: Dee, Alice and Ray

Zach with Grandpa

The Pellerito party girls at it again

In full bloom

Just a few pictures from our garden...