Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh My!

After our visit with grandma in December, we made our way to the zoo. In lieu of buying Christmas presents, we prefer to spend our resources to go on small family vacations and make memories together. Bright sunny San Diego is what comes to mind when thinking of the state of CA and not the cold northern part that we now call home.

It was a special joy to take my husband and children to a place I loved as a child. I lived in San Diego from seven to nine years old while my father was stationed here with the Navy. My clearest memories (or picture snapshots) of the zoo were the flamingos and the bronze gorilla. We found the flamingos as soon as we entered and then spent the rest of the day hunting for that shiny climbable gorilla.

The day was enjoyed all the more because the four of us entered for free! My friend was able to generously give us two free admission tickets, E was under three, and N got in through their active duty military promotion. We could actually afford lunch at the park and a few little treats.

Baby E wants to see the kangaroos.

It was a perfectly beautiful day!

Dear Mom, I am sorry that you do not get the joy of seeing your grand daughter's dressed in every color of the rainbow at the same time in patterns of hearts, stripes, and florals :) Why go bright when you can go white?  hehe. Or classic plaid?

I LOVE going on these skyrides. Now, it wasn't a horse drawn hay ride, but it was wonderful ;)

We were strollerless at the zoo! It is always a gamble to stroller or not to stroller in a new place. I wasn't sure how it would be, but in the end it was the best decision because of the stairs, hills, and crowds. Plus, all of us minus baby got a great workout.

Seeing this picture reminds me how delighted I am to be able to smile again after my bout with Bell's. Many times in my head I have thought up a post about my Bell's experience, and I hope to write it down for real one of these days and share with you all that I went through and felt.

Look at those eyelashes

This was as close as we got to the amazing Balboa Park. I had hoped we would be able to explore around, but the zoo is all we could handle for one day.

Downtown San Diego and a beautiful bridge

Sleepy polar bears

The zoo boasted a several waterfalls throughout the park.

A tiger cub lapping up some water! One of my favorite animals

Brother cub

Mama tiger watched her cubs like a hawk.

While we were exiting the large exhibit, the tiger cubs rounded the corner of the smaller viewing area and we got more close up views of their beauty.

Even baby enjoyed the sights.

A silly hair day

Smiles for lunch

 

 Being bjorned is tiring

I didn't realize till after I uploaded this picture that the hippo was sculpted from sand.

We found the bronze gorilla!

Three monkeys on the gorilla. See the real one in the background!

M and her little piece of the zoo

Big Sisters are the Best!

Let me show the ways my big sister shares her love.

She keeps me warm by the fire,

 kisses me all the time,

 runs circles around me,

 helps me apply chapstick,

 teaches me to clap my hands,

 does my hair all pretty,

 teaches me all about fashion,

 makes me smile,

reads books to me, 

 points out the pretty pictures,

 gives me spontaneous kisses,

 and most of all she ADORES me.

Meeting Baby Sister

As our first born was about to go through the momentous occasion of becoming a sister, I desired to transition her as smoothly as possible into this new role. Before baby E was born, I had decided that when M came to visit us at the hospital I wanted to have some time together with M before she met E. N phoned me when M, my mother, and he arrived to give me time to stash away little E.  I rolled E into the large bathroom and waited by the door with great anticipation until I heard the sweet sounds of my M coming around the hallway. I sprang through the door like a little child- How I had missed my dear baby! I took the time to change her, and then we read a story together.

Our story time together took a hilarious turn when the pediatrician came to give E an examination. I can barely stop laughing remembering the face she gave us when we told her where the baby was and asked that she conduct her exam in there as well. She acquiesced to our request after she deemed the lighting sufficient, and M and I kept on reading.

After months and months of telling M we were getting a baby, we finally delivered on our promise. This video is precious to me.

It was love at first sight! M squealed with delight over her sister.

Baby kisses delight my heart

Daddy's girls

Our family

We pray that M's delight in her sister will never fade and that throughout both their lifetimes they will share a deep friendship.