MORE ZOO PHOTO'S

The Zoo has some beautiful landscaping. These flowers are planted near the entrance to the zoo. These beautiful girls are not part of the landscaping. Hannah & Paige. They belong to my family.
This baby sea lion was one of a few babies born at the zoo this year. It was really cute. It is amazing to see the size difference between it and its mother.

This is a live bear trap on display at the zoo. You never know what you will catch. Fortunately we were able to take this live catch home.

I think the rain forest was one of my favorite displays to visit at the zoo. This picture shows how there is a mist falling which keeps the temperature cool at all times.

The silver back gorillas were by far my favorite exhibit at the zoo. I could sit a watch them all day. They are like little kids at play. Very sneaky and mischievous at all times. For example while we were watching them play one broke away from the rest and ran behind them and smacked one of them on the tush and took off. You could see him standing and looking around as if to say "What was that". The sound was so loud it could be heard all around us. Typical kid.

SUMMER RECAP PART 2

On July 11, 2009 we took a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo with Cole's preschool. This was their end of the year field trip. I hadn't been there for a long time. I knew there would be alot of walking but didn't know about all the hills you had to walk up and down. Despite the heat and all the walking we had a good time.This lion is a gorgeous animal. While we were watching him he started to make some sort of sound. It was a cross between a cough and a roar. Hannah asked me what that was - I said to her "He is coughing up a fur ball". Can you imagine the size of that fur ball!!!!!!!. I guess if you are the king of the jungle you can cough up any size you want. The sound was so loud we heard him on the other side of the park.
NICE KITTIES - How would you like to have these cats go in your litter box? Not me. These Bengal tigers are so beautiful. The rocks must have been the only cool place they could find.

The snow leopard is another beautiful animal at the zoo. I would like to go back someday when it is cooler so that I could see them moving around.

The elephants were one of my favorate exhibits. I couldn't believe how close this elephant was to the fence we were standing next too. It was soo neat to see him playing in the water. I wouldn't want to be the one to scrub his back!!!!!!!!!!!

This polar bear exhibit was about the halfway point in our tour of the zoo. It was mostly downhill from here.

SUMMER RECAP IN PHOTOS

I can't believe that summer is over and fall is just around the corner. I will try to sum up the last 3 months with a short blog - WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It started out with a weeks visit from Tammy, Steve & Caleb the 2nd week of June. They came for a memorial service for my mom. She passed away December 28, 2008 in Florida. My sister brought her ashes to Sharon, PA and had a memorial service for her family and friends. It was great to see relatives I hadn't seen in years. I also took my weeks vacation while they were here. We had a great visit with them. Below are some pictures of the fun time they had. Caleb waiting to get into the pool - not sure what is on his mind - it looks like he has nothing but mischief on his mind "OK Cole - you are going down!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Cole - Mr. Hollywood himself - doing his thing. He loves to swim and does it quit well for his age. He is only 4 years old and is not afraid of the water.

Paige, Uncle Stevo and Caleb enjoying the pool.

Caleb enjoying his lunch in the outdoors. He loves his food as you can see from his face. He is such a happy little guy. I really missed him when they went home.

Aunt Tammy and her special little nieces - Paige and Hannah. Hannah and Tammy are really close. They are like Siamese twins joined at the hip. We all really missed Tammy, Steve and Caleb when they left after a week.

Where did Summer go!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe that summer is over and the kids are back in school. Where did the summer go? I will try to give you a quick recap of the summer. Before you know it the snow will be flying and Christmas will be here and gone. We did have a fairly busy 3 months. The first week in June Tammy, Steve & Caleb were visiting for a weeks vacation. We all went to Sharon, PA for a memorial service for my mom - she passed away December 28, 2008 in Florida. My sister brought her ashes up to PA for burial. We had a very nice visit with family I haven't seen in alot of years. We stayed over night in a motel and the next day we went to visit Uncle John & Aunt Susie on their farm in Edinburgh, PA. The kids had a great time seeing the animals. Before Tammy's family went back to Texas we went to a Japanese Steakhouse in Pittsburgh. It was wonderful. After dinner we stopped at Fox Chapel and did some shopping, after that we stopped at the Pittsburgh Mills and did more shopping. We had a great time. Very long day but worth it.

On July 4th 2009 - Ray & I took a road trip to Smicksburg. I hadn't been there for a long time. It was great to see the Amish country. They have a cheese factory with the best cheese you will ever eat.

July 11, 2009 we went on a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo for Cole's field trip from pre-school. It had been a long time since I had been to the Zoo - I knew there would be alot of walking but didn't realize everywhere you walked there were hills. Despite the heat and the walking we had another great day.

The last weekend in July our church had their annual retreat. The kids spend 3 nights sleeping in tents - have bible lessons - swimming - boating - tubeing - kayaking - singing - crafts - chapel - campfires - eating - snacks. I think the highlights of the whole weekend was the dunking booth and a giant slip n slide. The kids look forward to the retreat all summer.

August 7, 2009 Gracie - Chris & Heather's miniature schnauser had 5 adorable pups - 3 boys & 2 girls. Sampson, Zeke, Alex, Izzee & Bella. They are now 4 weeks old. The father is the neighborhood romeo beagle. I am getting Bella when she is old enough. In case you don't know Bella means beautiful in Italian. Paige named her before I even saw her. She did a good job.

August 12, 2009 Tammy, Steve & Caleb were home for a short visit. Ray's dad passed away June 4, 2009 in Texas. We had a memorial service for him here August 15, 2009. It was a short visit but nice to see them.

The girls went back to school August 31, 2009. Paige is in 5th grade & Hannah is in 2nd grade. They are growing up so fast. Cole's first day was September 2, 2009. This will be his last year for pre-school. Next year he will be in Kindergarten.

I will add pictures and more text soon it is pretty late and way past my bedtime. Who knows what I might post as tired as I am.