First Weekend in August

The butterfly in the backyard... Ellie and I watched it flutter around for about 15 minutes.
Schatzie and her tooth
Getting ready to go splashing in the pool.
Belly in the pool!
Recycling her pool water. First we play in it then...
we water the garden!
Saturday...
We went to the National Zoo in Washington DC. It is something I have wanted to do with Ellie and I had gotten an email that there was a HPU alumni lunch at the zoo on August 1st so, why not? I know it is August and normally I would have waited to make the trip in September or October but this just ended up working out perfectly!!
She HAD to sit on every statue that we saw... and believe me, there were plenty there!
First things first... We had to see the sea lions, there were 2 four year old females, Summer and Cali. They were lots of fun to watch! One was sunning herself on the rocks and the other was swimming all around!
Ellie and I at the zoo!
Ellie checking out the meerkats.
Ellie and the giant elephant shrew.
The gorillas were just hanging out and napping. I can't blame them it was pretty hot that day! I didn't get a picture of the orangutans but they weren't too active either!


All smiles in the monkey house.
A college friend, Aimee, and I in the monkey house. Ellie is quite the budding photographer! Aimee met us at the zoo for the whole day instead of just meeting us for lunch, it was great to see her!!
HPU Alumni Lunch
Ellie sporting her new HPU hat.
Aimee, MB, and Vicki... I can't believe its been 10+ years!!
Ellie waiting patiently for more animals!
After lunch we were off to see the giant pandas!!
They were so big and just neat to watch! There are very few things in this world I would like to stand there for 10 minutes and watch them just eat but pandas are one of them!
Learning about the giant pandas.
The sloth bear, I think he definitely needed a mani/ pedi!
Ellie on another statue!
Elephants do live in houses sometimes and it was a very stinky house! Ellie and I agreed that we don't want to ever have to share a house with an elephant!
The pygmy hippo.
Who is taller, Ellie or the gibbons?
The reptile house... Upon Ellie's request we stopped inside. She wasn't a fan of the snakes or alligators but was very interested in the lizards and turtles... more on that one later!
One of the alligators. I have to say, he was a bit intimidating!!
And here is where the day took a complete turn. For starters, if you are asking yourself if those giant tortoise are...? Yes, they are! And if you are looking at that picture and wondering what is going on... they are mating. Now I will tell you that giant tortoise don't move very fast or even at all sometimes so when we walked up to the glass and the largest of the three was moving with purpose everyone took notice! Then he mounted the female and I just chuckled to myself. This is how the conversation with Ellie and I went...
"Mommy, what's he doing?"
"He is giving her a great big hug." (this got a couple laughs from nearby parents)
"No Mommy, she is giving him a ride."
"You know what, honey, you're right. You are so very right!"
And you know what... That is one of the best laughs I have had in a very, very long time. It was priceless!
Down at the farm... one of the fuzzy alpacas.
A tarantula in the Amizonia exhibit.
Checking out different wood and leaves found in the rain forest.
There were Dusky Titi Monkeys freely climbing in the rain forest and there were signs saying to just stay 5 feet away from them. I think we were about 7 feet from them, it was awesome!!
I am trying to teach her an appreciation for science early! Last night Meme asked her what she want to be when she grew up and she replied, "A doctor."
Three pelicans hanging out at the sea lion exhibit.
DONE!
This is what happens after 7 hours at the zoo on a hot and humid August day, but I will tell you this... it sure was a fun, fun day!
Sunday...
Sunday was a rainy day (until the afternoon) so we took it easy and played the day by ear.
Luckily we brought our umbrellas into church! Ellie was "Singing in the rain..."
"Just singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling..."
Off to Port Discovery...
Lets face it, its a rainy day so why not!!!
Climbing like a monkey on the "big playground".
Over the rope bridge.
Cleaning windows in the water room... No if I could only get her to do this at home?!?!
Making food in the diner.
Craft time in the Recycled Art Studio. Here she is making pipe cleaner Worry Dolls.
Getting her materials and supplies.
Ellie's art work... a sparkly suncatcher and our Worry Dolls.
Banging on the drums in the drum room.
At one point she was banging two drums at once and shaking her tush while she did it... Only Ellie!
Learning about the artist Marc Chagall.
Oh mummy, we sure did have a good time!