The shortest zoo trip ever - with the Clossons!

Some days just get away from you, even when plans were made weeks, even months before.  Today was one of those days.  Taunia and I planned a zoo trip for our families a while ago, with the idea of going to see Sting-Ray Bay.  We both have zoo passes but had yet to visit the Bay.  The plans were made, in part, to ensure we'd actually see each other once the school year started because Taunia is starting her Ph.D this fall at the University of Toronto.  Miss Smartie-Boots is studying chemistry!

You'd think (considering how long ago we made these plans) that we would have looked into times, but we didn't.  We ended up at the zoo in the late afternoon and even though it's beautiful out the zoo hours have changed.  The zoo now closes at 4:30... we got there at 3:00 and Taunia and co. got there at 3:27 (three minutes before they stop letting you in!).  EEK!

Kate went on her obligatory carousel ride - an orange parrot no less!

After the arrival of the Clossons we proceeded to the Bay only to be greeted by a really really long line. We watched the line for a few minutes and weighed our options:  stand in line for an hour OR do stuff. 

They'd never been in the kids zone discovery area before, so we decided to do that! 

We did have fun, but it was just too short a visit!  Ah well, we can always go again.  I LOVE having a zoo pass!  

Oh and I almost forgot.  It was a short trip but it was educational.  According to Lydia dinosaurs...  And according to William you can't be invincible if you're ticklish.  Makes sense to me!

Other things I want to remember

Okay she's not a thing... but if she were she'd be a dang cute thing!

Things I want to remember.

I don't remember exactly when Kate started asking for a snowman, but at some point she did and now she asks for Ken or me to make her a snowman every time we get out the playdough.  It was a few months ago that I got oh so creative; I added blue eyes, a carrot nose and a blue hat.

We've come a long way in the realm of playdough; she doesn't eat it any more, and she lets me make the whole snowman before she squishes it.

Alice is 7 Months Old

We woke up to a very empty house today.  I know I was sad.  Kate on the other hand... well, let's just say that someday she'll like other people!  Empty house aside, today was about being quiet, just hanging out, and ALICE!

We love our sweet angel Alice so much.  She is a pure delight. (Except when she isn't, which thankfully isn't very often!)  It seems like overnight she has decided she really wants to cross-crawl.  She's still doing a combination army/inch worm crawl, but is showing serious signs of a change.  It took a while to convince her that she should just sit still and smile, but I got my shot!  I love my little Alice!

Bizzy Bees AGAIN!

Marcus loved Bizzy Bees, loved it!  And since the weather was just being cruelly cold, we decided that another trip was in order.  The kids had fun. 

After Bizzy Bees Jon and Michelle drove to Richmond Hill to go for dinner at the Keg to see Andrew and then went to Mom and Dad's to say goodbye.  I took my tired girls home to sleep. 

When Jon and family got back to our house I was feeling a little sad.  They're leaving tomorrow morning and they live FAR and who knows how long it will be before we see each other again.  I tried to get Kate to hug her cousins goodbye but she didn't want to.  Sweet little Marcus piped up "I'll give you a hug" and Seth said "me too".  I loved my hugs from my sweet nephews. 

You are a sweet family Bacon Family.  We hope you had as much fun visiting as we did.  We love you and hope you come back again soon!

Zoo Time - with cousins, and uncles and an aunt oh my!

The forecast called for rain, but forecasts don't always come true... at least we hoped that it wouldn't come true.  In preparation for the fore-casted rain I made sure to leave all three umbrellas in the van in the zoo parking lot.  I also made sure not to bring Alice's rain coat.  Jon and Michelle were awesome and volunteered to take turns wearing Alice, so Alice didn't even have potential access to a stroller to cover her; I planned well. 

We met Andrew soon after arriving and we all took turns pushing strollers, herding children, and enjoying the animals too!

 

 

It began to drizzle while we were in the African pavilion.  We went to lunch after that and it really came down while we were eating.  We went back out to tour the African Savannah and the drizzle continued.  Just after the last photo of the boys was taken it started to get heavier.  I took the baby and hurried to the van with Jon close on my heels.  Andrew and Michelle made a trip to the gift shop where Uncle Andrew bought a toy for all the kiddies.  Sadly, I didn't take pictures of their fun loot.  Kate just adores her owl.  We had a really fun time, and only got a little wet!

Chudleigh's Apple Farm and more

Weather, if you're Canadian you spend a great deal of time and energy consumed with the weather.  Whether it's conversation, changing plans, or just trying to stay warm, the weather can really make life complicated.  Since moving to St. George the Jon Bacons like cold weather even less.  The weather this week has been unseasonably cold, but September is like that, unpredictable.  We had originally talked about going to the Island, Toronto Island.  I was looking forward to going again, but it was just too cold.  Then the back and forth began with what to do.  Michelle said she wanted to go to a farm and being recently reminded of Chudleigh's while reading a friend's blog (thanks Heather) we decided to go apple picking.  We had such a fun day, it was fantastic.

When we arrived we went to the petting farm area first.

Next it was on to the hay.  As a child going to Chudleigh's, there was a barn with a hayloft.  Now there is this huge area with hay bales all around it and slides in the middle.  There's also a sand pit on one side.  The kids had tons of fun going up and down the slides, I think Jon had fun too!

Next up was a little picture taking and pony rides!

After the pony rides all that was left was the apples, picking them and eating them!  I think at first it was only Michelle that wanted to pick apples.  I can't believe that I didn't want to pick apples.  I'm so glad that we listened to Michelle.  Picking apples was the highlight of the day!  We rode the wagon out to the orchard and then picked Silkens, Galas and McIntosh.  I hadn't eaten an apple fresh off of a tree in far too long.  Fresh apples off the tree are amazing.  All the kids had fun running up and down the rows of trees and picking apples.

After enjoying apple blossoms and apple pie we left the farm to go see Mom and Dad.  I was able to have another hug with A. Wendy before Mom took her to the airport.  After the Jon Bacons arrived we went for a swim.  Kate and Ken didn't come swimming but Alice the water baby and I played in the pool with the cousins for quite a while.  After the swim we had Swiss Chalet (thanks Mom) and then after a wonderful, long day, we made it even longer!!  Jon and Ken went to WEGZ to see the BYU game and Michelle and I went home to put the kids to bed and watch a movie.  The fun never ends!