The Night Watches

My good friend Rakel and I took our kids to the petting zoo a few weeks ago, and were we ever surprised to see what seemed like every pre-school and elementary school in a 5-mile-radius also at the petting zoo! The parking lot was packed and there were children everywhere! When I went during the summer, the zoo was practically empty, so this was quite a shock! The time was fun but certainly different from the last time I went! The sky was a little cloudy and it seemed like rain was only moments away, and the groups of kids that were there all had food for the animals- so the animals were not too interested in the grass Tyler and Faith were trying to feed them!!! But we made it fun.... that was until the very end... which I will tell you about at the end of this post.... My sweet friend Rakel is such a beautiful woman from the inside out! I love how full of life and love she is! Even at 7 months pregnant she is lovely! Don't let faith's daddy see these two... the constant anima...

Well, better late than never... 3 weeks ago, on what seems like one of the last warm days of early fall, we took the boys to the National Zoo. I took Tyler a year or two ago and he was too small to really enjoy it, and unfortunately, all the animals were hiding... but not 3 weeks ago! We had a great time with the kids! The monkey's were all playing and out and about. The elephants put on quite a show playing in the water, with balls and just being out!!! The tiger even played with her ball! So there was much to see! Best seat in the house... The gorilla actually was pounding his chest as he moved from branch to branch!! And then all of a sudden he sat down right along the glass wall in front of Tyler... While we waited for lunch, Tyler and Jack just played around the trees. It was such a perfect day! I love how his fingers are crossed! And then, they were out... So much fun! Later that week we went to the petting zoo with Rakel and Faith! Pictures to come later!

I love the way this sweet little boy lights up whenever he sees someone he loves. I love the way he looks at me... I love how curious Tyler has become, and how every stick he finds he wants to play "Pooh Sticks" with... I love the way the boys love their daddy, and the way Jordan loves them... I love the way they throw themselves in front of him for tickle/tackle time... I love how sweet and smart and talkative Tyler is... I love (sometimes) how he makes his eyes bigger but avoids eye contact with the camera when I ask him to look at it... I love the stories he tries to tell... I love the way he tries to sing songs from Mary Poppins ... I love how he loves to get all snugly in bed with me and talk... I love how he is fascinated by everything outside... especially birds and squirrels... I love his sweet smile and big blue eyes... And I love how he tells me I am his best friend and loves me so much! God is kind. Life is good!

I love Larriland farm!!! We went apple picking today and got 15lbs in about 20 minutes! After a long sleepless night last night (both boys were up sick at opposite times), I wasn't sure how today was going to turn out. They both have runny noses and have been pretty miserable... but we packed it up and headed out to Larriland with the hopes for a good time. It was wonderful and I am so glad we went! The apples were huge and plentiful! I think I picked 1 maybe 2 apples... Tyler did such a great job and really liked doing it! I kept asking Tyler if he wanted me to help him carry the bag (it was pretty heavy) but he insisted he could do it... (when we got home he said he needed to help me, and serve me, so he carried some in again!! Daddy has been doing a great job training him!!) The trees were laden with beautiful apples... Even Jack got to snack on one... I tried to get a smile, and this is what I got! And then got a "happy face" Some of the apples were tough to get off t...