Another Tourist Day...

We went to the Biltmore Estates today... and would you believe that I messed up and my photos didn't come out? I'm a doofis and forgot to change the settings on my camera.

Here are the only shots I got... (I will double check that in a few)



The estates are beautiful and it was really cool. I need to go back and see the flowers again and we want to go back to the animal farm!

I went ahead and got us a season pass b/c it was cheaper than buying 2 tickets. I'm excited, I can get discount tickets for Grammy and DadDad now! It REALLY is cool. I'm stoked. It will keep us out of the house for Carl and there is SO much to do! Now between the YMCA, Nature Center, and Biltmore, we shouldn't have a problem finding something to do everyday!

The Interminable Ride Home...

Yeah... that is one LONG FREAKING DRIVE. But, we did do our best to make it enjoyable for the kids by stopping at Luray Caverns, VA.


It was really cool, and has changed a lot since the last time that Carl and I went. They now give you head phones that you listen to and can re-play. Rory absolutely loved the walk/tour and is still talking about it!

Here are a few photos. Can-man was on my back, so no pics of him.







They also have a Car and Carriage Museum that is really cool, so we took a stroll through there... Arden didn't have the best time in there though... (Let's call it a week without a nap... yeah, not to bright of mama).


We thought this was a funny/ironic photo given Rory's allergies:


And here is a car just like Dad-Dads! (I think!)

Cows?

That is all Arden wanted to see at the zoo.

Cows. Seriously.

Not elephants, not zebras, not cheetahs, not even the pandas... but regular old cows. You know, the kinds that you find in numerous fields across the country.

So, without further adieu, here is Arden's cow at the petting zoo section of the Zoo:


We did get to see some other really cool and exotic animals while we were there:





And the coolest thing was Amazonia, we got to walk through the area unprotected/open to the animals. There were monkeys, birds, snakes, bugs all walking around us, this little monkey was 3-4 feet from us.




Canyon LOVED the sting rays and fish at the Amazonia exibit; he sat there for a good 30 minutes watching and trying to touch them!

DC in the rain...

Today we decided to forgo the Zoo because of the rain, and to go to the National Aquarium.

Totally not worth it. Really. It ended up being $10 for me and Rory combined and took us about 20 minutes to get through. Not all the fish were labeled, and there was no information about the fish posted. It was a bust. The only thing the kids kept wanting to see were the Alligators (which were free to see at the zoo)...


So after that "adventure" we decided since we were at the Commerce Building, that we would head over to Pennsylvania Ave. to see the White House...



Then we walked around to the south side of the white house...



Then to the Washington Monument...


Then to the Natural History Museum...





Then we jumped back on the Metro and headed home (to the hotel) for a dip in the pool...




Man, I'm pooped! We are hitting the rest of the zoo tomorrow.

At the National Zoo!

We went to the National Zoo today, but need to go back! My camera died early on and we only made it half way! So more pics tomorrow!

Here is an 11 week old gorilla nursing:


A hippo:

Rory and a Panda:


The boys with a kimono dragon:


At the entrance:


And the Can-man waving!

Packing up...

and heading to Washington DC! Whoo hoo!

4 days of me and the boys at the zoo, museums, and riding the metro! I can't wait!

We may or maynot have interzwebz there, so call...

And expect a BUTT LOAD of pics.

Changing the blog...

Let me know what you think, I'm switching colors around.

Canyon is Growing...

I can't believe we are coming up on a year! He is a little over 10 months old now, and is so cute and smart!

Here are a few fun shots of him in the sandbox:

Funny Kid...

Canyon is a funny little kid, really, or maybe it is just that he amuses me and Carl?

Well here is today's amusement:

I have started giving Canyon little sips of water from a sippy cup. Now, I have to hold the cup up and then he can drink/suck from the cup and get a little bit of water.

Today, Carl decided to give him a little water, and Canyon didn't know what to do! He kept biting the cup, scrunching his eyebrows and looking at Carl and laughing/smiling, almost like he was saying "You can't feed me!". It took a little bit, but he did finally realize that daddy CAN feed him a little, LOL!

Maybe it isn't *that* amusing to all of you, but it really got a laugh from me and Carl!

We have TEETH!

Well, we have one, might have two by tomorrow! Canyon is getting to be a big boy!

I made him a hat, but it is too small, so we will have to make something else.


I am thinking about making a shrug for our friend Jess who is having a baby soon...

Happy first birthday Micah!

We went to his first birthday party on Wednesday. He is such a cute guy! Here are a few shots of him... and we found out, he is not a fan of chocolate.