Let's "Zoo" it again!

It had been ages since the kids and I had been to the zoo.  I think Tess was just a bitty baby.  So I thought it was time to show her some animals!

 Shark petting pool

 Seahorses

 Seal lions

 Penguins

 Dolphin Show

 Flights of Fancy Bird Exhibit

 Flamingos

 Break for lunch

These are called "Handimals"....why couldn't I have thought of this idea?

 How cute!

 Giraffes

 Rhinos

 Butterfly Garden

A fun mother-daughters day for sure!

Fun in the sun

We have a special guest staying at our house this week - my nephew Connor.

We made a trip out to Frankfort yesterday to see Aunt Val and baby Ava.  While we were there, we visited a petting zoo,

played at the park,

and hung out at the pool.

And today we met some friends at the park and went out to lunch.  

What a nightmare of a week THAT was!

I know, right?  By the looks of these pictures taken by my bff, Amanda, while they were under her watch you would think, "What nightmare?  Looks like a pretty good time to me!"  Well, thanks to my mom, my mother-in-law, and Amanda, these three girlies still had some fun this past beautiful summer week.  Unfortunately, mommy had about the worst week of her life.  All three of the girls have had Strep throat in these first few weeks of summer.  Well, apparently I hadn't dodged it like I thought I would.  I spent 5 DAYS in bed this week with about the worse case of Strep ever known to man!  fevers over 102.  chills.  sweats.  aching pain all over.  totally infected tonsils.  glands so swollen you could see them bulging out of my neck.  didn't eat for days.  had to be taken to the doctors twice in a wheelchair.  

After a round of steroids and 2 different antibiotics (all of which I am still now taking), yesterday I finally started feeling better.  

I'm ready to get back to fun-in-the-sun with my cutie pies!  Thanks to everyone that helped us get through this week!  I don't know what my family would do without you.  xoxoxoxo
(and Amanda, thanks for taking these AWESOME pictures!!!!)