August...

Where did August go???  I can't believe it.  I'm trying to figure out how, now that I'm working from home I actually blog LESS?  My theory is that, before I was so exhausted from the rush, rush, rush, of pick up Madalynn, get home, sort the mail, figure out dinner, cook dinner, spend some time with Madalynn, bath Madalynn, get her ready for bed, get her milk, read her stories, and put her to bed.  After that I was too tired to do anything else (ie clean, laundry, etc), so it was just easier to sit down in front of the computer.    I think that's what I did before.  That's my theory anyway.

Here are just some random pictures from going out for ice cream with Ga-Ga & Grandpa

Also, Madalynn has started eating at the table in her booster instead of her high chair (I'm finding this much messier).  As you can see from the photos she's unimpressed.

Sunday will mark the 2 year anniversary of meeting my daughter face to face.  I hope to do a post about that on Sunday (I'm setting myself a goal to reach).  Anyway, I share that to say I thought we should have a 'Mommy & Me' day so Madalynn & I headed to the zoo.  I must admit I've never understood the appeal of the zoo.  I don't remember going to any growing up (sorry Mom & Dad, you may have taken me I just don't remember), I chaperoned one when I was a nanny, and all I remember was this zoo had a gorilla.  I honestly don't remember seeing any other animals there.  I have been to Disney's Animal Kingdom but it would hardly be fair to hold local, regional zoos to that standard.  I digress. 

This zoo has been advertised a lot lately on TV, and I figured it was a little over an hour from here, so we'd give it a shot.  Madalynn loves animals so I thought she'd enjoy it.  We had a good time.  I won't race back there, but it was something new to do.

As an aside, I'm not a huge radical animal lover, and animal rights activist, however, I do think it's so sad to see these beautiful animals cooped up.  Even in facilities that have nice habitat's for the animals, etc.  They should be out in the wild. (Again, Disney's Animal Kingdom is my exception to those feelings... that place is amazing).

OK... on to pictures. 

Madalynn... mapping out our route, and what highlights we want to hit!!

Looking at the enormous tortise....

The elephant show... this elephant is 35 years old, the gentleman at the bottom of this picture (and his wife), have been caring for her since she was 9 months old.  The gentleman on top of her (who reminded me of that guy from LOST the scientist guy from Oxford) is their son.  The MC of the show was the top gentleman's wife.  The four of them... Mom Dad, Son & Son's wife all take care of the elephant... things that make you go hmmmmm.

That white streak in this picture of Madalynn is the bengal tiger pacing about 4 feet away from her... it was just pacing back & forth at the edge of the fence (doesn't that pacing mean something??).

Unimpressed by the tiger....

 

I'm not sure what she's telling the Chimp in this picture....  I thought she was going to give him a kiss.

This baby giraffe was my favorite of the day... she was so sweet. 

Madalynn was more interested in her juice box.

This is the extent of the reptiles that I saw (that was by design... I'm not a fan of reptiles).

Then after a few hours of being outdoors, we headed to the outlet mall!!!  The Carter's sales are unbelievable!!!  Madalynn scored, including some adorable clogs I can't EVEN handle, and a winter vest... too cute, bring on the fall!!!!