Discovery Gateway

It was time to hit up the Children's Discovery Museum at the Gateway.  We love this place, so much to do and it is all hands on!  We spend several hours at this museum every time we go.  On the main floor they have this huge ball and tube exhibit.

The next area is like a little village.  There is lots of dress up and play stuff for the kids.  Logan dressed up as a mail carrier like Grandma Gray!

Zach decided to try out being a construction worker...he is hard at work moving some big bricks.

Next up - firefighter.  Zach headed to put out a fire!

Dustin decided to help 'fix' the water display....

Logan checking to make sure Dad's 'fix' worked....

Time for some grocery shopping!

Zach loves to climb rock walls....this one was the perfect height - no harness needed!

Horse riding!  Logan does love the horses...

On the second floor the kids had fun playing with these huge building blocks...look at them showing their muscles...

The kids built a fort and hid inside :)

There is also a life flight chopper on the second floor.  The kids love to pretend to fly it...there may have been some fake gun shooting going on too.

They has a special activity going on - building a money next...literally...

That pretty much sums up our day at the museum!  I am sure we will be back shortly!

Bikes, Raccoons and tulips

The kids were itching to get out and go for a bike ride this morning...so we did!

Little did we know that when the snow melted around the golf course we would find this poor guy....I am not sure if he just burrowed himself in the snow and made a little cave that eventually collapsed...but he is pressed into that grass pretty good.  The kids actually got a kick out of seeing the dead raccoon.

Later in the afternoon we decided to hit up the Thanksgiving Point Gardens since the Tulip Festival was in full bloom.  It was the perfect day to let the kids run around and go crazy.  It wasn't crowded because the skies were fully of grey clouds and there was a little bit of a breeze.

The kids rolled down the big hill....

 Momma and boys shot....

The boys played hide behind the trees....

We fed the fish in the Koi pond...

Of course we got up close and personal with some of the tulips...

Attempt at a family shot....the sun was RIGHT in our eyes....

 More tulip sniffing...

Zach and Logan just being...well...Zach and Logan!

Documented brother love...

Dustin is a sucker for food vendors, therefore the kids are suckers for food vendors as well!

This was also the first time we checked out the Children's Gardens....this is the area they normally have water to play in for the kids during the summer...

Of course they found the giant sandbox...and had it all to themselves!

Safety First

Dustin had some of his friends from work over tonight for PC gaming....they all have a good sense of humor.  Remember Dustin's scratched eyeball?  They each showed up with their own safety goggles.  No one is leaving our house tonight with injuries to their eyes!

Guys only club

Apparently our house now has a guys only club - initiated from Zach.  This what the marking is to get into the club....

Meant to be a pirate?

Dustin was getting the kids ready this morning.   Zach was putting his arm through the sleeve of his shirt and his finger went up into Dustin's eye socket....and scratched the side of his eye ball.  Yes, this is no joke.

After a short visit with the PA at work - they concluded there are actually THREE scratches.  Lots of antibiotic eye drops for the next week, and some steroid drops in a few more days.  Have you ever seen an eye ball swell?  They do.  It looks and is so painful.  We were lucky that Dustin will completely heal from this and his vision will not be harmed.  Looks like Zach is getting himself dressed from here on out!

Zoo time!

With Grandpa Twogood in town this weekend we decided to hit up Hogle Zoo.  The weather was just on the brink of being nice so we figured the crowds wouldn't be too bad.  We had lunch at the new 'beastro'.....Much better than the stand food!

Logan found a peacock!

Checking out the elephants...

Nice and close to the RINO!!

One RINO the kids can climb on...

Logan was excited to show Grandpa the new "Rocky Shores" area at the zoo.

Otters!

Logan LOVES coming to the zoo....

Tigers they can climb...

A Tiger they can NOT climb....

Our two monkeys....

At the end of the day, cotton candy makes everything better!

It was a great day for the zoo.  All the animals were out and very active.  We can't wait for the "African Savanna" part of the zoo to be finished (Summer 2014).