Critter Lane Petting Zoo

 A little over a month ago, Critter Lane Petting Zoo opened up. It's less than 5 miles from our house. It's full of animals. My children love animals. We bought a season pass.

There is a parakeet house where we get to feed parakeets.

 There are rabbits. They do nothing, but Levi loves them anyway.

 There is even a Tibeten Yak.

 They're not so sure about the goats.

 The goats are a bit aggressive. Clarey won't get within 25 feet of them.

 She does really like these creatures, whose name I cannot remember. I do remember they come from South America, can leap nearly 6 feet, are good burrowers and are very mild tempered. Still, their name escapes me.

 This is a very, very loud cockatoo.

 Mr. Alpaca. He yearns to be with the other alpacas.

Levi loves to feed the animals.

 Except for this Indian antelope. He wasn't about to offer up any food for it.

 This donkey is Levi's friend. He comes right up to him every time we visit. Levi now refers to him as "my donkey" and soon will be naming him.

While the swans are beautiful, what Clarey really loves is running on the bridge across their pond.

It's the perfect place for us to visit. I know we'll be going back soon.

Concrete

 One morning, the kids heard a loud noise outside. They had to go and investigate.

 Guess what! It was a concrete truck. They were there to add on to our driveway.

They were slightly mesmerized watching the concrete flow. Though we had the concrete poured to create a nice parking spot for Cyle's truck and to clean up the area to side of our house, it is actually a bike riding, big wheel racing, soccer ball kicking and basketball throwing playground.  And it is so nice!

Hallway Pictures

 I update the framed pictures in our home in August. It's the perfect time of year - everyone has just had a birthday. Instead of dragging my kids, kicking and screaming or sullen and crying, into the local sit and snap, I decided to take them myself. What's the worst that could happen?

After church we walk a couple blocks to the donut shop. On our way, we pass this cute old church that has a red door. We don't actually go to this church, but I like their door. I wanted to get a picture of the kids in front of it. We didn't have so much luck in front of the door.

 But we did on our front porch. It seems, donuts are a much better bribe once they are already bought and waiting on the kitchen table.

 After a bit, Clarey needed a treat. A sucker did the trick. She was all smiles after that.

 It was a good time. Well, maybe not "good," but better than our last portrait session. The best part is that we've captured their pure precious-ness.

Clayton's First Day of Kindergarten

 Clayton was so excited on his first day of school.

 Levi and Clarey were, too. They had to have backpacks, also.

 Clayton with his teacher, Ms. Witz. After we left school, Clarey cried and cried for him. She asked constantly, until lunch, for "Clayton come home!"

After his 4th day of school, I asked him, "What did you do at school today?" He replied, "Are you really going to ask me this EVERY day?" Yes. Yes, I will.