1st Trip to the ZOO

The closest big zoo is about 85 miles away from us, so Aunt Laura and I took C on his first zoo trip while we were at "home" in Syracuse!

"Don't let those birds poop on me, Lola!"

Can't really tell what they're looking at - something in the cat family.

I haven't been to the zoo since 3rd grade, but my dear sister has a great love for penguins, and they just happen to have a few at the Burnett Park Zoo - 29 to be precise! She knew just where to go...but none of the penguins were swimming!

Oh there they are - all facing in the direction of the door, waiting for their lunch!

Found some penguin chicks!

Roar!

Here's the real one. The dad, that is. The mom just had 3 cubs and they had a video feed so that you could see them - but they won't be outside til August or September.

I guess the dad was sad that he was alone - he kept bellowing while we were watching him. Either that, or he was hungry!

"MMMMMRAAAAAAAWR!"

At first we couldn't find the snow leopard as we looked over his area - but there he was, sleeping against the window! Laura said that she thinks she's NEVER seen him out, so of course we had to get a special picture!
We read signs that 3 of the elephants were in Canada (???) and saw that they were working on their living area - little did we know, they have 2 different elephant "families" so we did get to see some! The one to the right of Laura's head was dancing the whole time we were there - bending her knees and swaying back and forth, it was awesome.
We made our way back to the Humboldt penguins to see if they were a little more active - they were QUICK swimmers!

We didn't take pictures of everything, but little boy really loved all of the colorful fish (yes, Nemo and Dory) and especially the guinea hogs (giant black pigs) when we walked through the barn part. Like he tried to get out of my arms and into their stall. Anybody here have pigs that we can visit?? :)

We hope to go back to the zoo soon!

On another note...last night Jonathan and I are standing in the bathroom, brushing our teeth, when he says...

"It's funny, ever since I came back from the dentist, there have been these little green things in my mouth..."

L: "What? What are you talking about? What kind of green things?"

J: [Proceeds to do his version of an Irish Jig] "Ah me pot'o'gold!"

L: [Rolls eyes]

J: "Little Leprechauns!"

Um, yes. He had to get a cap last week and it's gold. Apparently it lasts longer than porcelain and since then, he has been rapping a lot more that usual. ;)

Auntie Lo Graduates!

The boys hanging out before the ceremony began.

The people sitting behind us brought their 2 dogs???

I thought 1 baby was enough!

Can you see Laura?

Processional!

Wild as usual...

"I'm hungry, Mom! I need a nap! Is it time to clap yet???"

Relaxing with Uncle Dan

Beautiful, I know. At least my mother is!

"Ooh!" Hoping that he won't need any of these!

She did it!

"I clapped for you Aunt Lola, and blew bubbles! See?!"

Laura and Damon

Not that you can tell, but Laura's diploma was the real deal

and Damon's was a fake out.

Sorry you didn't make it, Damon! JUUUUUUST KIDDING.

He's in a 5 year program so he can be a master engineer! :)

Sisters

Here's the reason our little boy has a CHANCE of being tall...

Siblings!

Almost all of us!

Laura's commencement speaker was Erik Weihenmayer. He climbed to the summit of Mount Everest - oh, and he's blind. He definitely had a lot of great life experience and words of wisdom to share with the graduates.

This baby was VERY good through a long morning!

We got to have lunch with a fun group of people after graduation.

Blake, Macey, and Laura.

Something is not quite right here....

"Congrations", ladies! Heehee

Conked. Out.

Woke up for a snack before the end of the party.

Whoops!

Yum! (No, he did not really eat it, but he does like carrots!)

We had some time back at the hotel, so Uncle Will and I took the water baby for a little swim!

Nice back float!

He's working on bumping Laura down the Top 10 list for 200 fly.

HA! Kidding, Aunt Lola!

It was finally time to help Laura pack up and move out - hard to leave the place where you have lived, eaten, slept, breathed, and spent countless hours studying, swimming, and playing for 4 years!

Mama duck and ducklings near Laura's residence hall.

Wood ducks we think?

We saw some a few days later at the zoo and they looked very similar!

Had to have a photo shoot with the BISON before we left!

The biggest supporters of this bison...

Hey! A future bison? I don't know about that... :)

Congrats, Laura! We are all VERY proud of you!

On the Way to Graduation

Little boy and I traveled to Bucknell University for my sister's graduation. I've never been to a graduation filled with so many fun traditions - the senior class could be described as a fairly close-knit group and very loyal to their school - all 900 of them!

Strolling on campus with Papa.

Quick family pic! Dan was on his way and we missed Jonathan big-time.

Go Bison!

We attended the Baccalaureate Service, which included a lot of great music. Towards the beginning of the interfaith service, they had 4 calls to prayer. The first was drumming - C was totally amazed. The second was a soloist singing a Kyrie, the third was two girls singing/speaking the Hebrew call to prayer, and the fourth was a Muslim call to prayer. Well...the guy who did the fourth one was very loud and clear and it is spoken but in a sing-song way. Connor decided to do a little imitation and the audience around us was rolling - we booked it out of there and hung out in the lobby for the rest!

On their first night as freshmen at Bucknell, the students encircle the edge of the quad and light candles together. When Laura was a freshman, it poured, so instead they snapped glowsticks together inside. However, the night before graduation was beautiful and we got to be part of the candle-lighting ceremony with her!

Laura, Damon, and Blake

Passing on the flame.

Awesome!

Singing their Alma Mater

Uh Damon, are you singing? ;)

Graduation photos coming soon!