The National Zoo

We visited the National Zoo, which is a wonderful zoo!! I have so many great memories of this place --- from being a kid to an adult. We saw the baby panda who was on his third day outside!!!

got to love the exhibits!

What is more enticing than finding out how much goes IN an elephant and how much comes OUT ??!!!

Got to be happy when you find a dino!

It was a busy day and everyone had a great time! This zoo was designed by F. Olmstead --- a famous landscape architect who also designed Central Park in N.Y.

I love the way the exhibits are nestled into the landscape. The details on the buildings.

It's really a beautiful zoo.

Last pic --- I promise!! The "O" line --- where orangutans dangle above you!!

Virginia!!!

Nothing welcomes some weary travelers back to Virginia than a big breakfast!

the kids are on Spring Break and we are in Virginia! It's interesting to be back --- interesting to see my children taking in this part of the country --- seeing things that I had around me all my life that are so new to them. Long walks in the woods, throwing sticks and rocks into creeks, spotting animal tracks in the earth ---- it's something that I could do anytime I wanted, but my children don't have immediate access to that kind of land. Walking around my parents yard is a new experience for them!

Take a guess as to who fell in!

Spring --- has sprung

The Spring Parade came to the Kindergarten class!! And I held back a tear because this is the last hat I'll decorate ---- the last child I'll wave to as they walk around the school quad wearing their creation !! *sniff*

We gathered as a family to cheer on our marcher!

Well....maybe to YOU this doesn't seem "springy", but YOU try to come up with a dinosaur hat for the parade!!!

And so it was on to the Spring Sing --- darn those Kindergartners are sooo cute!!!!

After an incredible burst of song ---  we congratulated William and went on with the last day of school before Spring Break!!

There was not one shot were they all stood together and looked at the camera! Oh well!!!

ice skating

A few months ago we took the kids ice skating. We got a complete kick over how much they loved it!! So when a groupon came available for four lessons per kid, I thought it would be a great way to see if they wanted to get into it.

Brian had attempted to get William into a free hockey program, but he found out that William doesn't like helmets.....or padding.....or hockey......so we were pretty shaky as to how he would participate.

Much to our delight, they LOVED it!!