Alaska Zoo run for kids and family in town

Do you ever have one of those days that somehow ends up being packed to the very brim and you're not really sure how it happened? That was our Saturday. I registered Riggs for the Zoo Run a few weeks in advance, so I knew that was going to be a big part of our planning for the day. But then spur of the moment a bunch of other things came up and we didn't stop going from 6am until 10pm. Whew!

Luckily we were busy doing fun things and seeing some of our favorite people. The weather was just beautiful, it was a great day for a kids run. Riggs was so excited to participate in the race with his cousins, and we all had fun despite how crowded and crazy it was. The narrow trails of the zoo weren't the best for hoards and hoards of parents eager to see their kids run and to take the perfect picture.

We decided to leave shortly after the race finished because it wasn't really feasible to go see the rest of the animals with many of the trails blocked off for the races and the kids all hyped up from running. We ate our lunch in the bed of the truck in the sunny parking lot before heading over to the Classic Car Show at the Tesoro Sports Center in South Anchorage. Steve and Riggs were really into the cars and Raina and I tagged along politely.

Next we met Steve's brother and his family to help them divide and conquer to complete there big shopping trip (they stock up when they're in town from Homer) and then we all headed to Girdwood for some swimming and family time.

Cousins are so much fun, especially when they're so cute!

 two babies in a floaty

Right around bed time we got out of the pool, got dressed, said our goodbyes, and headed back home. We were both pretty tired once we got home, got both sleeping kids tucked into their beds, and the truck unloaded. It felt like two or three days all rolled into one, but it sure was fun!

the Alaska Zoo

Monday I had a doctor's appointment (for my neck) and so we went in a little early to go to the zoo! It was a monumental zoo trip because it was the first time Riggs could actually really see the animals and get excited about them. So much fun! He was a little bit shy in the petting zoo, which surprised me - but he warmed up eventually and stood by these goats for a while:

It was also really cute to see him imitating his older cousins! I think he's going to have so much fun playing with them when he's a little bit bigger. They had the cutest little baby moose - seriously could there be a cuter baby animal?! It's little legs were so long and gangly!

Riggs had fun walking around with his aunt Kelsey :)

We got to see the porcupine eating from one of the zoo keepers, I love the porcupines! I have a video somewhere that I need to dig out and post on here of one of the porcupines climbing on the fence like you used to have to do in Super Mario in the castles over the lava. So funny! They had also set up these really awesome new educational centers for kids to check out the skulls and fur and tracks of the various animals at the zoo.

The zoo is definitely one of my favorite places to take Riggs, and I highly recommend it for kids of all ages! It's really fun to meet a friend (or sister!) there too because you can get some good conversation in while the kids get some energy out. So it's really a double win ;)

If you haven't visited our little zoo and you live in the Anchorage area, you really need to plan a visit! We have a membership because I love to support such a great place. I have gone since I was a tiny little baby and have so many good memories from trips to the zoo.

Here I am enjoying the pretty flowers that they always have spread throughout the zoo, about 26 years ago...

Thursday Shmursday

We went on a walk in the frosty, early morning sunshine today.  It was such a lovely way to spend the first hour of the day, all together.  

Riggs loves the walks as much as we do and is always ready with a smile.  I guess being so happy wore him out because when we got him out of the stroller and set him on the couch, he fell fast asleep.  I love how he sleeps all stretched out now, his arms up high.

We also made a trip to Yogurt Lounge on our way to the zoo, which is always a treat.  We love it there, the owner is so nice and all of the employees are so good with the younger customers.  As usual Corbin had to hold Riggs for a few minutes - such a good big cousin.

The zoo was fun and the animals were all being pretty tricksy and playful.  The seals were swimming around each other in circles and then touching their noses to each other - I've never seen them do that, it was so fascinating!

One of the chickens was taking a break from the petting zoo to come and see Corbin and Noah.  They didn't prove to be very interesting apparently as he just continued to walk on by.

Kelsey carried Riggs in the Ergo for me so that I could focus on walking with really good posture (I think she would have loved to carry him regardless) and he promptly went to sleep.  I find it pretty funny that he choose to sleep with his hands up on Kelsey's chest the entire time - such a silly boy, even in his sleep.

All in all it was a very enjoyable Thursday.  How was yours?

best served cold

think there's enough snow?

Today Riggs and I went to the Alaska Zoo with my sister and her boys.  We had such a great time!  It snowed again (!) but at least it looked extra white and sparkly around town.  I love love LOVE going to the zoo in the winter.  The animals are easier to see and seem to be out more too, and there are so many less people.  It is so peaceful and quiet and such a relaxing experience.  It was Riggs' first trip to the zoo too, so it was special in that way.

making snow angels

my sister, Kelsey

me and Riggs

musk ox :)

little sleepy head

Noah

snow leopard playing in the snow

New Years Day

Today has been pretty fun, so I'm feeling even more optimistic about 2011 :) I took down Christmas decorations in the morning, which felt good. I'm the kind of person who puts them up super early and get all my enjoyment out of the build up to Christmas Day, and am therefore ready to take them down as soon as the big day has passed. But back to today...

The rest of the morning and afternoon were spent working on our house plans together, which has been really fun yet also an exercise in patience. We both have many ideas that we want to incorporate into the plans, but not all can fit in our little place. We are trying to be painstakingly thoughtful in setting up the place, since storage and layout are even more important in small places, so the going is slow, but it is exciting to think we may be able to begin this building project winter 2011. I just cannot wait to be in our own home!

We went to the Alaska Zoo this afternoon with Kelsey, John and the kids, which was a blast, as usual (despite Noah's tears, which are usually crocodile tears :) Here is a nice collage from our time there:

Hope your new year is going well thus far, and if you have any good floor plan ideas for a teeny place, be sure to let me know! Here is one of my favorite ideas thus far that I found on Google:

The only difference is I want the bottom area for trays to be a slide out...what do you think?

ps one of my "resolutions" is to blog more, so hopefully I will be posting at least twice a week from now on...

fun at the zoo...

Garden so far...

some yummy snap peas in my tiny garden

Strawberries!

Lone Pansy I found in an old planter in the yard :)

Raspberry Patch!

Zoo time!

Today Kelsey and I took the boys to the zoo. It was raining but we didn't care. All the animals were having fun in the rain...

Except this musk ox. She looked pretty grumpy and sad. Hope the sun comes out to cheer her up! The drizly weather just made me even more excited for the State Fair...It's coming up at the end of the month and I cannot wait to go. Pretty sure I'll be going at least twice this year!

Here's the swans looking majestic as usual...

Corbin and Auntie :)

Safety First! haha

Geranium are beautiful, especially in the rain.

Long legged lounging wolf.

Baby Brown Bear. So cute at this age!

"Smell the flowers Noah!" I don't think he's so sure about that...

This lynx was stalking me as I ran around with Noah. So cute. She crouched down behind the grass, wagging her short little tail just like my Annabelle does.