Giggle

New at the Minnesota Zoo

Zach is a tad young for this yet, but it will be lots of fun to check out. :)

Woodland Adventure Opens July 11, 2009










Woodland Adventure is an interactive, nature-based play area designed for children ages 3 - 12. Children can reconnect with the great outdoors by discovering Minnesota themed animal sculptures and natural objects:

• Various sized turtle shells to climb in, around, and over the top
• A giant eagle's nest, complete with over-sized eagle eggs
• A ranger tower with a six-foot slide
• A bear den to crawl through and explore
• Fish spring riders as well as a fishing boat on springs that kids can climb in, rock, and bounce
• A replica of Minnesota's Split Rock Lighthouse featuring stairs, several slides, and a nine-foot high wooden walkway leading to a rope bridge and tree house
• A large tree house that is ADA accessible but also features rope bridges and a giant oriole nest swing--big enough for two!
• A giant mosquito sculpture to climb and explore
• A large rope spider web

The $1 million project is entirely funded by private and corporate sources, including a $500,000 grant from General Mills.

Naughty Parents?

So this week I officially start my job share schedule again. Yeah!  Although, Zach is continuing to GO to playschool while mommy and daddy go out and play!  Yesterday Dave and went out for lunch, then we had pedicures, then we did some shopping. 

Today we're going to go see the movie "The Proposal" then we may hit the casino for a little bit before picking Zach up. 

Yes, we could clean the house or clean out the garage, but we still have tomorrow! *giggle*

Well I need to hop in the jacuzzi and take a bath before the morning escapes from me.

Enjoy your Friday!

A once in a century opportunity to elevate a silly pun

Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9.

Happy 07/08/09!!!

Inspired!

Today is one of those COOL work days. Why?? We had an hour with Pete Docter, writer and director of UP!, Pixar’s latest animated feature. 

Pete shared the creative process and development UP! It was so inspiring and interesting to hear their process. How they develop their characters, the process of writing the story, how they use color as an expression of feelings and of course all the little tid bits you would never know. His process for writing the actual story was very inspirational for me and gave me insight how to pull some of the stories I have floating around inside my head out. He ended with the out takes, computer mishaps and bloopers which were very entertaining.

In short, UP is about Adventure being 'out there' versus adventure being in relationships.

The movie synopsis: a young Carl Fredrickson meets a young adventure spirited girl named Ellie.  They both dream of going to a Lost Land in South America.  70 years later, Ellie has died.  Carl remember the promise he made to her.  Then when he inadvertently hits a construction worker, he is forced to go to a retirement home.  But before they can take him, he and his house fly away.  However, he has a stowaway aboard.  An 8-year old boy named Russel, whose trying to get an assisting the elderly badge.  Together they embark in an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villian and a rare bird named Kevin.

Yes....a very cool work day!

Independence Day photos uploaded to Snapfish

I'd like to share my snapfish photos with you.  Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.  Click on the link below to view :

Snapfish

Current deal through Snapfish I thought I would share:

Enjoy 50 4x6 inch mail-order prints for only 1 cent each! Hurray and print all your favorite summer memories today.  If you have more than 50 photos to print, each additional print is only 9 cents each, still a great value. Use the coupon code PENNY at checkout before July 10.

Sunday after the 4th...

It's quiet. I can only hear the hum of the fan of the air conditioner blowing and Howie Day playing softly in the background and soft snores. Both of my boys are napping.  A perfect time to sit and go through the 200 photos I took yesterday at our fourth annual Independence Day party. I was able to snap a lot of great shots.  I'll be posting them soon, so look back in a few hours.

My brother Bryan and his girlfriend Caitlin were our last guests here for the weekend left this afternoon around 12:30.  Zach did not want Bryan and Caitlin to go. He cried and hugged their knees. After they walked out the door Zach stood by the front screen door screaming stomping his feet.  All Dave and I could do was look at each other and smile.  It's okay for him to be upset and honestly we thought it was cute. *giggle* Then Zach through his tears said, "No Bryan...no."  That was the first time we heard Zach say one of his aunt or uncles names. Bryan and Caitlin spent a lot of time with Zach on Saturday during the party.  Here is a preview of one of the pictures from yesterday of Zach and his uncle Bryan. As you can see Bryan was pushing Zach in the swing.  Zach's huge smile tells you how much fun he's having.

It makes me smile that Zach has such wonderful aunts and uncles.  He has my siblings; Bryan, Shawn and Brooke and Brooke's husband Austin. Then he has his Aunt Dawn, Dave's sister, and her husband Rob.  Then he has his honorary aunts and uncle - Matt & Sarah and Beth. (My cousins, who we joke that are our half-siblings because our moms are identical twins.)

Then of course there are all of our good friends who see him all the time that he enjoys spending time with too.

I'll save the rest of my 'ramblings' for the 4th of July party post.  I will back post to July 4th as it's easier to find. Of course I'll link on facebook too.