THE ZOO AND THE VIRUS

I am amazed that my passion for donating and giving back has rubbed off on my kids.  While Francesca and I were waiting for our favorite animal to take a dive into the water...

...Nicholas was using his hard earned (well, actually, won in a card game) money to "help save the polar bears because their ice is melting"...

I didn't realize at first until my mom pointed it out, but he was donating dollar after dollar (or should I say five dollars after five dollars) because he thought they needed it more than he did.  At least it proves that he DOES listen to me when it really matters!  Oh, that monkey makes me so proud to be his mamma!

We waited for twenty minutes for that darn polar bear to dive in and he never did, but at least we got to admire him up close and personal, thanks to the FANTASTIC new viewing area in the

Great Bear Wilderness at Brookfield Zoo. 

Have you been yet? 

IT'S AWESOME!!!!

The monkeys love to measure themselves on the walls that are painted with animal murals!

Finally, I bought them some new hats to play dress up with because their costume chest was lacking in animal stuff because it is so filled with chef and fireman stuff!  Grandma decided that she wanted to wear the hat first.  Here is a quiz question....

What do you call a COUGAR who is past her prime?

A WOLF!!!!

As if the zoo wasn't fun enough, we decided to end the day with a trip to the urgent care at the hospital.  Francesca had a fever for a few days prior with no other symptoms, or so I thought.  After we left the zoo, she decided to break out into a fever rash and then I noticed white sores in her mouth.  Hand-foot-mouth disease was going around. 

Could that be it?

Nope.

HERPANGINA.

Nice.

Look it up.

*

SUPER FAST!!!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY FRANCESCA!

I am so sad that you aren't my Baby Pepper anymore. You are my Toddler Pepper and it happened SUPER FAST. If you follow your insane and unrelenting love of animals, maybe one day you will become a veterinarian and become my Dr. Pepper!


We took off early in the day for Lamb's Farm. Do any of you know of it? It is a farm located in Libertyville, whose main purpose is to educate, advance and serve adults with disabilities. We have been going there to support them since I was a kid! What a great way to celebrate and show the importance of always giving back to others! Following a tradition set by my mom, where special one-on-one time spent together is a very valued birthday present, we set off to celebrate. We were hoping to avoid the sun and rain. No such luck. We still managed to overcome 90+ weather, no shade, a rain storm, manure, mud, and two very rambunctious boys and have a great time! P.s....thanks so much Nicole, for handling those two boys!

Francesca's love of any and all creatures was overflowing! Although she enjoyed the train ride, she was pouting because all she wanted to do was go back to the horses! Funny...I think there is a VERY SIMILAR picture (or two or twenty) of me pouting on a train years ago. I had been wondering where she got that frown from. :)


Reason #1 why I believe that even though I am not pushing you into it, you are a true vegetarian at heart...


And reason #2...
Yeah, when you said "eewww...yucky!!!", you took the words right out of my mouth!


Your Grandma was so happy to watch you enjoy your special day! Every single time she takes a ride in her wheelchair, you are right there by her side, holding on and slowing your pace so you can just be there with her. You two have such a great bond! Even though you are a toddler now, you will always be "her baby"!


The peacock was both of our favorites!


What birthday would be complete without a few more traditions? Of course we met Daddy and went to The Choo Choo Restaurant!


You decided to eat nothing but sugar! I wasn't happy about it, but it doesn't happen that often. You ate cake, but you aren't a cake eater! Ha ha..a quick Park Ridge reference thrown in!





After all the excitement and sugar, you were nowhere near ready for bedtime so we took off for our favorite park. For the next hour, all you did was scream "SUPER FAST", as in "push me super fast on the swing, mama!"

And I did.
And I cried.
And the last 2 years went by

SUPER FAST :(
.