Not a typical January day

We had a beautiful day today.  It was not a typical January day but we took it and enjoyed it.  On the way back from swimming lessons we made a spontaneous stop at the zoo.  We had been headed to the grocery store but as we passed the zoo right at opening time we decided that it was just too good of a day to pass up.  We really needed time in the sun and some fresh air.  This weekend was spent inside with sick family and it was time to get out and get refreshed.  As this was not a planned trip the only camera I had was my cell phone so here are some of those shots for your enjoyment.

We started off in Asia and were able to see the sun bear closer than we ever have before.  Normally it is outside hiding somewhere in the habitat and we only catch a glimpse of it. 

Gavin stopped to play with the trains.

The rhino was the most active we’ve ever seen!  He was actually running back and forth in his pen.

We tried to get Gavin and Abby to stand together with the elephant sculpture but Abby was feeling less than cooperative.

Daddy and Abby checking out the lions.

I like when the animals get up close.  Abby does not.  She was not the least bit excited to see the tiger walk up to the glass.

I took the tiger’s willingness to come up to see us as an opportunity to play with an app on my phone that takes different kinds of pictures.

These were taken in the “toy cam” mode and I think they turned out pretty cool!

On our way out the zoo staff had cleared a blocked sidewalk and we were able to see the elephants.  They seemed happy to be out in the sun.

The little guy is Beco.  He’s not a baby anymore but we still call him baby Beco.

I turned the elephants into a Polaroid using the same aforementioned app. 

After we left the zoo we continued on to our shopping trip.  Later in the day when Gavin was supposed to be sleeping but wasn’t we went outside to clean up the yard.  After Abby got up from her nap we took Mocha for a walk.  For dinner I put a steak on the grill.  All of these wonderful things in January!!!  

Snow...finally!

Last weekend we had a bit of snow.  It wasn’t much but it was enough that Gavin considered it covering the grass.  We’ve had a few dustings of snow and he always wants to go out and play.  I’ve told him that we aren’t going to all the trouble of getting all the snow gear on for a dusting of snow.  I said he had to wait until the snow covered the grass.  So, out to play we went.

Brandon got Gavin all geared up.  I’m surprised he could actually walk around!

Abby stayed inside and watched us from the window.  I’m not sure if she wanted to come out but yesterday when we took Gav to preschool and she walked on some snow in the parking lot she didn’t like it.  She started screeching about the snow and staring at it as if it was some strange substance.

I pulled Gav around on the sled in the front yard.  He giggled the whole time and enjoyed purposely falling off. 

The snow was pretty dry so it wasn’t very good packing snow.  Gavin wanted snow balls but no such luck.  We just threw handfuls of snow at each other.  He was so happy to have played outside in the snow.  I don’t think he went out once last year.  Abby was too little to be traipsing around out it that kind of weather so we just stayed in. 

Playing in the snow gave way to another of Gav’s “things.”  Remember the mittens from the last post?  Now it’s time to meet…

…the BOOTS!

Gavin loves his Batman boots!  He wants to wear them all of the time.  He had to wear regular sneakers Wednesday and was quite upset that they didn’t go up past his ankles. 

Little Miss had some of the craziest static I’ve ever seen.  I tried to get a good picture but her hair is so fine it wasn’t turning out well.

She quickly tired of my picture taking.

I got the feeling she wanted me to stop and leave her alone.

She yells, “Not nice,” at anyone who does anything that displeases her so we hear “Not nice,” about 100 times a day.   

We’ve gotten some more snow this weekend but I hear it will probably warm up again early in the week and melt.  The whole warm up and then freeze cycle is getting pretty old.  For anyone not in Ohio or the eastern states hopefully you’ve enjoyed more stable winter weather. 

Have a great weekend!

Fun with the kids

Thanks to our Christmas spending, we received a nice bunch of reward coupons to Toys R Us (TRU) that could be used on anything in store.  Unfortunately, like any coupon, they have an expiration date.  Having nothing we needed to buy and basically free money in hand we took the kids to TRU to find something to spend our coupons on.  It was a difficult trip.  The kids received so many cool things for Christmas and they didn’t need anything so it was hard to come up with something to shop for.  But, it is a toy store after all and what kid can’t find SOMETHING?

Gavin decided to make his first foray into Legos.  He wasn’t sure at first and wanted to look around a little more.  He wanted to keep his options open until he’d had a thorough look through the store.  I think what sold him on the idea of Legos was the set itself.  Can you tell what it is we were building?

Many of the Lego sets are for older kids but there are some that are for five and up and a bit easier to build.  The box comes with the Legos packed into separate bags labeled numerically in the order you are to assemble them in.  The set also includes a booklet that takes you step by step to build the set.  I helped him build by handing him the part he needed and pointing to where it went.  Sometimes he had a hard time figuring out how to line up the pieces.  I figure with some more practice and by having him do more of the work building it he will eventually learn how to do it all by himself.       

Is anyone surprised by the fact Gavin chose a garbage truck?  He loves garbage trucks.  They have been a steady fascination of his for about two years.  Building something like this with Gavin was a great way to spend some time together and give him some one on one attention.  I was shocked that his attention span lasted the entire time.

Gavin has enjoyed his Legos so much that he’s interested in eventually getting some more.  I’ve been a little stressed because of the tiny pieces getting into Abby’s hands so Gavin can only play with the smallest pieces of “garbage” at the kitchen table.  He is allowed to wheel the truck around the house.    

 

Abby left TRU with a bath time set for her babies.  She’s been potty training herself so she was very excited to put her baby dolls on the play potty.  She also has fun giving them baths in the little tub with the pretend sprayer and soap.

When I got up, Abby climbed onto the chair I had been sitting on and posed with her baby saying “Cheese cheese!”  She was so excited to get her picture taken with one of her babies.  We've spent some time each day bathing all of the babies.

Hope it’s been a great weekend for everyone!  

Welcome to 2012!

Welcome to a new year on the Yankanin family blog!  I’ve wanted to post a new blog for a bit but needed some material to work with. 

The New Year started off with a slumbering household so nothing exciting there.  Last week we celebrated my 30^th birthday in grand fashion.  Brandon planned a fantastic day full of all kinds of surprises. 

The day started off with a decorated house, roses, an orchid plant, and breakfast.  We left the house and Brandon dropped me off at the spa for a massage.  After that he and the kids picked me up with sandwiches for lunch.  Then he surprised me with a mani/pedi appointment. 

When the kids got up from their naps we went to the mall and visited the Coach store.  I was not allowed to protest, although I tried, and was told to pick out something or he and the kids would pick it for me.  Needless to say, I picked out something on my own and I love it! 

After our trip to the mall we had dinner at House of Japan.  Gavin was happy as HOJ is one of his favorite places to eat. 

When we got home we enjoyed some of the delicious chocolate cake with butter cream icing that Brandon had made.  It was such a great birthday!

Let’s not kid ourselves though, you aren’t here to see me ramble about myself, you want to see pictures of the kids, right? 

While Gavin was at school Wednesday I took a few pictures of Abby playing with the kitchen.  I find it interesting how peacefully the kids play when the other sibling isn’t around.

I think I may have some work ahead of me with teaching Abby how to find her way around a kitchen.  She loaded all kinds of things into the oven. 

For some reason the oven just wouldn’t close! 

Abby decided to unload a few things to get the door to shut.  I thought she may be confused as to whether she’s working with a dishwasher or an oven but that still doesn’t explain the pot holders, telephone, or watch. 

After the oven fiasco she got back to work cooking some food on the stove. 

I was happy she was willing to pose and give me a “cheese!”

Gavin’s preschool class had the song during chapel Wednesday.  He did such a great job singing and doing all of the hand motions.  Please excuse the glowing eyes of the children.  I tried to fix it using an online program but for some reason it couldn’t be removed.  I am starting to wonder about the nature of preschoolers and if these glowing eyes are representative of the little loony tunes they can be.  Or maybe it’s just my preschooler.  From hearing the other moms talk about their preschoolers at drop off I am inclined to believe otherwise.

Gavin goes through phases where he has “things.”  Right now these gloves are his “thing.”  I had to get a mitten out for him to take to school the other day and these were in our winter bag.  Gavin asked for the “SWAT gloves” and has hardly taken them off ever since.  We’ve actually had to remind him to take them off before going to the bathroom or eating.  They have to hang on his dresser knobs each night in a particular way.  He says they keep his hands warm, which I have no doubt that they do, but I don’t understand how he plays with his toys and maneuvers around with mittens on.  As with his other “things” this will pass at some point.  I did have the thought, “Thank goodness I’ll be able to get the boy to willingly wear his gloves this winter!” 

I hope the New Year has started off well for everyone!  May 2012 be even better than 2011!