Best Mother's Day Ever

Matt and I have always loved zoos and have gone to them together since we were dating.  For Mother's Day, Matt suggested that we go to John Ball Zoo in GR.  We had SO much fun!  It was probably one of the most memorable zoo trips we've ever had.

Lucy loved these bass that were outside the penguin house. 

The bears were really active and had been swimming.  When we got there, this one was walking around in the exhibit.

We kept hearing a cat making a bunch of noise, and when we finished watching the bear, we walked over to the cat exhibits.

This mountain lion was meowing at the snow leopard in the next cage.  The snow leopard just kept ignoring the mountain lion.  All through the zoo you could hear the mountain lion: "Meeooow meeooowww  meeoooww!"

Lucy played the drum outside of the lion exhibit.  The lions were super boring.  <nap time>

Then the best part of the zoo happened.  We got to the chimp exhibit and saw these guys:

Next to the tree here is a mallard duck that must have been sitting on a nest (read: would not move). 

The chimp was not a fan of this duck in his area.

First he tried running at it. 

The duck didn't move

Then, he threw sand at it.

The duck didn't move

Then he went to the edge of the cliff thing he was on and turned his back to us.

He put his hand by his bum and pooped in his hand!!!!

Then he pooped in his other hand!

Then with a mighty throw he pitched to poop 1-2 right at the duck.

The duck still didn't move.

We were all like "Did that really just happen?"

Then the chimp ran up to the level above the duck and started to throw sand down on the duck.

The duck still didn't move.

After a little while, the chimp gave up.

As soon as that chimp moved away, another chimp jumped up and did a really crazy chimp dance.  It was unreal!

As we walked away from the exhibit, Lucy said "Monkey poop in his hand!  (while squatting and putting her hands between her legs)  And throw it at the duck!  So naughty!"

She said this over and over and over again all through the rest of the zoo and part of the car ride home.  And then for the next 3 weeks at any mention of zoo or monkey or just whenever it came to mind.

After the chimps, we were about done with the zoo.  Here we are in front of the spider monkey exhibit.

Here are Matt and Lucy in front of the penguins.

Ehinger family self portrait:

It was a fabulous day. 
I'm so happy to be a mom.

More From Tulip Time 2011

Every year so far has been a fiasco with Lucy's costume.  This year, I planned ahead enough that she had a darling costume that actually fit!  We found it on Craig's List.  Here she is proudly wearing her new costume. 

Lucy and Grammie watching me dance.

As you can see from above, Lucy was not excited about watching Dutch Dance that first time.  Let's just say she didn't like the noise of the shoes.  She wouldn't even acknowledge that I was her mom after we finished.  Thankfully, she was more excited about it later.

Me and my cousin, Kolbe who subbed for Rachel this day.

Here I am with Kim, a co-worker, and Jenna to the right.

Heather visited Tuesday night and brought her dutch boy baby Hudson, Lucy's cousin.  So cute together!!

Official Dutch kissing cousins!

Rachel was my official partner.  We danced together last year too.  It is a dream come true to dance with my sister!  I love it!

Wednesday night we danced on 8th Street and the music never came on.  Did we just call it a day and go home?  NO!  Not us alumni dancers!  We danced with no music, just what we hummed along.  It was super fast and no group was together.  It looked like a wave coming down the street since the group in the middle went first with either side starting seconds after. 

It was probably the most ridiculous Tulip Time event I've ever participated in.  We had to look ridiculous!!!

Lucy enjoyed some cotton candy after I danced the last night.

Tulip Time, Holland Michigan, I love you!

Easter Weekend 2011

Looking back at my last post, I don't think I ever posted Easter pictures!  We had a fun Easter weekend.  Matt's mom came up and joined in on the fun.

Saturday, we went to Lucy's daycare center for an Easter egg hunt.  The Easter bunny was there for pictures and Lucy would NOT sit on his (her) lap.  She did take the bubbles that the bunny was handing out. 

After picture time, Lucy went on an egg hunt.  On the younger end rooms, they hit a boat load of eggs that were very easy to find.  Lucy went crazy putting eggs in her basket until it was about half full.  Then one of the eggs that she chucked in there popped open and to Lucy's amazement there was CANDY in it!  Then she spent the next 10 minutes opening the eggs while I kept telling her "There are more eggs!  You need to get more eggs before the other kids get them!  More eggs means more candy!"  To no avail. 

Shortly after that, they let the older kids in who quickly depleted the remaining eggs.

Then, the Easter bunny came into the room we were in.  Lucy was a little more interested in the bunny but she was SURE that he would take her eggs.

As you can see, she kept her basket FAR from the Easter bunny.  She did not trust him with her egg supply knowing that they were full of candy.

As we were walking out the door, the Easter bunny started to play peek-a-boo with Lucy from across the room.  She thought this was so funny!

As soon as we were leaving, Lucy started talking about how next year she would sit on the bunny's lap and talk to him.  She told everyone for the next couple weeks that the Easter bunny played peek-a-boo with her.

The following Monday she told Ms. Michelle who is at the front desk (and was the Easter bunny): "The bunny played peek-a-boo with me!  Next year I will sit on his lap!"

Sunday morning, after church, we went to Bumpa and Grammie's house for an Easter egg hunt.  As my mom has always done, she gave us specific instructions on who could get what eggs.  Lucy could get pink and pig eggs.  No orange or blue eggs.  And any small eggs.

Rachel, Jenna, Hudson, and Lucy were the hunters.  As you would guess, Rachel and Jenna dominated the egg finding since Lucy knew there was candy in them and Hudson couldn't walk alone yet.

Left to right:  Grammie, me, Lucy, Aunt Jenna, Aunt Rachel

Left to right:  Aunt Heather, Grammie, Uncle Joe, Hudson, Bumpa

So proud to be a bunny

*****

On a completely unrelated day, here is an example of Lucy playing with her dolls.  She loves to do circle time with them like she does at daycare. 

Please notice how Dilbert likes to participate in these events.  Although it is primarily because he thinks he is a lap dog, so as soon as I get on the floor he tries to sit in my lap.

(Please disregard my clothing choices. I've recently realized that my relax at home clothes are rather embarrassing. After looking through Matt's pictures, he could make a pretty good case for me to be on What Not to Wear. Yikes!)