Como Zoo

Day 6: Wednesday September 9

On this day we decided to visit the Como Zoo which is FREE to get into. Of course they do accept donations and we gladly donated $10 for 4 adults and 2 kids. Last time we were in MN we decided to go to the Minnesota Zoo, which is not free. After going to both we have decided that there are pros and cons to both zoos. The Como Zoo is Free, the animals are closer, and it's a smaller zoo - the downside....it's hard to find! The Minnesota Zoo was huge (500 acres huge), the animals each have a better habitat to live in, it's easier to find - the downside...the price!

In the Como Zoo they have a place inside called "Como-Town" which is full of kiddie rides. Of course it was closed down for the season when we went...next time though! :)

No I did not use the zoom on my camera, we were actually that close to all of the animals. We were so close in fact, they had signs up warning visitors about flying objects. It totally reminded me of the line from the movie Madagascar, "If you have any poo, fling it now."

They had a new baby Orangutan, so cute! Benjamin loved the spider monkeys. At one point Benjamin and the spider monkey were looking at each other face-to-face and had their hands touching with the glass between them. I so wish I would have gotten that shot!

The Ostriches where really close and I never knew they were so big!

The Como Zoo is well known for Sparky the Seal. Sadly he died earlier this year so we didn't get to see him in action. But we did get a picture next to statue commemorating him. Benjamin and Rachel both loved watching the sea lions swim around and around. Benjamin kept saying "Wow!"

We also spent a lot of time near the Giraffes, or in Rachel's words "The Melmins."

They are her favorite animal. We even got to watch one Giraffe try and get some leaves from a nearby tree. Their toungs are long and Blue! Did you know that?

Most of the big cats were sleeping when we were there, but it didn't keep Benjamin from trying his best to wake them up!

On your way out of the zoo they have this neat area where the sidewalk had little stencils of all of the animals in the zoo. Rachel and Jackie had fun trying to figure out where all of the animals where.

The Schmidts

Day 5: Tuesday September 8

While we were in MN we spent some time with the other half of my family, the Schmidt's. I have only known them for a few years so it was fun to get together at Cathy and Mark's house for a BBQ and visit.

(L-R in the back) Cathy, Mark, Larry

(L-R middle row) Me, Benjamin, Jane, Rachel, Sandy, Tom

(front) Marc

Gifts were given as be-lated birthday gifts for the kids and they certainly have enjoyed what they got! Rachel became best friends with Sandy right away and Benjamin opened up with everyone really well too. The food was delicious and the company was divine. In fact we were visiting so much this is like the only picture we took! I also found it un-canny how much I look like them, though it shouldn't be that crazy...I am related to them! Sandy sent me an e-mail after we were home and she said: "You look more like Cathy than her own daughter does. You are definitely a Schmidt."

Gretchen's Gardens

Day 4: Monday September 7

We decided to spend the day at my Great Aunt Gretchen's house. I hadn't been there since I was 12 or something but it was still exactly as I had remembered it: peaceful, quaint, beautiful, relaxing and fun.

Gretchen gave Rachel and Benjamin a little vase to put some flowers in. Rachel made a beautiful bouquet and Benjamin, well he enjoyed drinking the water.

Gretchen is one of a kind and I love her! She lives in a trailer surrounded by flower beds filled with millions of flowers. She tends to them everyday and takes her HUGE dog (Frank) on a walk. The dog is as big as she is, it is a funny site to see! She also spends her days in solitude so whenever she is around people she doesn't stop. Seriously. She is like the energizer bunny and she comes at you full force. I just love it! She even admits to doing it, and she says it wears herself out. She just loves having company, to serve others and make everyone feel at home. She told me while we were visiting that many days she will go out to her gardens to weed early in the morning and next thing she knows it's night time! Can you imagine? I struggling to find the desire to weed my vegetable garden. She does love it though, it makes her happy and I'm sure it is what has helped her to be so healthy.

While we were there Benjamin went to Grandpa without crying for the first time and he even gave him a kiss and snuggle! It was wonderful and exactly what I wanted. I know that he won't be around too much longer so I want my children to have as much time and memories with this wonderful man as we possibly can. We were also able to visit with my Great Aunt Phillis, her son Tom and his wife Jill. It was such a relaxing day, you know one of those lazy summer days...absolutely perfect!

Benjamin's new Past-Time

Okay I'm taking a break from posting about our vacation (until I get some pictures I'm waiting for) and posting about, well what else has been going on. :) Today Benjamin discovered the heating vent in his room. He also found that certain things fit threw the holes...and they don't come back. (well not yet anyway, not until I can take the cover off to get to them) He finds it very fascinating that pencils, crayons, and certain toys will fit down but he got down right mad that the phone, book and compact mirror would not go down no matter how much he tried to jam it down there. He kept coming over to me and in his high pitched voice going "uh, uh" and pointing to the vent. I'm just glad that it isn't that deep of a vent and that there is the duct work there to catch it all. So if you ever come to my house and your pencil, pen, lip gloss, chap stick etc. disappear, be sure to look in here before you go. Now you have been warned, so I am free from all responsibility. (okay, okay I'll get it out for ya before you leave!) :)

Farm Hands

Day 3: Sunday September 6

After church we spent the day on the farm with my mom. The kids enjoyed feeding the chickens and geese, riding in the wheel barrow, playing outside, riding on the 'gator', seeing the "Wilbur's" (pigs) and cows and 'climbing' trees with Marc.

MN State Fair

Day 2: Saturday September 5

For our first official day in MN we decided to brave the MN State Fair. This was my first time going to the fair in, well, lets just say a very long time. It was an experience! There were so many people!! We tried to capture it in a picture but it does not do it justice...at all!! When people asked us "what did you see/do at the fair?" We replied "we saw the back of people's heads, the sides, the fronts...you get the idea." But really besides dealing with the crazy crowds we did have some fun. The 4-H group had an area where the kids could work at the farm, sell their goods for 'money' and 'buy' something from the store. Rachel enjoyed everything about it. What I think is ironic: we left the farm my family lives on to go and work on a farm. What can I say, were a strange bunch of folks. :)

After working on the farm we took a little rest so the kids could re-fuel themselves, then we went to the kiddie carnival area...where Rachel rode on her first roller coaster! And boy did she love it!! She came off of the Bee ride jumping around saying "I want to do the boat one!" So we bought a few more tickets and I rode on that one with her. During the ride she was giggling, squealing with delight and saying "wee, this is so much fun!" The carousel doesn't hold as much fascination now, but we told her that Benjamin wanted a turn on a ride so obliged us in going on it too. Benjamin though still hated the thing...maybe one day.

After that we saw a few more things, had a corn dog and left the fair...we were pretty much done with people. The kids fell asleep in the car so we went to the hotel to let them finish their nap and we took one too. After we woke up we got on our suits and went swimming in the pool. The kids absolutely loved the pool and we ended up swimming several times while we were there. Rachel worked on her doggy paddle, and learned how to float (not quite all by herself yet) and Benjamin loved splashing and 'swimming' too.

This is a little clip of Benjamin 'swimming' in the pool and Rachel jumping in. I know it's kind of dark but what you can see (and hear) is pretty cute!