We started the day with blueberry pancakes and bacon. (Hallie's request.) I made a few for T without berries (no more difficult). Then we loaded up the van and headed for Seattle... to the Woodland Park Zoo!
Our first stop at the zoo was the Penguin exhibit. (A favorite.) As we exited, I picked up a baby penguin stuffed animal at the giftshop for baby Elizabeth.
We had lunch in the zoo cafeteria, corndogs and french fries. After I dropped those off at the table, I went for condiments.... then bumped my tray on the napkin holder and spilled the little cups of ketchup and mustard EVERYWHERE. How embarrassing. More animals after lunch, day and night exhibits, jaguar, gorillas, tropical birds. Dippin' Dots (ice cream) for the kids, twisty cones for Brian and I, then on the road again.
We headed to the hospital in Kirkland to meet Baby Elizabeth. It was around 6:00 by the time we got there, and just happened to run into my mom and stepdad in the parking garage, just arriving as well. They and I went in, leaving Brian and the kids in the car. As you know, she was sweet and gorgeous. My mom held her for a while, then before I could get my hands on her, the lactation specialist came in, and we scurried out. We sat in the "family room" while my brother opened his birthday presents (he and Sam share a birthday, but we hadn't seen him since then), then eventually got to go back in so I could hold my niece. Brandon followed us out to the car when it was time to go so he could meet the new children. He got them good and riled up in the parking garage, running in circles around the van! A phone call the next day relayed "you got a good lookin' bunch of kids there."
When we left the hospital it was nearly 8:00, and my children had only had a snack while they were waiting for me to come out from seeing the baby. Next stop - Little Caesar's in Lynnwood to pick up pizza to eat in the car on the way home. It worked better than we expected... except all of the crusts we found under the seat in front of Sam the next morning. But it was already past the children's bedtime... then we hit road construction. It was 11pm when we arrived home. Hallie had a LONG birthday!
A long day but one that sure sounded like a lot of fun. I LOVE their shirts, what a great idea. How was the new penguin exhibit? We haven't been since last summer and I don't think we will make it this summer since I am still recovering and not walking very well or for great distances. What a great birthday for Hallie though and really for all of you.
Posted by: Carrie | 07/25/2009 at 11:40 AM
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TedCo Software
Dan@SpellQuizzer.com
Posted by: Dan Hite | 07/25/2009 at 11:00 PM
I want a spell quizzer. Praying for Sam today and hoping that the surgery goes well.
Posted by: Carolynn Slocum | 07/27/2009 at 10:15 AM