Auntie Harmizzle Visit 2017 - Bronx Zoo

Yesterday Kari, Cohen, and I headed up to the Bronx Zoo! We had a fantastic time. I really really enjoy the Bronx Zoo and can't wait till the Spring/Summer when more of the exhibits open. Luckily Grandma and Grandpa Anderson bought us an annual pass so we can go as many times as we want.

Cohen is taking after Grandma Anderson as keeper of the map. He wanted to hold it and decide which way we went. He's turning into such a big boy!

 

 

 

Auntie Harmizzle Visit 2017 - Dyeing Easter Eggs

This morning Auntie Harmizzle showed up for a week long visit! Cohen has been asking about when she would get here for days and was so impatient last night! When Harmizzle walked in this morning Cohen had a whole list of things he wanted her to do with him. Read a story, play trains, play in the tent, but the number one thing on the list was dyeing Easter Eggs!

Cohen is currently obsessed with Easter (thanks to the Springtime with Roo movie that he has been watching). He keeps asking about when Easter will be here! Last night I took him down to CVS to buy some eggs and dye in preparation for this morning and Cohen saw the baskets and demanded that I get him one. I told him that the Easter Bunny would bring him one on Easter. Later we called Jeff to say good night and Cohen told Jeff, "The Easter Bunny is going to bring me a basket. He's a good giver." I really hope the Easter Bunny doesn't disappoint :)

Washington DC Trip: Cherry Blossoms(?), Museums, and Monuments

On our only full day in DC, we spent most of the day at the Mall. We walked over to the Tidal Basin to see where the bulk of the cherry blossoms were supposed to be. :) I did get a picture of a couple blossoms! Cohen loved seeing the monuments on our way to the museums.

We decided to go to the National Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Since the dinosaur exhibit was closed at the Museum of Natural History (sad day for Cohen) we didn't spend much time there. Cohen did love the fish tank that had Nemo, Marlin, and Dory in it. We had time so we walked to the Museum of American History, so I can see the First Lady exhibit :)

 

We then headed back to the hotel for a little rest before going to Central for dinner. It was a quick trip, but it was really fantastic. I'm so grateful we live so close so we can pop down every once in a while.

Washington DC Trip: A day (and a half) at the Zoo!

Jeff and I decided to travel down to DC to go see the cherry blossoms, unfortunately, due to crazy weather, the peak prediction (which was updated twice) was off and we were several days early. Oh, well. We will try again next year! We still had a fantastic time in DC!

On the first day Jeff dropped me and Cohen off at the zoo while he went to the hotel to work. Cohen and I both loved it! It's kind of hilly (my fitbit thought I walked 36 flights of stairs), but the exhibits are great! I think our favorite from the first day were the pandas and the sea lions. The pandas were so cute! The sea lions have a really fun exhibit. There is an area where you can throw a ball up in the air and the sea lions do little flips in the water. Cohen thought this was the funniest thing ever!

I will say that it was totally weird that we could just walk in! The zoo is free....(well, there is no fee to enter. It's paid for by our tax dollars.) If only all my tax dollars were spent in such an enjoyable way.

We had such a great time at the zoo we decided to go back on the way home. Jeff wanted to see the pandas :) and who knew that Jeff likes zoos! There was so much that Cohen and I didn't see, so we had no problem going back!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Cohen and I are celebrating this morning with Lucky Charms cereal (Fruit-loops for Daddy cause he doesn't like Lucky Charms) and then heading to a special St. Patrick's party at the church for play group.

Like I mentioned before, Cohen has really gotten into decorating the apartment for holidays, so I made sure we did some St. Patrick's day crafts this month to display in our house. Cohen really got into it!

Snow Storm Stella - Playing in the snow!

Cohen and I had a blast sitting insight (toasty warm) watching Snow Storm Stella dump A LOT of heavy snow on NYC! It was a little tricky getting to Joy School the day after because the side walks were cleared, but not all the curbs had been cleared (or cut into) from the plowing. I had to carry Cohen's stroller several times to make it.

After Joy School we came home for lunch and then headed to Central Park to Play in the snow! The snow was really heavy and hard, so it wasn't really that much fun to play in, but that didn't deter Cohen from enjoying himself 

I need help....what do I do with a kid that will not look at the camera to have his picture taken! We were out there for probably 30 minutes and I took over 150 pictures. Why? Because every time I told Cohen to look at the camera he would shout, "LOOK AT THE CAMERA!" Oh, and while he yelled he looked anywhere and everywhere but the camera. When I told him to say cheese and smile he would yell at the top of his lungs, "CHEESE!" So, probably 99% of the pictures I took are of him yelling and looking down. I've said it before and I will say it again... Cohen is the worst model ever! Luckily....he's cute.

Decorating for St. Patrick's Day

I have not really decorated my house for holidays in the past (some years I would decorate for Christmas). This year I totally decked out the apartment in Christmas decorations. Cohen LOVED it! He was upset when I took them down. I left the little paper light garland up to make him happy. Well, it's almost March, so I decided I would make another garland to put up so Cohen wouldn't be upset. I make a rainbow chain with shamrocks. Cohen helped me cut and staple the chain. He was so excited to help and now I'm totally inspired to do more crafts with him. He was thrilled beyond reason in the morning when he discovered the finished product hanging up in the windows. Makes me want to work on other St. Patricks Day decorations with him.

Washington Trip January 2017: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

After Burgerville we headed to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for a little walk. I lived in La Center for over 5 years and never once went to this park. It was so fun taking Cohen and walking around. There was a big bridge at the very beginning that went over some train tracks. Since Cohen is obsessed with trains, we spent some time there waiting for a train. Luckily a really long train with some oil cars went by when we were leaving. Cohen was one happy little guy.

While walking my dad would walk ahead and hide behind a tree. Cohen would then say, "Where's Grandpa" and then go and try and find him by walking around the tree. It was really cute and I think both Grandpa and Cohen enjoyed it.

You will notice that Cohen has a sticker on on his forehead. My cousin Jamie gave him a Good Dinosaur book for Christmas and it had a bunch of stickers in it. Cohen LOVES dinosaurs and decided to put one of the stickers from the book on his forehead. Well, it was on there for over 24 hours. He bathed and slept with it on and refused to take it off. We luckily go most of it off on the second day in the second bath. Kids are so much fun!

Washington Trip January 2017: Burgerville!

A trip to Washington would not be complete without lunch at Burgerville! Even better that I got to go with the fam! :) Before we left I told Cohen we were going to go get "the best burger in Vancouver." Jeff of course perked up and asked where we were going. When I told him we were going to Burgerville he was deflated. Of course he jumped on his computer and started the quest to find the best burger in Vancouver. After some research he found Crave Grille. So, we had Burgerville for lunch and Crave Grille for dinner. We all LOVED Crave Grille! It was a really good burger. 

 Two burgers in one day!

Washington Trip January 2017: Can I have a s'more please!

Grandma always has fun activity for Cohen to do while we are visiting. After our long day at the zoo Grandma had Grandpa :) set up his camp stove so we could make s'mores. Cohen really got into the whole fire thing (luckily auntie Harmizzle gave Cohen a proper lesson on how to be a pyro the night before). I don't think Cohen even ate a s'more, but he did have a lot of chocolate.

Washington Trip January 2017: Trip to Oregon Zoo with the fam

It wouldn't be a trip to visit my family without going to the Oregon Zoo! This time my cousins joined us, which made it even more fun!

First Oregon Zoo Trip
Second Oregon Zoo Trip
Third Oregon Zoo Trip