Another amazing day

Early this morning my dad came over to the house all dressed for work. He brought bagels for the kids. While we were sitting at the table, kids munching contentedly, we started talking about some of the things we REALLY wanted to do before we leave the West Coast. Topping that list was the Portland Zoo. I am currently without a car (the van is out East with Brian) and I have 2 extra kids (Kenny and Kale are hanging with us while their mom is at work and Kenneth is busy in Vegas packing and moving the family) so getting around isn't really working for us right now. My amazing Dad took only a second to consider and decided that he was going to spend the day with us AT THE ZOO. 20 minutes, 4 rapidly dressed kids, one bag of hastily packed snacks, and a short drive in 2 cars later, we were walking through the gates of the Portland Zoo.

4 kids: Happy to be Here

Brogan COMPLETELY inthralled with the huge seals

My Dad, Kale, Brogan and KK waiting for the seals to swim by again

The dino exhibit at the zoo. SOOOO cool!

All the dino's moved. It was pretty exciting.

T-Rex was the centerpiece. The kids all pretended to be scared.

KK loved these 2 monkeys. They had their arms around each other. She declared, "It's just like me and Cass. Sisters AND friends!"

Kenny and Kale at the lion exhibit

KK and Brogan, same lion. Unfortunately there were no LIVE lions to see. There was some strange construction and the lions were sharing space with the wild dogs. Seems the dogs got the field in the AM and the Lions got the field in the PM. Wonder how that's working out for everyone.

KK and Brogan loved this bubble that gave them a very detailed and involved look into the life of a mongoose. Sort of cool. Lots of fun.

Time for a snack...Thanks again, Grandpa, for the snow cones.

3 little eggs in a life sized version of an eagle's nest. Cool!

So, we had a blast at the zoo.

Right across the street is the Portland Children's Museum.

Well, we might at well hit that too while we're here, right?

Brogan got a kick out of this little robot made of "stuff"

Kale and Brogan played in the Dig Pit...Brogan's favorite place here.

Kenny and KK spent most of the time in the vet section. They look professional!

Brogan rounded out the visit with a quick alligator teeth cleaning.

That *could* have been the end to the day.

But then dad took us to Applebee's (where kid's meals are only $.99 on Tuesdays...it use to be Wednesday but we didn't know they had changed it to Tuesdays...we got the deal anyway. Kudos to Applebee's!). Everyone ate well and went home full.

Then, because it was the perfect day, I tucked my kids in bed, Melissa agreed to watch them, and I went out with Dad, Bryce, and Shantel to see the new (and TOTALLY COOL) Transformer movie. Such a wonderful day. And it was all made possible because I have an amazing father who took the time to spend the day with us. I love you, Dad. Thanks so much!