Field Trip to the Zoo

I really enjoy going on field trips with my children. Yesterday, I went with Erin Joy's class to the zoo.  The children were all part of the tropical rain forest.  Erin Joy represented an ocelot in the understory level.  She loves ocelots because the zoo has an ocelot named "Bella" which is the same name as our cat.

I had a hard time taking pictures of just Erin Joy while chaperoning a group of students.  This is the best picture I got of her at the penguins.  I love taking pictures by the penguins, but wasn't very successful yesterday:)

Fun times with a fun group of kids!

On of the boys in our group argued about the identity of almost every animal because he is an animal expert.  While looking at the python he said, "That is an anaconda."

"It's a big snake like an anaconda," I replied, "But it really is a python. The sign says, 'python.'"

"It's really an anaconda," he insisted.

No sense in arguing with an animal expert.

The dwarf crocodiles were really alligators, the siamangs were really macaques, the flamingoes were really pink swans, and the emus were kangaroos.  Kangaroos? He could have at least told us they were ostriches!  Ah, I'm so glad I had an animal expert in my group!

The kids took their shoes off to play in the Zoomazium.  One of the students in my group took off his socks. When it was time to leave, he couldn't find one of his socks.  We looked everywhere and then gave up because we didn't want to miss the bus.  He ended up going home with only one sock.  He didn't care. I was mortified. I'm entrusted to take care of a group of children and I lose a sock! Argh! What kind of responsible adult am I?? At least I didn't lose any children!!

Erin Joy Dancing

Erin Joy did a great job dancing at the Seattle golf show today!

Lantern Festival

 We missed Lantern Festival. Shucks. I've been too busy buying and selling homes to concentrate on what's really important...Chinese New Year!! Now Chinese New Year is officially over. The full moon was almost as beautiful tonight as it was yesterday.

We celebrated by having Chinese food (not exactly Chinese...my Americanized version of Chinese) and our own little lantern parade.

We walked down to the river. I will miss the river. I will miss my good neighbors. Sigh. I'm still grateful to be moving.  I'm excited to be away from a river that floods and banks that slide. I'm excited to be in a big house with room to spare!

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the our lantern parade:

 I stole these pictures from here.  This is what we would be doing if we were in China or Taiwan.  It makes our little lantern parade look totally insignificant!

Rachel Dancing

Rachel and a few of her friends from dance class danced at a Lunar New Year Event held at the elementary school that I used to teach at...Bailey Gatzert Elementary. I was very excited to go and walked around the building to see if I recognized any names.  I didn't recognize very many.  I did run into a teacher I used to work with. Fun!! Good memories....

Anyway, here are a few pictures followed by a video of Rachel dancing.

 I never knew it was good luck to get your picture taken with this guy (I have no idea what his name is.) I guess he must kind of be like Santa Claus or something. Rachel will have extra good luck this year because I took three pictures.

Our Announcement

 Notice the girls are making creations out of the flyers for our house that has been on the market for two years.

 Why did I allow them to do this??? Because somebody is seriously buying our house!! We don't need the flyers any more!! I'm so excited. I can't wait to get out of here!

 Notice the "sold" sign!!!! WAHOO!!!

 Also notice the septic pumping truck...I have to get my septic pumped for the new buyer.  My girls found a great way to plug their noses avoiding the smell:)

 Our septic pumping man has an audience...

 This is our new house!!! Hopefully.  The seller accepted my offer. We now wait for the inspection and appraisal.  I can't wait to move in.  It might be awhile because it's a short sale.  It will be worth the wait. The house is huge! 4 bedroom + a really big bonus room over the garage.

 We'll do something about the awful yellow paint....

 We'll take care of the pink paint too...

I can't believe this is actually happening! I thought we would we stuck in our current living situation forever.  I sure hope everything goes smoothly and we are in our new house soon.