Wildlife Safari & Nora's Birthday

Wildlife Safari is a drive-through animal park where you get really close to the animals.  This ostrich played the role of street guard.  He seriously stood right in front of our car for 10 minutes, and made it clear we were not welcome. Then he went and did it to the next car.  Nutso!

Grandma Mary sharing a moment of quiet time with P & S in front of the fish pond. On our way home in the car we learned that Cousin Cooper had been born that morning, 11-11-11!  Happy Birthday Cooper!  The girls can't wait to meet you.

 Nora turned 5 in mid-November, and her family threw her a great birthday party at Dorris Ranch.  Below, the kids are taking part in a scavenger hunt, collecting goodies by running between landmarks after viewing photo clues.  It was so fun!

Running for a clue!

Last weekend Skylar and I paid a visit to Jen, Zero and Molly in Portland (and had a fabulous time!). This weekend we had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Rebecca and Tim's, got and decorated a Christmas tree, and attended the girls' first ballet - Sleeping Beauty. Nora was a bluebird.  She did great! Tomorrow is the girls' four and a half birthday.  We're going to celebrate at the Divine Cupcake.

Holiday cards, calendars, and gifts galore await my attention.  They'll have to wait a little longer!

New Bed!

We love our new bed Gramma Rotzie and Papa Tom!  Grandma Mary and Papa Mike helped the delivery guys put it together and got us a mattress to fit in the trundle!  We are so big  :-)

It is so nice to be able to stretch out.  We even both fit in one bed together!  We read our books here tonight.  Merry early Christmas to us!

A few more little updates:

Evidence of child brilliance

Tonight before dinner, we were counting eight of something abstract, and when we got to six (with no visual cues), Paige said "two more to go!"

Skylar is achieving her language goals as fast as they can set them at the UO speech clinic  :-)  She gets new clear ear molds with pink sparkles soon.

What we're looking forward to

Both girls can't wait for baby cousin Cooper to be born around Thanksgiving.  We hope to plan a trip to meet him soon!

Tomorrow we head down to Wildlife Safari to see the animals. That should be exciting, and the weather should be fair.

November 27 is our half birthday.  4.5!

Our winter concert is December 7.  There will be singing and dancing, and videos are sure to be posted on this blog.