Oregon Zoo

 I don't remember what they were looking for here but they weren't that impressed with the crocodile.  We got to the Zoo right when it opened so it wasn't too crowded.  They spent maybe 20 seconds looking at each animal, then it was the big decision of where we were going next, and that meant to look at the map.

They each had their own map and they studied them constantly, taking turns being the leader from one exhibit to the next.  We had to have a group meeting when we left an exhibit to plot our route to the next one, Harper insisted on it..

 They liked petting the goats.

 More map studying while we waited for Papa to get us an elephant ear.

 They enjoyed the Lorakeets, Rielee got a couple of them to drink out of her cup.

 Ava did, too, but when I held Harper up, a bird took the cup right out of her hand and then dropped it and it spilled all down the front of Harper's shirt, that surprised her, not in a good way.

 They had to play on every animal statue in the entire zoo, Ava couldn't even put her map down to pose.

 Double-checking how to get to the farm...

found it and they got to pet a tortoise and a hedgehog.  It was a fun trip, lots of the animals were up and roaming around this time.

When we got home, I talked to the girls about doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with me, Rielee understood a little of what it meant, Harper wanted to, but Ava changed her mind and opted out.  I almost did, too, I had been challenged but was just going to donate, I don't like to put myself on social media,  until Papa told me that it has been 73 years since Lou Gehrig died of this hideous disease, 73 years...our Grandma died of it in the 80's, a good friend 2 years ago.  That convinced me to do it, challenge a few people and maybe raise awareness and a few more dollars, they need to find a cure.  I was so proud of the girls for doing it with me and Ava for cheering us on. 

More pool fun

Since we got the old school desk, the kids have been taking turns drawing pictures of each other.  Today was Ava's turn to pose for Harper.

Harper was very happy with her picture.

I left the girls with Papa for awhile this morning and went to Kalama to help Emmy in her room. Rick stopped in with the kids before going to work in his room. 

When I got home, Rielee asked if she could make tie-dye pancakes for lunch.  They picked green, blue and pink.  Ava and Harper thought the pink pancakes tasted funny and wouldn't eat them.  Then we went to the pool where Rielee put on a show for the girls, doing silly jumps,

Harper had to get in on the fun and jumped in, too.  She tried it a second time but did a belly flop and got water up her nose so she was done.

Rielee on the Orca she bought at Kah-Nee-Ta, she doesn't play with it much because it's kind of big and hard to stay on.

Pool and water slide

 It was a perfect day for the pool and the girls spent lots of time there.  Rielee had her friend Emme over and the four of them had a great time. 

 We had to convince Ava that it was okay to wear Rielee's too big swimsuit when she forgot hers this morning, she finally gave in and even laughed about her baggy crotch!  Cracked me up, she always looks so cute.

Rielee, Harper and Emme made a water slide and used dish soap so they could go even faster, Ava had already changed so she just watched.

Ava the cuddle bug

The girls all spent the night after Gabe's party.  It took them a long time to unwind.  First they tried all sleeping together in the twin's beds but that got out of control so I let them camp out on the living room floor, turned off the TV and they were asleep in just a few.  I got Harper moved back in her bed but Ava wasn't sound enough asleep to move so she and Rielee slept there until 1 when Rielee woke up homesick. She came in bed with me, but then I couldn't sleep so I put Ava in with Rielee and I slept in the living room.  Ava was her cuddly self with Rielee this morning.

Walk in the woods

 Posing for a picture on a walk in Alan and Vera's woods, Harper was the leader, she's doing one of her special poses.

 They would say "stay with me, stay in line" and then take off running-until they ran into a web or a swarm of gnats, those would bring them to a halt.

 Rielee had her cousins Isaac and Emily up to play today.  Emily is also 5 and Ava and Harper had fun playing with her.

Rielee gave them all rides on the hammock, at a price of 4 bark chips per ride.  They also played in the sandbox and rode the Jeep, scooter and bikes around.

 

Visiting Daddy's school

 We met Charb at Covington this morning after the girl's dentist appointment.  He took us in to see his office, it's a very nice school, rebuilt in 2009.  The girls made themselves right at home, drawing on the board,

 Ava left Dad a message,

and Harper drew a picture of Ava.  Before we left, they pointed out that they knew where the bathrooms are, very important information.  They had a ton of loot from the dentist, including the visors, and they got flossers, of which they were really proud.  Their visit went well for Harper, Ava said she cried "a little bit". 

Emmy's classroom

Uncle in the corner,  where he deserved to be.  He wasn't very supportive when we went to help

Emmy organize her classroom.  He couldn't understand her desk arrangement, or anything else for that matter, and wasn't afraid to voice his goofy opinions.   Actually,  she got little encouragement from her Dad or boyfriend either, mostly harassment, none of them could understand why it takes a few tries to get a room set up right...pretty comical really, maybe it was the heat that took away their sense of humor! 

But Em was happy with the progress she made.  Instead of a jumble of desks and furniture against the wall, she has her reading corner situated, complete with all the books she has collected over the summer, the kid's desks and her desk in place and she can refine the rest from there-hopefully on a cooler day, it was about 85 in there tonight.