Philadelphia Zoo

We also spent some time in Philadelphia and went to the zoo.  I had not been there since I was about 9 years old and I remembered it sooooo differently than what it was.  Even though it was not at all like I remembered, it was very nice (and very hot) and we had a great time looking at the animals.

 Anna was fascinated by this fountain.  Probably because it was so hot that day!

 Some of Anna's favorite animals.......

 The gorillas were a favorite of mine too!

 This gorilla decided to come up to the glass and give the spectators a view!

 Anna talked forever about riding this horse afterward.  Prior to this, she was always afraid to do so.  Now, if there are horses or ponies where ever we go, she is always in line to ride them by herself!

Our New Renter

For someone who strongly dislikes and fears birds, I certainly do have my share of run-ins with them!  My newest bird interaction started a few weeks ago when a Robin decided to build a nest in one of my Fuschia baskets underneath the deck.  I was watering one night after dark when Momma and I met.  I started to water the plant and I am certain she was startled to have the cold water splash on her head.  She swooped out of the basket and I immediately had a heart attack on the spot.  Okay, not really, but I did scream and take off running with my heart pounding a million times a minute.  The next day when she was not around I ventured to peer in the nest and there was an egg in it.  Great.  This meant that the nest had to stay.  Since then Momma and I have come to an agreement that she is welcome to use the basket to hatch her babe as long as she doesn't try to peck the top of my head or my eyes (which is my irrational fear of what birds are going to do to me =)).  So far we have both held up on our agreement and the little bird hatched from the egg on July 4th.  Annalise loves to check on it each day.  Riley on the other hand loves to check on it each day too, much to Momma bird's dismay.

 If you look closely you can see the egg.  I just kind of held the camera up in the air to take it since Momma was staying close in the yard.

 Riley stands and points at the nest for LONG periods of time and whines.  It is driving her nuts.  Short drive though, I realize.

 If she is not standing below the deck she is trying to get at it from above.

 The bird hunter

  Anna getting some Riley love

Cat Sitting

Annalise and I were plant/cat sitting recently.  Annalise loved the cat.  The cat didn't love her as much.

 Anna wanted the cat to come out from under the bed.

If you look closely you can tell that he was not even slightly interested in doing so =).

Bloomsburg Fair

It's official.  I have definately passed on the "love-of-the-Bloomsburg-Fair" gene to Annalise.  We went for a little bit everyday except for the two that it rained, and she loved it!  In fact, one day as I was putting her down for a nap (after we had just spent the entire morning and early afternoon at the fair) she muttered as she was drifting off "more fair, mommy".  That same day when she woke up the first thing she asked for was to go back to the fair and indeed we did.  No one ever has to twist my air to go to the fair!  Here are some pictures of what seemed to be Annalise's favorite things at the fair this past week.

 

 Annalise loved the Butterfly house

 In the house there were Q-Tips with a sweet substance on it.  The butterflies would land on the Q-Tip to "eat" it.  Annalise was very serious about holding the butterfly.  She kept saying, "I be careful, Mommy." 

 Eyeballing the fountain behind her.  She was also being careful so she didn't fall in!

One the quest for another butterfly.

 One hitched a ride on the back of her shirt!

 Eating dinner with Aunt Emmy.

 Something was obviously funny here.  Could it be she thought it was funny to make Emmy panicked? (He He, Em)

Playing the duck game with Emmy.  This is where she got her beloved butterfly that she now runs around the house with.

 Playing in the corn.  I swear she could have spent hours here.

 Chillin' with Tigger

 Annalise loved this baby calf.  She talked about it from the first night that we saw it.  The day we went down with my mom, we let her go sit with it.

Gram getting Anna situated for a picture.

 As she was petting it she kept saying "Hi Buddy!"

 Still gently petting her.

 I was kind of surprised that she liked the horse races as much as she did.  Anna really enjoyed them though and was disappointed when they were over.

 Watching the races.

 My mom and I took Anna on a horse drawn carriage ride.  I was trying to get a picture but she wouldn't look because.....

 ...she was busy watching the horse behinds saying "Clip Clop! Clip Clop!"

 This was Annalise's version of a "parade wave" to "her public" as she was in the carriage.

I think each day she asked to see the chickens.  So we did even though my heart was POUNDING every moment that we were in that building.  She especially liked the little peeps!

Clyde Peeling's Reptileland

Today since Stan went to Watkin's Glen with some friends for the weekend for the races, I decided to take a Personal Day at work and have a full "girls weekend" with Anna.  Even though much of the time is "girls only time" for us, we do see Stan at some point during the day even if just for a little while so I guess this weekend is a little different because we don't see him at all.  I was trying to think of something different to do but I just asked Anna what she wanted to do and she said "see animals, go shopping, eat grilled cheese, pizza and ice cream".  Hmmmmmm, see animals???  At first I had to think of where we could go to do that.  Eventually I thought of Clyde Peeling's Reptileland so I mentioned it to her.  Anna then said that she wanted to see "horses and elephants" but I told her that we wouldn't be able to go anywhere to do that but that we could look at other animals, including alligators (which she loves).  That was all she needed to hear and she was in.  So today around naptime (I was hoping she would sleep in the car) we left for our little trip.  We went to Repileland, shopping (where I might add Annalise was so jazzed up to look at clothes and shoes, LOVE THIS GIRL), went to the big playground since it was nearby and then went out to dinner.  While at Reptileland my camara ran out of batteries AGAIN so I didn't get any pictures of her touching a HUGE snake and an alligator.  They do a show at certain times of the and we were there are the right time to see it.  There was all of about 7 people (including us) there so the guy was able to let all the kids touch the stuff.  I was surprised that Annalise walked right up without any hesitation.  She was not fearful of the animals at all!

Anna was thrilled when we arrived =)

I hated to wake her =(

Awake and ready, yet looking a little confused.

First stop: Emus

Second stop: the indoor display of amphibians and reptiles.

I though this lizard was cool.  The entire bottom of it was suctiony.

Anna loved the tank of tree frogs!  She is getting really good at her colors (also something she used to hide from me along with singing and coloring).  Now she shouts them out whenever and wherever!

Looking at the treefrogs

Since it was a weekday the place was pretty much empty so I left her get out of the stoller to practice staying with me.  People laugh at me when I call it practicing...but it IS practicing.  We practice staying together and we also practice not touching things (well here I let her touch stuff but other places).  She did AWESOME!

Anna also pushed the stroller for awhile.

Checking out this big turtle.  There were quite a few tanks of different kinds of turtles and she kept going back and forth saying "Hi turtles!".

I think turtles are cool.

"Hi, turtles!"

For some reason I find these turtles really gross.  I never saw or heard of them before.  They are called Snake-Head Turtles.  I think they are creepy!

Of course Anna's fav.  We also went home with 2 different alligators from the gift shop that she selected out of everything there.  One of them has glow in the dark eyes.  In Anna's words, "It's pretty cool".

Learning the differences between Crocodiles and Alligators

The Anaconda

Anna kept saying "Ooooooooooooooo, big snake, Mommy. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiig snake."

Yikes!

On the way out of the indoor exhibits, we passed the Emus again.  Annalise wanted food to feed them.  I got her some and....

...she dropped it on the ground OUTSIDE the pen.  The Emu didn't seem to mind =)

They also had a nice (but small) Butterfly House.

Annalise liked watching the butterflies fly everywhere.

And this was the last picture before my camara died =(