Z is for Zoo!

     It has been a wonderful week at the Schuurman household.  Marcus finished his study of the alphabet last week, so this past Wednesday we took both boys to the Greenville Zoo.  It's a small, inexpensive, but precious zoo about an hour and a half away from where we live.  Since Mark typically has Wednsedays off, we all planned to go to this a few weeks ago.  Marcus was SO EXCITED to go and once there, he was almost giddy.  The very first exhibit was Joy, the elephant and boy was she majestic.  The had giraffes, lions, flamingos, and a slew of other animals, birds, and reptiles, both large and small.  Marcus said his favorites were the lions, snakes, elephant, and the monkeys.  Then he just kept going on naming every animal like the money, orangutan, giraffe, toucan, alligator...  It's fair to say he enjoyed himself, and Titus did, too!  He went wild when we got to the lion exhibit. 
     It was perfect weather, there was plenty of shade to cool us off, and this zoo was very stroller friendly.  We had a picnic lunch inside the zoo before leaving and going down to this amazing park.  Both boys slept on the way home, so it was success all around. 
     And in other news, Titus took some FOR REAL steps this week!  He's been pulling up and cruising furniture for about three weeks now, but you'll see in the video below that he can take four or five steps if it's towards something he wants.  Mark, Marcus, and I were all sitting on the couch yesterday after church when Titus standing next to the couch across from us.  He let go, turned, and walked all the way across the room to us!  Mark and I looked at each other with astonishment and went, "whoa!"
     So our boys keep growing up, much to our dismay, but it's such a joy to watch them learn and change.  Marcus is such a witty little fella who makes us laugh daily and Titus makes the most glorious babbling sounds one can hear.  These two boys love each other and we can only hope and pray that continues as they get older. 

Entering the zoo

Marcus with Joy the elephant.

Only in the South is a pot-bellied pig on display at the zoo.

Titus with the goats.

Flamingos are pink because of the food they eat, mainly shrimp. 

Cutie pie driving a zoo jeep.

This was a "mist-er" that was wonderful to cool us down.  Marcus LOVED it.

It was amazing to us how tall the giraffes really are.

Mama and baby giraffe

Titus banging on the glass trying to get the lazy lion's attention.

Marcus and the ENORMOUS tortioses. 

Orangutans

Toucan - top left.

This was the coolest playground we've ever been to.

Riding with daddy.

I loved hearing them BOTH giggle on this spinny thing.

Wednesday night Son Seekers (yes, that's our son in the costume mask).

I had a BIG class for our last Son Seekers of the year.

Smiley Titus :)

Playing with colored pasta.

Pretending to cook.

Yes, Titus was trying to eat them while Marcus poured them all out.

Listening to James MacDonald from Walk in the Word.

If you wear your bathing suit it counts as swimming, right?

Helping mommy shop at Sam's Club.

Thank you, Target for $1 glow stick bracelets.  Marcus was stoked.

Titus and one of his favorites, black beans.

"Where'd they go?"

Playing with our new shower curtain.

Crazy haired Titus, waiting for his turn in the shower.

Playing peek-a-boo with Marcus and Daddy in the shower.

The perfect Sunday: church, lunch, naps, park, church.

Marcus and all his letters!

This was as close to a "smile" as I could get him to do.

Although fuzzy, here's a real smile.

 

Titus taking real steps at the park.

Enormous Picture

     I'm not sure how to get the enormous picture at the top of this page to get smaller, but I just wanted to apologize for the size.  It's HUGE!  Either way, I'll try to scale it down.

Birthday Week

     This past Tuesday, Titus turned 11 months old.  Wednesday was the first birthday of our nephews Tyson and Hunter.  Thursday was our oldest nephew, Sam's, SIXTH birthday.  Thus, the title, "Birthday Week."  To celebrate all of this, Titus had pink eye last weekend while Marcus took his share of it on Wednesday.  Both boys are clear, but Mark is working through it now.  It's a very minor setback, but still, no fun.  I'm praying I don't get it.
      Speaking of fun, we've enjoyed some wonderful warm (and sometimes hot) weather down here lately and have been outside a lot.  One day I pushed Titus in the stroller while Marcus rode his bike around the blue track at UNCA.  Another day we met up with a friend and her 6 week old baby to ride around a trail and play at the park.  It's been good to MAKE time to do these things.  We've still been overwhelmingly busy but it's just a phase of life right now.  Hopefully we only have two more weeks of chaos and things will ease up a bit.  The new floors were installed Friday at Headlines (from the flood damage) and we hope to have a piece of rental property rented out by the first of June, if not sooner.  We've chosen a tenant, but need to get a fence put in before she moves in.  A few children's programs will end for the summer, so June is looking good to us!  It will be Titus' first birthday, Emma's NINTH birthday, my sister's 29th birthday, and my Dad's 63rd.  It'll be another month of celebrations for sure.
     Until then, we're just putting our heads down and plowing through a not-so-easy spell of life, knowing it'll get better, and being grateful that it's not worse.  I mean, really.  We have great health, and lots of freedom to bring the boys along with us where ever we go, so all and all, it's not too bad.  Just a lot of hard work.  And everyone knows that's all Schuurmans do anyhow, right?

Their favorite morning activity is getting all the pots out and playing in the cabinet.

Hollaring at his big brother.

Marcus enjoys it when he and Titus dress alike.

Tyson and Hunter - one year old.

Titus Jeffrey - a ball of energy

Marcus' current infatuation is Chutes and Ladders.  Mark is so great about playing with him at all times of the day, including before work like in this picture.  You can tell it was early because Titus had crazy bed hair still. 

Painting while Titus naps.

Titus cracks up when you put a hat on his head.

Hot & red-faced from playing baseball outside with Daddy.

This is what a great daddy looks like.

It's a good day to be at UNCA.

Swinging in front of the dorms I lived in my senior year.

Swinging at Uncle TJ and Aunt Liv's hosue after the baby dedication at church.

Marcus was making Hunter CRACK UP! (PS - the boys' helmets are for flat spots on the back of their heads.  Merely cosmetic and should be able to come off in a few months.)

Titus giving Uncle TJ some practice for the when the boys start to walk.

Here are some of the picture that were up at the party, remembering the journey that Tyson and Hunter had their first year of life.

"I raise my hand to testify in the Lord's goodness!"

2nd generation bread man

Special Treat - Riding with Bob the Builder!

Watching his friend Nathan play in his last high school baseball game.

Sweet Titus enjoyed the game as well.

I got out of the shower and the door to their bedroom was open.  Marcus had gotten in bed with Titus, who was still asleep, & they were cuddling, in and out of a sleepy stupor. 

We love these boys!

Aunt Liv & Tyson

Aunt Liv let Marcus take a bath in her big jacuzzi tub while we were there.

Hunter thought he was funny.

He loved the jets and bubbles!