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.