Family fun, and a really cool outing.

Once again, better late than never.  Here are a couple of the things you've missed over the last several weeks.

Let's start with the Really Cool Outing...

When was the last time you drove an hour and a half just to go to the zoo?  If you live anywhere but here, I'm hoping the answer is "never".  It's just a zoo, people.  But if you do live here, let me recommend packing a nice lunch and heading up to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  It's a haul, but well worth the drive.  The whole thing is built into the side of the mountain and has incredible views, but if that doesn't do it for you, maybe this will: you get to hand-feed the giraffes.  And if that doesn't do it for you, then I don't know if we can be friends, cuz hand-feeding giraffes is awesome.

This zoo is also in possession of what I'm certain is the world's fastest carousel.  After watching it spin around at what looked to me like a terrifying pace, we decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a shot.  Andy had some trouble catching us on camera as we went whizzing by, but I think you can get a pretty good idea what Ava thought of the whole thing from this shot.

She turned to me halfway through the ride and, smiling ear to ear, yelled, "This fun!"

To top the whole experience off, she got to pet a goat, and look into the eyes of a bear with only a sheet of glass between them.  Wildlife, up close.  We will be going back.

4th of July
4th of July weekend at Joel and Kristen's was, once again, fabulous.  Time on the lake, long walks, good food, sweet kids, and the comforting feeling that comes with knowing that everyone in the room loves your baby almost as much as you do. 

Joel even managed to talk us into taking Ava on the floating loveseat that he pulls behind his boat and confusingly refers to as "the tube".  Check out the Murphy's blog for some pictures of all of us trying it out.  And yup, that's Ava falling asleep. 
http://lisaandryanmurphy.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Joel and Kristen!  We can't wait for next year!

There's more to tell, but I need some sleep; Ava's birthday party is coming up!