The Great Outdoors

Nick and I have really tried to get Owen out and about ever since he was born.  So far we have done a pretty good job with it.  We were so excited for the time when he was old enough to finally get him outside in the rain for a little puddle jumping.

We also decided that we wanted to take him camping before it got cold.  We just made it under the wire because it was a cool 50 that night.  But Owen was a champ and he roughed it out.  

We left as soon as Nick was done with school on Friday afternoon.  Silly us, we didn't make a reservation for a camp site before we left.  But luckily we were able to find a spot at a camp ground right outside of Starved Rock Park.  We got there with just enough time to set up the tent, start a fire and eat dinner before it got dark.  

It was so nice of Nick to make dinner.  Which consisted of hobo dinner (of course) fruit salad and s'mores!

Owen had his own little spot in the tent.

Owen made it through most of the night on his own little pad, but I was overly concerned he was cold so he got to spend the rest of the night in my sleeping bag with me.

 After waking up early the next morning and driving back into town for breakfast, we met Nick's parents at Starved Rock for some hiking and lunch.

Thought Owen was enjoying the view as we hiked, but...

...upon further examination, he was just asleep.

We made it to the top of Starved Rock!

ZOO Time

As many of you might already know, I am AWFUL at posting on this blog.  While I won't say that I have made a New Year's Resolution to improve, it is definitely something that I would like to improve on.  

I had the amazing opportunity to stay home with Owen for a while.  Nick's mom, Judy AKA Grandma, and I had a standing appointment for Wednesdays to have lunch and a movie.  This was way back from before Owen was even born, but know that he has come along we obviously can't take him to the movies anymore.  So we had come up with a few things to do that didn't involve trying to keep an infant quick for extended periods of time.  One of these outings was the zoo.

It so amazing to be a part of something that someone does for the first time.  The only problem with some of a child's firsts is that they have no idea that they are experiencing them! So we at least try to document them for Owen and in the future he can say, "What were they thinking?"

Our first stop was to the monkeys, who weren't really interested in entertaining people out in the sun.  Which didn't seem to bother Owen since he was sleeping!

Still sleeping at the "Mini Farm"

"Hello Mr. Pig!"

He even got to try out the Merry-Go-Round!

Usually things that aren't involved with what we are doing are more interesting.

The giraffes were really cool and you could get so close.  We also learned that a giraffe's back legs are shorter than there front legs because it makes it easier to support the giraffe when it stretches for leaves.

Owen's Sophie got to meet a real Sophie!

We got to ride a train around the whole zoo!

We had an awesome time!

These next few pictures are from our visit to the Peoria zoo a few weeks later.  Notice the outfit change after Owen exploded (while Grandpa was holding him too of course)!

The Peoria zoo had just had 3 tiger cubs that were born and they were stinking cute.

See how 6 month old Owen measures up to a 6 month old Tiger cub.

I know that some people don't see the benefit of taking children out to places like this when they can't even remember them.  But it is so wonderful to be able to experience these things with them anyway.  You make your own special memories.  They won't remember these things, but you always will! Plus they get in for free!!!!!!