FaMiLy!

Most of the time when we spend time with family, it's usually on their home turf.

But not this time! We were lucky to get 2 separate visits during February (shh...I know it's already March).

My parents and Kelsey and Ben came down to celebrate my Dad's birthday!

Look at that (homemade) cheesecake glow!

Birthdays, apparently, get smokier the older you get.

Avery even did one of her favorite tricks for the birthday celebration. Being upside down.

And although I don't have any more photo documentation of that visit, let it be known, it was wonderful!

2 weeks later my older sister Jesica and her family came down and celebrated Kimberly's birthday. Avery and her became fast friends.

Not that you have much of a choice when Avery crawls up to you and sits on your lap.

Scott and Andrew utilized our Wii.

And dominated it!

Now, I don't know about all of you, but I feel like there has been some serious lacking off zoo pictures lately on this blog. What's that? You have missed the Indianapolis animals as well? Well boy oh boy, do I have a treat for you!

What better way to celebrate your 6th birthday than at the zoo? Here are pictures by our favorite animals.

One of Scott's favorites was the jellyfish.

Andrew enjoyed the penguins.

Kimberly had lots of favorites, including the seahorses.

Avery enjoyed...

the baby elephant that is almost her same age.

I, as always, love the rhinoceroseseses.

Kyle has a soft spot for merekats.

Tom was the only one who looked at the wild dogs, so that will serve the purpose as being his favorite.

And Jesica appreciated the lioness.

Complete with roaring action!

The aquarium is usually our first stop when we enter the zoo.
 

And touching a dog shark was a big hit with our guests.

We then journeyed over to the desert section.

Where the animals pretty much roam free within a toasty greenhouse.

Scotty was alarmed/amazed by how wide snake mouths can open.

 A little further down, there's a huge glass wall that allows you to get right next to some tigers.

 Which thrilled Avery,

but kind of gave me the willies to see this beast pacing/stalking my daughter.

Basically there was just lots of walking,

 

looking, 

 

and taking pictures.

And we finished it off with the dolphin show!

It was a wonderful day,

with wonderful people,



and wonderful presents,

and wonderful rainbow cupcakes!

Nothing beats having family around!