Erie Zoo Trip with Our Niece & Nephew!

July 4th weekend, we also took our niece, Bryce, and our nephew, Bowen, to the Erie Zoo! My parents had a zoo membership (and came with us), but did you know that the zoo is only $8 for adults (I think it's funny they say "adults 13 and over" though . . really? 13 is an adult. Come on.) and only $5 for children 2-12?! And free for 2 and under! I really thought it was going to be more expensive than that though! They have made so many awesome improvements over the year to the zoo and if you haven't gone in a while, you definitely need to make a trip to the zoo!


We saw just about every animal there!


Brycee would say "what else is there to see?!"



Waiting in line for the carousel!


Shane is having so much fun!


Bowie! Both of the kids were so good the entire time!


Baby kangaroos! They have 3 of them! This was one of the bigger ones! The other 2 were still in the mommy's pouches!


Kid zone!


This picture cracks me up because she looks so serious! I think she was bummed we weren't allowed to go in the play gym with her.


But we all got to go on the train!! The kids were getting pretty tired towards the end of the zoo trip. We were there for about 2 1/2 hours and just made it to the car in time for the kids to fall asleep! So glad we have such a fun place to go to in Erie to take our niece and nephew and teach them all about animals!

August is C-R-A-Z-Y!

1). . . Holy cow it's August already.
2) This summer has been amazing weather wise.
3) I need three more months of summer in order to fit everything in that I want to do.

Upcoming Events:

• last sand volleyball game (sniff, sniff)
• Jess & Jase's wedding
• Bryce's 2nd birthday party
• Shane & I's 3rd Anniversary
• RENT @ Erie Playhouse
• Waldameer
  
• Erie Zoo
• Birthdays
• Anniversaries
  
• At least ONE more day at beach (only been there once this summer)
• Mani/Pedi
  
• Rehearsal & Dinner
  
• Josh & Mase's Wedding
• Crawford County Fair
• Baby Nephew being born
• House list (too big to mention deets)
  

I'm starting to get antsy because I feel like I have too many things on my list and not enough time to do it. But really . . . when does anyone have enough time to do the things they need to do?! And yes I NEED to go to Waldameer and the Zoo and the Fair. I feel like I don't take advantage of the things Erie has to offer, and I need to enjoy them more!

Home Sweet Home (Erie, PA). . . I miss you!

from Flickr

Shane and I moved from Erie, PA to Fredericksburg, VA over two years ago (Shane got a really good job offer) . . . I can't believe it has been that long already! We had a really hard time when we first moved as we are both HUGE family people. We cried pretty much every night for the first month . . at least. Everyone told us. . "it will get easier . . don't worry . . " and although we do not cry every night like we used to, we still miss our families, our friends, and gulp . . . dreary Erie!

You all know about the soon addition to our family . . our niece! And being so far away from the new experiences, the fun, and the joy she will bring . . . . it just kills me! My best friends get together almost every weekend for the "ushe", and it makes me so sad that I can not be there. I always feel so left out. And of course my parents, my grandparents, my parent-in-laws, my brothers and sissies, all the pets, and the rest of the fam . . . . we are missing so much of their lives!

And dear old Erie . . . the mistake-by-the-lake . . . I do not know why people talk down on you so much, because I miss so many things about you!

• Waldameer (Amusement park with a brand new rollar coaster that even my dad and mom said they would ride! They really aren't old! ;-) . . . The coaster is ranked the #2 wooden rollar coaster in the world and #3 overall by CoasterFanatics)


• Presque Isle State Park (sand volleyball, paddle boat renting, soaking up the rays, taking the doggies to run around off leash . . .shh. . don't tell . . . , swimming around, wave jumping, greasy food eating, boating, sunset watching, relaxing)


• Erie Zoo (They have renovated this soooo much since I was younger and it is just great to be able to see these amazing animals . . although I do always feel bad they can not be in the wild and free, I truly value getting to see their beauty and intrique up close)


• The Bayfront (Just a peaceful ride that my grandpa always used to take me on . . around the dock to see the beautiful scenery)


• Downtown (I am not a big partier . . . but going downtown every once in a while is always a good time. My fav . . . the Plymouth)


• The Snow (Living in Virginia does not give you much snow. We get lots of ice, but no snow. And because my hubby loves to ski and because I am still learning . . . I wish we were around snow more . . I know . . you think after living in Erie for 22 years you would be sick of all the snow, but when you NEVER get it . . . you start to miss it!)


• The Warner (My parents and I used to always go to Broadway or Philharmonic shows, and although I wouldn't say I am a very artistic/musically inclined person, I looooooved these!)

Those are not all of the things Erie has to offer, but those are my favorites and those are what I miss the most. Hopefully soon we can get some good job offers so we can move back to where we belong! Pray for us!