The Henry Vilas Zoo
aka Madison Zoo

I cannot say enough about what a GREAT ZOO this was!!! The BEST part is it's a FREE ZOO!!!! We picked up Patti, and made our way to the Zoo. 40% of the animals weren't out because it was a really cool day. However we were so impressed with the animals we did see!! The reptiles were HUGE!!! Seriously the biggest snakes I have ever seen!!! (We didn't get any photos of them, because the kids weren't to thrilled being so close.) There is a carousel, petting zoo, and train!! This is a definite stop for anyone who fly's into Madison, WI. :) Here's what we did...

We got silly...

We checked out the Animals...
I was sooooo excited to see this Short Tailed Sting Ray!! Alan & I had just learned all about it on River Monsters the night before! I was beyond excited to see one up close!!!!

We saw this sign on the bathroom...
And let me just say if there was a real tornado we would all die. (Okay maybe we would live if it was a F-0 or F-1.)Its a above ground bathroom. I'm not sure how this would keep anyone very safe, other than taking the main blow for the first 30 seconds.

The Kids rode the Carousel with Aunty Mallory...

We Played...
They have a HUGE slide... probably as tall as a 2 story building! We decided to go up. Except we had no idea it was literally just climbing on this net, ALL the way up.. We had a system going. Me first, followed by Brenton, Patti, Savannah, & Mallory. This way there was a adult to help the kids all the way up.

Patti went down first, followed by Mallory and then the kids. They complained how slow it was. And how there jeans got caught all the way down. Naturally, I for some reason, thought it would be the same for me... and let me just say Yoga Pants on a big slide= A little Scary...

I know really funny!! It was all fun until I hit that turn.. way to much speed. What was even more funnier was the faces of all the normal Mom's who were just watching there kids. I don't think they were prepared to see a Mom coming out.

We took the kids pic's to get a FREE Sonic Jr. Ice Cream Sundae...
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After we enjoyed our Sundae's, we dropped off Aunty Mallory at the Airport... :( Dropped off Patti at her house, and drove the 2 hours home. So glad it was such a fun day!!!

6 Years...

6 Years...

It amazes me how fast, and slow a year can go by. Last year was incredibly hard at the 5 year mark, & just a hard year in general. Honestly, I think My Mom knew how sad I was, & what a serious year it was! This year she made it up to me... She made me smile & laugh so much!!! 6 Years is definitely a lot less harder than 5. We use to laugh sooo much!!! She was the silliest person I knew! Being with her was always sooo fun!!

Even though, I am far away, & in this new place. Is it a coincidence Mallory missed her flight?? Or that all of the flights were booked, until late Tues night?? I have a feeling my Mom had something to do with it. ;)

While driving to Madison, we saw a Amish Buggy!! Best part was it was only 15-20 mins into the state line!!! I LIVE near Amish!!! This has been on my list of things to accomplish in my lifetime! My Mom LOVED the Amish & Mennonites. She always had us learning about them. We read books, asked ex-amish ppl questions, went to there farms, ect. In fact when David was 5, he went into a Eye Dr for his yearly eye check. When they got to a slide of a tractor. Davids response was "Ohhh I think that's a Amish tractor...Ohhh wait... Its a Mennonite, Sorry!!". (Mennonites drive cars and are a little more modern) What 5 year old could tell you that?? Let alone the difference???! My Mom was always teaching us about something new!!! She could always hold all of our attention!!

Even more fitting, was spending the day with My good friend Patti Thomas from MA. (She lives in Madison, Wi & Ironically had the day off!! coincidence??!) My Mom LOVED Patti!! Patti was one of My Moms FAVORITE Friends. We met at Girls Camp when were 12. We went to EFY together, hung out in Boston, double dated, ect. Patti & I always laugh so much because we are such opposites! No one would ever pair us together! We have managed to see each other almost every year since High School!!! (except while she served her mission... however Alan & I dropped her off to the MTC & I got to see her within a month of being home in MA!) It seems so ideal to spend the day with her. And between the 3 of us and the kids we Laughed a TON!!!

We went to the Zoo (Which I will post later about) in Madison. My Mom loved animals!! She always had so much compassion for them. I am told now, that she was like that even as a child. My Mom did the BEST praying mantis impression!!! Or the BEST Scardy Cat you would ever see!!! Even as a child, I remember her helping a suffering giant bubble bee! You would always hear her laugh at animal shows/commercials that made animals silly! To this day every time, I see anything with a talking animal I think of her. She LOVED Babe & Babe Pig in the City!!! (click the link to see her favorite part!! ;)) Or one of her favorite commercials...




This Video always makes me laugh. It was back in the day when videos on digital cameras didn't have volume yet! :)

So here's what went down...
You see us all smiling for the photo.
My Dad says "Guess What?!"
My Mom still smiling says "What???" thru her teeth.
During the same time David lets out this HORRID Fart (or as Culotta's would say "POPS").. naturally I swing away out of reaction. And still smiling for the photo. Somehow I am the only one who notices!!
My Dad announces "This is a Video!!"
(My Dad ALWAYS would pull this on us!! He would tell us it was a picture but really it was a video!!)
We all LAUGH.
My Mom explaining how she was trying not to move while my dad was asking questions.
Than I explain what David did!!! (Notice how he doesn't even acknowledge it!! haha)
Mallory being typical Mallory... all over the place.
Me trying to Pop Davids fingers!!
And Christy doing Mr. ROBOTO??!

I hope there is less crying and more laughing in the years to come!!!

I Love You MOM!!
& I have Missed You Every Day since...