Bobcat Stench

One thing we learned at the zoo is what bobcats smell like, kind of like a skunk but worse. We used to smell it when we'd sit in the hot tub right after we moved in but then we figured all the construction and people drove them away because it stopped. Well, now that it's nice enough to keep the windows open at night I can smell it tonight and I think the bobcat is running circles around my yard. The neighborhood dog seems to agree with me. At least the guests are gone and don't have to experience this. Bobcat mace?

(calm down animal rights people, I am kidding about the mace. I'll stick with the gun, haha)

Nervous at the Zoo

Yes, poor Katie and Mark were dragged to the zoo again this visit with promises of seeing a baby chimpanzee (she was hiding). Kind of limited in the tourist attraction department here so I bet now that they've done everything twice they will start suggesting we meet on vacations instead. Anyway, the past few times we have gone recently the animals have been really a bit too close for comfort. When Patrick saw the tigers only a few feet away from him he instinctively knew that wasn't right and demanded that Sean get him out of the stroller and hold him-- and then refused to be put down the rest of the trip, was literally clinging to Sean on what was a rather hot day I should add. Well, this last time the cheetah was up close but was purring like a nice tame kitten, but no doubt still plotting to eat us. After hearing so many "zoo gone wild" stories this past year I am on guard the whole time, plus it didn't help that safety inspector Mark was suspicious that some of the fences weren't high enough. Needless to say, the zoo is no longer a relaxing family activity for this paranoid mom. Do they have cheetah mace?

Silhouette

I mean seriously, he's like a dog with his tongue sticking out all the time. Check out that shadow!

Brave Travelers

We don't get many visitors in these parts, so we're grateful when people brave the long series of flights and drives to make it here. The girls had a great time bossing Aunt Katie and Uncle Mark around. We do hope to go see them next in their new house near West Point, New York. Katie made the mistake of promising Anna a trip to the American Girl Doll store in NYC. Trust me, she will never forget that promise, Fairy Godmother!

Butterfly Hunter

Anna is obsessed with bugs of all sorts and butterflies in particular so today when we took Megan to go bowling at K-State, we walked Anna and Patrick around campus and found tons of butterflies. I actually had it together enough to throw the butterfly net in the van so she was living her dream. At one point we looked up and realized we were rather close to some big house on campus, perhaps trespassing? And then later I figured out that we were on yes, Butterfly Lane.

Is there a Toad Street because that is her other obsession.... Aunt Katie found one for her in our yard but it had apparently had an unfortunate run in with Gavin, the lawn boy. Didn't realize until she picked it up, nasty. No photos, sorry.

Not letting me upload photos

I don't have that many great photos from the weekend yet, but it's still rather annoying that I can't post them, blogger. Anyway, we are enjoying having some rare guests to Kansas. We started off by going to the Konza Prairie so they could see grass taller than in the empty lot next to my house. I had only been there once before for a brief photo shoot and hadn't gone on the trails, so didn't realize how narrow the bridges are, i.e. can't take the stroller across them. We didn't make it that far carrying Patrick but Anna did manage to chase every moth and butterfly possible, finds the energy for that but then begs to be carried up the hill by Uncle Mark. She also snuck a moth into the van and released it while I was driving, nice.

We decided it was too hot to do much after that, besides have lunch at Coco-Bolos. High 80s is great in July, but in September it is miserable. We had the sitter come on Friday night this week so we took Katie and Mark to Harry's where a number of fools had brought their small children. We were thankful that we did not.

Saturday we continued the "live like a Kansan" theme and Sean took Katie and Mark to the K-State game. No sitter to be found so I stayed home with the kids and got to enjoy the ND game without angry fan. I gather it was a toasty game so I think I made a wise decision. The girls also had a party at the much improved after the tornado, Gymnastics Plus. Might I add that a lot of houses are looking better the second time around too. Of course we had to give Katie and Mark the tornado tour, I mean, it IS Kansas.

Not sure what we are doing for the Kansas finale today, I feel like perhaps we have done it all. Sean is requesting to watch the Bills game with Mark as by some weird alignment of the stars, they are both die hard fans. Who knew there were two of them still? And to marry sisters from Michigan, that is quite the coincidence. Looks like the girls are going to go bowling at K-State as Megan has another party today and we hope to just grab a nearby lane and hang out. We'll see how it compares to Wii bowling... Well, this has been a really lame post, sorry. Patrick is up really early these days so I am dragging.

Bye bye, feathered hair

I never did manage to download the close up that Caroline and Andy got of old feathered haired Jimmy but apparently he does read my blog and took the hint. Now if only the offense will take the hint from Sean and actually score some points today...