Noah's Birthday, Take 57

Noah has had so many birthday celebrations this year we're going to have a hard time convincing him he doesn't get presents all the time for no reason :) We celebrated in South Carolina one more time...

Opening presents

Buzz!

Checking out his new toy

He was so excited to see it went all by itself

Yay!

Toy Story!

Buzz!

Cake! (That one was for you, Mom)

He got to stick his fingers in it even after Mama said no...

Yummy

Chowin' down

Sugar high

He thinks everyone should sing to him all the time

Cheese ball

Video of him playing with his Buzz Lightyear Toy:

Noah vs. the Sprinkler

We weren't quite sure about the water where we were (it was really deep right off shore and the boys saw gars (which are apparently vicious fish) in the water right near the dock) so Noah and Aunt Sarah took advantage of the sprinkler we found. Noah got a life jacket from Grandma and Papa for his birthday so he could go out on the dock and he liked it so much he decided he had to wear it in the sprinkler, too. He must be Grant's kid ;-)

Ready to go outside

Testing out the water

Mikayla being embarrassed by her brother's antics

Not too sure about this...

One foot

Finally running through!

The House

We did finally make it to South Carolina! We stayed outside of Lexington, on Lake Murray. The house was nice and even had a hot tub which we wasted no time jumping into...

Me, Grant and the Kayla bean

Jumping on Daddy

View from the top deck

What's so funny, Sar?

Papa Larry, Sarah, Big Scott and Scott enjoy the hot tub

Finally able to relax

The house

The dock at twilight

Backyard

Gettin' There

So it's a long drive from Florida to Ohio, and it sure is a long drive from Ohio to South Carolina, as well :) We were fortunate to have a place to stop about nine hours in - at Scott's (Sarah's boyfriend Scott, herein known as Big Scott) parents lake house in Tennessee. We had breakfast with his mom, Julie and step-dad, Ken before heading out the next morning. We found that we were definitely in the South.... ;-)

The server at the restraunt told us Mikayla was a "fresh un" Yeah, something like that...

Julie and Mikayla

Mom

Dad enjoying breakfast

Big Scott and Scott

The Commander and the one really in charge ;-)

Sarah and Papa Larry

Toledo Zoo!

We were able to spend the day at the Toledo Zoo before we headed out of town and it was great! We met up with my friend from high school, Jen and her kids Audrey and Xavier. The new kid friendly area that the zoo has was the best part of the whole trip! Definitely taking Noah and Mikayla back in September.

My little giraffe

Cutest giraffe EVER

Kayla 'hung out' with Daddy all day (I really missed my double stroller while we were gone)

Noah hiding in the tent

Noah the bee

Mommy and Noah dress up

The goat really liked Shell....

Noah and Shell brushing the goat

He was good about petting the animals

Noah and Aunt Shell-Shell try out the slide

He eventually went down the slide with lots of help from Shell...

Playing in the creek

This was a great area for Noah, even if he ended up a little wet ;-)

Noah and Audrey really liked the otters

New elephant area

Checkin' out the penguins

He told me he wanted to say cheese

Baby giraffe!

Polar bears!

The baby polar bear was born around the same time as Mikayla. Thinkin' he's bigger...

Noah and Shell Shell check out the seals

I love this picture...

Rawr!

Coming Soon!

Just wanted to let everyone know that yes, I do have pictures of the rest of vacation and yes, I do intend to put them up :-p I have a couple other things that need my attention more immediately, but fear not - pictures will be coming soon!