awesome adventures...

awesome adventures: as a precursor to my birthday on sunday, bobby decided to plan a mystery outing for the family. We started bright and early at the Gale Woods Farm outside of St. Boni. It was a great way for us to get up-close to the animals, and get our hands dirty (and pants and shoes and shirts...). After we had worked up an appetite, we hit the Minnetonka Drive-In for some delicious old-fashioned food. Lastly, we drove to the Minnetonka Regional Park for some swimming at their swimming pond. It was an awesome day!loving up, honey, the cat...
"ow! that chicken pecked my finger!"

feeding the calves

livia standing next to one of her favorite lambs

livia was able to pull up some garlic from the garden, and sophia picked some raspberries (with a little help from daddy)

livia next to orion (one of two sheepdogs used on the farm)

minnetonka regional park (play area)

ready to swim

heading out to have some fun!

standing next to her name in the sand

having a treat before we headed home... (spongebob and dora ice cream treats)

the little mermaid...

the little mermaid: livia had her first day of swimming lessons on monday. She had taken "Little Swimmers" previously with me when she was one, but she hasn't taken official lessons until this year. She had a fabulous time, and she was fun to watch! getting ready for lessons (we had to hide in her room so sophia wouldn't see)
ready to dive in

"look mom! i'm a dolphin." so funny!

waiting to get started...

with her group and 2 instructors

back float (later she added a kick)

front float and kick

school daze...

school daze: this week has been a bit of a daze for the withers family. Livia attended "Kindergarten Connection" at West Elementary. You are able to sign your child up for a week-long experience to get them acquainted with their school and routine before Kindergarten actually begins in September. The first 3 days are only in the afternoon, but on the last day, Livia attended a full-day at school. Livia had a fabulous time, and she was exhausted everyday! It makes Bobby and me a little sad, but we are so proud of our little, learning and lovely Livia!

her first project at "Kindergarten Connection"

getting ready for her full day (notice how Sophia had to get her backpack and lunch together, too!)

livia and i rode grandpa's bus today to practice the transfer from the "big" school to West Elementary. It was so awesome, and it was even more special to have grandpa there, too (livia is holding a picture she made for grandpa)!

the last leg of our trip...

the last leg of our trip: we left sunday morning from omaha in the rain. Sophia zonked out immediately and took a nice nap. We drove almost straight through to Sioux Falls. When we arrived, we were a little early, so we decided to check out the zoo. Later we headed to the Ramada and stayed there one night. We were able to swim quite a few times, since the water park was right next to our room. tired little girl...
snack time on the way to sioux falls

we arrived in sioux falls before check-in time, so we visited the zoo

sophia and daddy trying to cool down from the heat...

waterpark at our hotel

friends, fun, food, and family...

friends, fun, food, and family: after a LONG nap on friday afternoon, we drove over to our friends, tina and jason's house, for a lovely supper. It was so nice to spend time with them. Jason and I went to college together (many years ago...he was in my first class symposium and we've kept in touch ever since). The girls ADORED Bessie, their terrier, and we single-handedly childproofed the velinsky household ;) sophia, tina, bessie, bobby, livia, & jason
2 morning doves landed right next to us. livia says, "take a picture of them, mom!" too funny!

we walked down to the heartland of america park in omaha

livia took this picture

believe it or not, sophia took this picture

the living room at our house in omaha

livia ate and finished her first big mac on vacation...had to remember that moment!

i think the big mac was bigger than her!

lions and tigers and the withers - oh my!

lions and tigers and the withers - oh my: on friday morning we arrived at the henry doorly zoo in omaha as the gates opened (8:30am). It was a beautiful day and there was a lot of walking. Livia was tired at the end (as so was I), but we were able to see the majority of the zoo. After 4 hours, we had to call it quits, since it was lunchtime and nap time (for all!). taking a picture on the signature lion statues at the front of the zoo
**roar!**

we walked through the butterfly gardens...it was so cool to see so many butterflies. Livia kept instructing me to take pictures of all the butterflies we saw...this was our favorite!

sophia's favorite animal (we had to come back twice!)

it looks like she is going to jump the fence!

bobby with his girls

the elephants were spectacular!

the rhinos were a little more difficult to see,

but still awesome!