Zoolapalooza

We spent the day and a weeks worth of energy at the Indianapolis Zoo- which is an accredited zoo, aquarium and botanical gardens.

I want to be a dolphin trainer when I grow up. Let's pretend that I didn't get misty eyed over these beautiful animals. 

Tough Cookies. Lucy, her transporter, and her Rhinoceros bodyguard. 

"The cats are in trouble! We need to rescue the cats!" Curse you Diego, this is what we heard 89% of the time during our 5 hour tour of the zoo.

Jordan and Lily, like true Slytherins, went to see the Snake Gallery while Lion-Hearted Lucy and I waited outside. Here I learned not only that Lucy is a snake charmer, but that I will be the only Hufflepuff member in my house.

That right Lucy, no kisses until you're married. 

What does the monkey say again?

Lily the Lion

Jordan took just a few pictures while Lucy and I were visiting the  Mothers Room -  and this one happens to be one of my favorite of the entire day! Proof that Jordan should be the one with the camera instead of me!

Jordan petted a shark - no big deal. He's thinking of adding onto his resume to bring up the coolness factor. 

Up close and personal with a sea lion

 The penguin exhibit was by far the favorite of all the female Elliss's. 

The gardens were a bit of a disappointment - perhaps due to the drought. Or maybe I've just been spoiled by my visits to the royal gardens in Madrid. 

Lily was a super star and walked the majority of our 5 hour excersion. Her favorite memory of the zoo, "Chasing the baby ewephent". 

Lucy at Large

Watch out world, Lucy is walking on her own two feet. 

Soldiers and Saliors Monument Circle

WW I &II memorial

A memorial to every other war (civil, Mexican, ect)

By this point we were sweaty, sticky, grumpy and hot. And there is only one perfect solution for those afflictions.

Chocoloholic Ice Cream! It was one of the best ice creams I've ever had. Jordan claims it was just the perfect timing that made it so creamy.

Proof that the right Chocolate Ice Cream is like medicine for grumpy, whinny toddlers and babies (and let's be honest, wives are also included in that list.)

Random

Minnie has a new sister, Dollie. "I have two daughters" she says as she holds up all five of her fingers.

Dollie is apparently the baby sister because as I snuggle and sing (More like Croaking, my poor girls) Lucy to sleep for her nap times, Dollie also get sung and put down for naps. 

Lily's learned how to open the doors in our apartment - and when she opens the front door all Lucy sees is FREEDOM! - and takes off at faster than light speed. She's made it halfway down the outside hall before I've noticed that she's missing. We will now be bolting our door. 

Where the cool kids eat lunch

100 Acre Art Park of the Indianapolis Museum of Art

No bones about it, anything is considered art these days.

The strange white shape in the background? An floating igloo in which one person will be selected and flown in from whatever their international location to live in for the summer. Any takers?

Eden II

This was my favorite piece. When the two circle's shadows combine to be just one circle it mean that it's summer solstice. Note how close the rings are together, the solstice was just a few days away.