Zoo Days and a Little Experiment

Hello again!! Here are some recent pictures from our trip to the Zoo last week. My sister-in-law is off work for a couple of weeks so we decided to take our kids to the Atlanta Zoo, and had a blast!!

All ready for a fun day of learning animal sounds! Unfortunately, the animals were pretty quiet today, but we still got to see them.

Here's Christa by the Willie B. statue. She was a little frightened by him, but posed for the picture while I made monkey sounds.

Having a great time looking at... some animal that I can't remember the name of. It looked kind of like a raccoon. Any ideas, internet friends?? I'm hoping to print the pictures and label them as a learning activity, and I got good ones of these furry (lemur??) creatures (not pictured here).

Can't remember this adorable fellow's name at the moment, but he posed wonderfully for us and played ball with the kids on the other side of the protective glass.

My little Bear!

We are doing quite well, and our schedule is filling up fast. I bit the bullet and decided that the last of this post-baby-weight isn't coming off by itself, so I joined a gym. That's right - it was painful and agonizing, but I am actually (deep breath in) e-n-j-o-y-i-n-g it. Well, I'm enjoying the socializing that comes twice a week from my class, anyway, and the sore muscles the day after! Also, we are starting a Kindermusik class this week (thanks for that great idea, Shanda!) Christa loves interactive songs and chants, and I think this will be a great way for both of us to get more connected to the community. Speaking of which, we are really loving our new town! (But we still miss you, Augusta friends!). I used to think I was a big city girl, but I really do prefer living in smaller towns.

Alright, here comes the experiment part. Let me start it by saying that you can all thank Lurker for this post! I was not planning on writing today, but Lurker correctly pointed out that it has been nearly a week, and I happened to receive this comment at a time that was good for blogging! Lurker (and a few other readers) also sparked a little curiosity as to who exactly reads this blog. So, I need a favor from you if you will take a couple of minutes. Will you please leave an anonymous comment on this post saying "I read this blog; it's the highlight of my day, and I don't know what I would do without it. Jessica, you are such an amazing writer and inspiring person... " OK, maybe that's a little carried away :) Seriously, leave a comment (you do NOT have to de-lurk - an anonymous comment will do) stating, "I read this blog and I am one of the following:
- a friend or acquaintance (past or present)
- a family member
- a friend of a friend or someone who doesn't actually know us, but has a reasonably direct connection
- a complete stranger
- other (insert appropriate words)

If you are a complete stranger, could I trouble you to also include how you found this blog??
That would be fabulous!! If you can not figure out how to leave a comment, an e-mail will do as well. I'll eagerly await the hundreds of comments that are sure to pour in now :) No, the reason for this experiment is that I have received a few communications recently from people who I don't immediately recognize. I am thrilled that people are interested in what I have to say, and welcome all readers!! Plus, lets face it, it's pretty fun to try and figure you people out! But I do go back and forth continuously on how public to make this blog, because while part of me would be flattered to have hundreds of comments on each post, the paranoid, OCD part wants to make sure that this is a safe place for me to share my thoughts. I realize that if there is some crazy, stalkerish person reading this (I can't imagine why - we're really a waste of time), then that person is likely not going to participate. But I'm curious, nonetheless, so humor me, won't you?? (Justin, I know what you're thinking - don't do it).

Alright, I'll try to post a little sooner next time. Margaret Anne, I will get some pictures of the kitchen and yard very soon!