Zoo Days

We've been busy, busy, busy here in our household. Crafting, making a Thanksgiving meal plan, preparing for family to visit, and sadly, last night learning of the passing of a dear friend. So this weekend we'll make the long trek back to my hometown of Boise, Idaho to attend her celebration of life service and to offer support to her daughter - whom I've known since I was 6 years old.


Today however was a day of celebration. The Little and I spent the morning with a different friend. Carolyn is someone I met my first year in college - someone who I always looked up to. Someone who always exuded an air of peacefulness and calm to my crazed scatterbrainedness (and yes Internet, I declare that scatterbrainedness is a word.) We lost touch after I graduated from Rocky back in 2000, and it wasn't until I decided to give in and jump on the Facebook bandwagon that I reconnected with her.

She and her charming husband and beautiful twins Ellie and Ben along with her friend Jen and her son Quinn met us at the Portland Zoo for a morning of zebras, lions, and elephants. It was the perfect rare sunny autumn day here in the Pacific Northwest and I'm so glad we were able to take advantage of it to let the kids run around and spend some time catching up.



Munching on snacks


Carolyn pointing out the sea lions to her darling daughter Ellie



Twins Ellie and Ben found the statue lion cubs more interesting than the real lions



Playing on some drums.


Managing to get four 2 year olds all together for one picture is no easy task.



It was such a beautiful morning. And I've decided not to let another 9 years go by before visiting with my dear friend again. In this week of Thanksgiving I'm grateful I had the opportunity to spend time with an old friend, and make a new one as well in Jen.

Yours in friendships old and new,
Simple Mama