Summer 2010 Update

We'd love to share with you a few pics and an update on what's happening at the Lins Zoo....

Like everyone else, we've been so busy with summer festivities we haven't even realized summer is almost to a close. We are adding to to the circus here with one more child. I am due January 7th with baby number 3. Josiah is certain it's a boy and comes up with the craziest made up names. Scary enough, we find it's so hard picking out boys names that we may just use one of them.

Grace took a dive off the play set four weeks ago and ended up in a full leg cast. She was pretty challenging to deal with for the first five days....until she figured out how to hobble around with it. Oddly, she started to enjoy trotting along to the rhythm of the cast tapping on our hard wood floors. She got her cast off on Thursday and we're trying very hard to keep her from getting too wild so we don't undo what's been healing.

My sister and her kiddos made a trip up from San Antonio to visit us for three weeks. We had a great time and some good adventures despite the fact we had a herd of babies, toddlers and preschoolers along for the ride. We went raspberry picking, fishing, hiking, riding, up to cities to the Mall of America and the Children's museum to name a few. Josiah is smitten with his older cousin Faith and even is willing to dress up in a prince tux to have tea with your highness.

Josiah and Faith in the "secret garden". Too precious, I couldn't help myself!

Josiah and Ava embracing as two birds of a feather at the Childrens Museum in Minneapolis.




The sisters, cousins and Nana at the Mall of America.

A couple weekends ago we got to help Ryan's sister and husband move to the beautiful land of Minnesota. We all went up to "help" them move in. Although Josiah spent a good portion of his time as the bubble wrap super hero. Real safe, I know.

We spent some time in Osh Kosh visiting some friends and going the the Fly In Show. We had a great time. Grace enjoyed singing from our friend's raised patio in the backyard. I think she was rehearsing for the next American Idol.

One of the fun things to see was Steve Saint's flying car he invented. It was created to save lives in the Amazon. He let Josiah jump in the drivers seat to check it out closer.

Checking out the war birds with our friend, Adrian. Josiah is hiding behind my leg. I guess he's camera shy now.

A random event at the show, but fun. Josiah's first ride on a mechanical bronco.... we did convince Ryan to hop on as well. They sped it up a bit more for him.

We went to the Berne Swissfest this past weekend and got to see all sorts of crazy events. I am certain it has sparked some inspiration of more "creative" games at home. One of the events was the stone throwing contest. Josiah thought he'd show up the other young strong Swiss by hurling the 75 pound rock further than all. He didn't move it at all from this pose.....

Have a great rest of the summer!