The Oregon Zoo

A couple weeks ago, Brad managed to get a Saturday off so we went to the Oregon Zoo (located near Portland). We had great weather and the boys had fun (Benny more that Timmy of course). Benny has been bugging us to go for a train ride and that was are primary reason to go to the zoo since they have a train ride. It was a long day, but worth it. No, this is not Benny's bike. See the next picture

This is not the circus elephant who rode that cycle, this is a mommy elephant and her baby.

Here is the Zooliner. It is the train that we rode at the zoo.

More of the Oregon Zoo

Benny on a tractor. Wow! What a big fish!
Benny had a lot of fun brushing the goats.

Timmy on his first train ride.

Benny showing off his train ticket.

Aunts and Uncle

Benny had a lot of fun with his Aunt Jenny, Aunt Jill, Aunt Leslie and Uncle Steve when they cam to visit the first part of October. We went to Mt. St. Helens and stopped at one of the observation centers that had a great play area for kids. This picture is of Benny trying to shovel the rocks. He was not quite big enough but he wanted to try anyway. He actually wore his sunglasses most of the time that day. Here is the playground that he liked to climb on. He wouldn't go down the slide. I don't think he liked the fact that it was like a tunnel.

We also took a day and went to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma. Brad and I are members and were able to take 3 guests. They were nice enough to let us bring 4. Anytime Benny couldn't see, he would say "Please, Steve."

Here is Benny and Aunt Leslie standing by some big shark's teeth.

Benny really had a lot of fun with his Aunts and Uncle. He liked having more people to play with. At the beginning of their visit we went to Portland for a Professional Bull riding event. It was the first time Benny and I went to such an event. It was loud and entertaining. Benny liked the big cows and learned a new word "ye-haw".

Zoo Lights

Benny enjoyed looking at the LED lights. The lights were very bright and colorful.


This was a beautiful peacock that lit up. If you have ever been to the Zoo in Tacoma, you would know of the beautiful peacocks that walk around the park.


Here is a display depicting Mount Rainier and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The red and white lights represent the cars that travel on the bridge every day.

The Thursday after Thanksgiving we took Benny to see the Zoolights at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, WA. It was the first time we ever went there in the five years we have been living on the West Coast. Most if not all the lights were LED. They were so bright and colorful. Benny had fun running around. We spent about 2 hours there and are looking forward to going back next year.

Major Update!

As my mom told me last night, I have not updated this in awhile. I have a good excuse. Too much has been going on. Since the last update, we have visited family over Thanksgiving, seen the Zoolights at the Point Defiance Zoo, dealt with a lot (and I mean a lot) of snow and cold weather, spent a few days in Leavenworth, WA and went and had pictures taken with Santa. Oh yeah, and somehow fit Christmas shopping in there.

One thing I do want to mention is Benny's new thing. He likes to tickle people. He will come up to us and put his hand on us and say "tickle tickle". It is so cute. I have a video of it and I will upload it tomorrow.

We are expecting anywhere from 6 to 8 inches of snow tonight (Sat) into tomorrow (Sun) so I will not be going anywhere. My goal for tomorrow is to upload a ton of stuff I want to share from all the fun listed above.