Fun and silly times

We've had a busy few weeks since Opal's school let out. John had to go out of town for a bird study, so the girls and I packed up our bags and headed to Jefferson City to stay with Nina for a few nights. We had a great time - went on a hike, visited the native plant nursery, ate some popsicles, sang in the trees, swung on the hammock, and played and played and played. Thanks, Nina for having us!

Last weekend our family packed up and went to St.Louis. We stayed with John's Aunt Barb and Uncle Parks. They met us at Missouri Botanical Gardens and we explored the dinosaur exhibit in the Climatron. We also took the tram around for a big tour and stopped in the Iris garden, of course. It was fun to be on a family trip and the botanical gardens were just amazing. John and I could have spent hours looking at plant names and writing them down for ideas.

"scared of the dinosaur" face #1

"scared of the dinosaur" face #2

"scared of the dinosaur" face #3

T-REX, "aaaaahhhhhhh"

purple allium and purple Opal

bribing Iris with ice so she'd look at the camera - well, she looked my way...

the sweetest, cutest, most precious picture of the whole gosh darn century
"Iris with irises"

John with Gamere, Grandma Angela, who will be 97 in July. She is beautiful and
radiant and sharp.

Iris with Aunt Barb. Both Opal and Iris warmed up to Aunt Barb and Uncle Parks - giving lots of hugs and kisses. It was so great to stay with them and visit.

The following day after the gardens, we went to the zoo. There were two hippos doing some kind of underwater dance / fight. A mating ritual? I don't know, but it was just beautiful.

don't worry. the snake is not real.