I’m not sure what it is tonight, but I’m feeling bummed.

Not about this week. We have baking, baking, baking to do and then–Sweetest Program of the Stinkin’ Century all weekend.

And not about next week. My sister and her hubby (and my almost-done-gestating niece) are getting here from South Carolina Saturday and staying for a week. SO MUCH FUN PLANNED.

It’s the week after Christmas that has me singing the blues. Last December 26th, we kicked our Christmas tree to the curb at 5:30am and headed south, south, south to gorgeous, sunny Florida. And had an amazing time at six fabulous zoos/animal parks. And saw so many stunning animals.

I miss them.

And I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why God created animals. I’m pretty sure He had more than a few reasons.

Look at some of these creatures. Study the details of their bodies for a second. What was going through God’s head when He designed each one? Just wow.

So tell me: why do you think God created animals?

I turned on my computer at 9:00 a.m. Monday and found three messages from my friend Gail. “We’re going to the zoo today! Can you meet us?”

Gail, her hubby, and their three girlies (Caroline and Susannah–7, Josie–4) live in Kentucky. We stayed with them back in August of last year when we went to the Louisville Zoo. Zoo #1 of 52. We also stayed with them on our way to the Nashville Zoo.Their girls are on Fall Break this week, so they’re spending time with family in Ohio.

When I read Gail’s message, my first thought was–drop everything and head to the zoo with Nina. Then my second thought was–Livi and Ava love Caroline and Susannah with everything in them. They haven’t seen them in over a year. How can I go to the zoo without them?

So I jumped in the shower, got dressed, packed a lunch, called the girls’ schools, and headed to pick them up (90 minutes after they got there). When I got to Ava’s school, her principal (a woman) said, “Ava’s not sick, is she?” I explained the zoo thing. “Oh, I’m so glad Ava gets to do this,” she said.

Now, that’s what I love in a principal. Someone who realizes that skipping school is sometimes more important than going.

Anyway. We had an awesome day. Josie and Nina took a little while to warm up to each other, but the older four were skipping, hugging, giggling and hand-holding like old pals in a matter of seconds. We came home exhausted but oh, so happy.

Nina, Josie, Livi, Caroline, Ava, Susannah.

Gail with the girls. The brunette addition is Lily, Gail’s niece (and daughter of my dear friend Beki).

Gail and me. (photo credit: Nina Taviano)

Komodo, Josie, Lily, Nina.

Caroline and Liver Lou.

Hanging out in the African Village Grainery.

Love you, Gail and fam! And you too, Beki! We love making memories with you!

Friends. The Zoo. Hooky. Does it get any better than that?

I’m years behind on photo posts–fun stuff we’ve done, cute people we know (i.e., my 9-month-old niece), ZOOS. Who knows if I’ll ever catch up?

The good news? The globe will continue to spin, with or without my life chronicled pic by pic here in Blogland.

Anyway. Last Sunday was fun. Church (great message!), Get to Know You Lunch afterwards (sat with people we know but not well–found out we were both married on January 3, 1998! and we each have a daughter born on January 5!).

Then the girls and I went to Barnes & Noble (Gabe was at the airport picking up band people) to spend our gift card from my friend Nadine. (Livi–American Girl book, Ava–stuffed guinea pig, Nina–stuffed Kai Lan)

Nadine and I went to Cedarville together, didn’t know each other super well, but had some of the same education classes. She and 2 of her 3 kiddos (ages 3 and 1) were driving from NY to TN and needed a place to stay, so I invited her to stay with us.

That was before I realized that my niece Morgan was having a birthday party at an indoor water park here in town–and they got a big suite at the hotel for us all to stay in. So, my family went on ahead, I waited for Nadine, we chatted for a bit, then I headed to the hotel. Nadine insisted she and the girls would have a relaxing night with no worries of keeping our family awake. They did. Thanks for the gift card, Nadine! You made my girlies’ day!

So, then Gabe picked us up in the Columbus Crew‘s 15-passenger van and we headed to Crew Stadium where my brother-in-law Tug was having a Will Rock 4 Food concert for Faith and Family Night after the game.

We didn’t know this when we first made plans to go to the game, but it was also Zoo at the Crew night. We were walking around before the game and saw some Zoo Mascots. A nice gal in a Columbus Zoo shirt–Lisa–was standing by the mascots. Tug says to her, “Have you heard of 52 Zoos in 52 Weeks?” I wanted to die of embarrassment. I could just picture her saying, “Excuse me, what?” But she didn’t. And long story short, she said, “Oh, I know Jack will want to meet you.” And sure enough…

We had met him briefly once before (back in December, I believe), but this time we got to talk to him about our Zoo Trip. Very, very cool. Thanking God for an incredible opportunity.

The Crew? Pretty good soccer team. They were last year’s MLS Champs.

They did not disappoint. Beat the Houston Dynamo 2-1. This guy, Steven Lenhart, was one of the guys who shared his testimony at the concert after the game.

Pillar rocked the house.

We watched the game (and the concert) from the stage. Pretty sweet. We saw highlights from the soccer game on TV this week, and (briefly–for less than two seconds) saw ourselves cheering when they scored their second goal to win. Ava said, “Now I’ve been on TV two times!”

Ang and Tug, two people I love being related to (by marriage, anyway).

Our fam. What a day–zoo stuff, soccer, concert. Dudn’t (Nina’s word) get much better than that! Thank you, Jesus, for life’s sweet pleasures!

So, tell me–if you could:

1. go to any concert,

2. go to any sporting event, and

3. meet any “celebrity,

what/who would they be?

Have an awesome weekend, friends!

We’re having a hard time staying away from zoos. We finished up our 52 in 52 on August 1, then August 8 found us back at the Central Park Zoo. Not to mention (but I’m apparently mentioning anyway) that we’ve been to the Columbus Zoo three times in the past month. And what better way to spend Labor Day than to revisit the lovely, the delightful Akron Zoo?

Seriously. I love this zoo. It’s pretty, it’s cozy, and it’s got a crazy-cool Big Cat Collection–including three 6-month-old jaguar cubs! Triple sigh.

I do realize that I’m 11 Zoo Recaps (from the original 52) behind. And I’m pondering how to work those in. And I’m also giving much thought to all of your super suggestions of what you’d like to see on the blog in the weeks/months to come. And I do know that some of you aren’t animal fans. But, for today, humor me.

I’m in a Zoo Mood.

A big shout-out to David Barnhardt at the Akron Zoo for his warm hospitality and the GREAT job he and his staff do to make this zoo our very favorite small zoo in the country! If you live anywhere near Akron, Ohio and haven’t been to the zoo, you’re missing out! And hurry, before the baby jaguars get any bigger!

Coolest Zoo Sign evah.

Be still my heart.  For someone who could take or leave (okay, leave. period.) domestic kitties, I love, love, love Big Cats (jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers, etc.). Especially babies.

Meet LeBron, Nakita and Bella. Not sure which is which, but LeBron weighs 45 pounds (10 pounds more than his sisters).

The proud Mama.

I heart snow leopards. Not as much as jaguars, but isn’t he (she?) pretty?

Such huge paws. Such long tail. Created with everything they need to thrive.

The zoo has three tiger brothers too. Just 18 months old and look how big.

He’s not as mad as he looks; just getting ready for an afternoon siesta.

Not a cat. But a cute little red panda.

And a rare (at least for us) shot of a red panda hanging upside down.

One of life’s great mysteries–the jellyfish. Fascinating. But I don’t get it.

For whatever reason, we didn’t get that many good photos from our first visit to the Akron Zoo. So happy we got to go back! No concrete plans right now, but I’m sure we’ll find our way back to quite a few of the 52. And some new ones too!

Some of you have asked about the books. They’re coming along nicely. A lot of work, but I’m not complaining. I love, love, love to write.

I just got off the phone with a delightful chap from a radio station in South Africa. We chatted about the Zoo Tour, and he told me that all next week, there’s free admission to all the National Parks in South Africa. If only plane tickets were free too.

In other news, Livi lost her 13th tooth. Soccer season starts tonight–two games. Take a package of ramen noodles to Pei Wei tomorrow and get their new Japanese Chile Beef Ramen 50% off.

Happy Nine-oh-Nine-oh-Nine, friends!

First, a little thank-you shout-out to our friends Holly and Duey who shared FREE Noodles coupons with us tonight. We’d never been before–yum! We adults shared a booth, and our five kiddos had a booth behind us. So, if we shut out the noise, it was almost like a double date!

Then Holly had the urge to bless somebody (she gets this urge multiple times a day) and went on a little school supplies shopping spree for Livi and Ava. Totally unexpected, yet total answer to prayer. If this ruffles anyone’s feathers, I suggest you take it up with Miss Holly. She takes great offense when people rob her of the blessing of giving.

Love you, friends!

And now, the Denver Zoo. First of all, let me say that finding a place to stay in Denver was somewhat of a fiasco. It wasn’t for lack of offers–I think we had six. Long story short, we stayed with a delightful couple named Tom and Jill Goding. Our connection? Miss Joanne, who was Jill’s daughter’s Brownie Troop Leader before Joanne and fam moved to Phoenix in July. Livi and Ava hit it off immediately with Ashlyn (8). They loved each other so much that all three of them crammed into a twin bed for the night! And little Lily (not yet 2) was just adorable.

Jill and the girls met us at the zoo (and again the next day–this time with Tom!), so Gabe had his hands full with seven women. We had a great time. Thank you so much, Tom and Jill, for your hospitality and friendship!!

Now, this is a rockin’ Zoo Sign. Stunning view, awesome weather–perfection.

Okay, got my giraffe fix out of the way. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a giraffe?? 20 days!! This isn’t going to work, folks.

The regal Maned Wolf. One of the first animals Nina ever talked about, thanks to Dora’s animal-rescuing cousin, Diego. If an animal hails from South America, Nina’s all over it.

I would make a comment about his dark roots, but he doesn’t seem to be in a joking mood. His mood improved instantaneously, though, that afternoon when he and the missus enjoyed a little conjugal fun just two feet from our family of five on the other side of the glass. Have I mentioned the educational benefits of zoos?

Me, Jill, and our five little blond girlies–Nina, Livi, Lily, Ava, Ashlyn.

The most dangerous animal in all of Africa. Seriously. Don’t mess.

A friendly native, a.k.a., Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep.

Now, that’s a majestic creature. Lucky Gabe has tigers just 20 minutes away.

I can’t tell you what a blessing it was for our girls to meet so many new friends.

We had a great day at the Denver Zoo! Up next–more new friends and GIRAFFE MANIA!

Happy Thursday, friends!!