Cougar Mountain Zoo

I have herd of this little zoo, all tucked away in the hills if Issaquah... Cougar NMountain Zoo... and it was wonderful.   Its not a very large establishment, but it has so much charm, and you can tell that its ran by very passionate people.  Zookeepers were roaming around and they took the time to just stop and have conversations with the kids about animal sounds and various other random thoughts and it was special.  I felt like I was seeing these beautiful animals in someone's backyard. Although, it was a bit pricy, I think that you are paying for the experience more then the attractions, at almost 50.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids EEEKK!!

there is this area where you can feed their animals.  Alpacas, Emus, Wallaby's, Cranes, and Deer... so I love deer, I think that they are beautiful and majestic.  I love to watch them walk and I have always wanted to touch one.  In the wild, sometimes you can get close, but I have never touched a live deer... until today!!  I fed a deer right out of my hand and he rubbed his head on my arm and I was able to pet his face!  Like really pet him... not just a little touch with my finger.  Ahhhh.... its the little things that make me happy!  I want to go back just so I can pet the deer!!


Feeding Deer!!

The Magic Forest

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Pretty Teeth!!

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There are these cool animal sculptures all over the place... I mean they are everywhere...  and the kids really had fun with them. 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a big zoo with tons of animals, this is not your zoo.  This zoo provides a very intimate experience.  The animals are very close to you.  I saw Cougars and Tigers that were only 5 feet away, and there were large Macaws that were out in the open.  We fed animals and learned a lot.  There are really neat "experiences" you can purchase, and I think that I might want to look into that.  It might be a fun date day for the hubby and I :)

 

 

Here's the website...

http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/

 





What's My Name?

While at the park yesterday...

Emery: My mom has a French name...
Waylon: My moms name is Carly...
Silence
Emery: Blake, what's your moms name?
Blake: Her name is Honey...
Giggles
Waylon: Her names not Honey...
Blake: Well,that's what my dad calls her... Everyone else calls her Jes

Oh my!  I was laughing so hard!  Such a silly, yet literal boy :)

Crazy Foggy Days

The fog has been crazy lately... almost like its October!  Its looked really neat here in the morning when I take Blake to school, and I have snapped a few shots over the past couple weeks when it looks really neat!  I sure wish that I knew what I was doing when it comes to taking pictures, and these might have come out so much better.  Maybe I should look for a class... I just take pictures of everything on auto!  I just snap a lot and hope that some will turn out :)



He's such a ham!!

 

Kona



The sky looked like it was on fire!



Luke likes to photo-bomb!!

Sibling Sweetness

These boys can just melt my heart, sure, they have their moments where I fear that they will be mortal enemies, but most of the time, they show a real care and love for each other. Blake has become so patient with Luke, and really takes the time to show him how to do something and really enjoys playing with him, and Luke looks up to Blake so much... he copies him (good and bad) but he is always excited to show his big brother something that he did, and Blake - bless his heart- always acts so excited about whatever Luke brings to him.  This week, both boys have been really sick, but they each have been so helpful to me, because they want to take care of each other.   There are times when I think... goodness sakes, I swear that they are going to kill each other... but there are more times that are full of sweetness that make me feel like we are doing something right :).

Kyle's New Hobby

After being obsessed with A River Runs Through It for years... my darling dear finally treated himself to a fly fishing set up.  Kyle is such a researcher and looks at everything from every angle before he gets into something, so needless to say, he has prepared himself :)  He has watched YouTube videos, read instructional manuals, figured out the boundaries from the Fish And Wildlife, and even knows what bugs are being eaten by fish right now... because, apparently, that's how you catch fish with this thing...

We will probably set him up with a guide soon to get him some professional guidance even though he likes to learn from trial and error.  A little professional help never hurt anyone.

I am just really happy that he has found something that brings him to such a peaceful place.  Kyle plays hockey, and I think that takes out frustration, and makes him feel really tuff and manly, but being on the river with the defanging sound of the water brings him such peace, and really relaxes him... and maybe he will bring us a little dinner :)

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.
                                                     ~ A River Runs Through It 1992

Kona's First Year

Kona is just a year old now, and she's starting to become what I missed most when we lost Lucy.  Losing Lucy was devastating... not only for me, but for our family.  When we got Kona, she didn't replace Lucy, but she made it easier... she was a lot of work at first, all puppies are!  Potty training, crate training, eating walls, learning how to camp, car rides, neighbors... all were learned last year.  She has grown into a lady... at almost 100lbs, she's not a puppy anymore, but she's what I missed most when Lucy died.

 

 

She rides with me in the car everywhere we go, she sleeps every night right by the front door like a protector, she takes a nap with the kids everyday in their room, and doesn't chase the chickens. I can let her outside without her running off, she does get super excited when people come over (still working on that) but she calms down after a bit, and everything is fine.  She drinks out of the toilet, steals food off the kids plates and she thinks that I don't know that she gets on the couch sometime when I am not home.  She's a good dog... she's what we needed.   She is funny, loving, goofy, and lets the kids hang all over her.  They love her so much and I love seeing them with her.  She's their best friend, and when Kyles at hockey, she lays in bed with me and eats popcorn :)



She was curious about them at first, but never has tried to hurt them.  The chickens chase her!!



She LOVES to dig!

Silly dog!

Loves the dirt!!

Good camping dog!!

 

 

Self Perception

Isn't it crazy that our weight can dictate so much about how we feel about ourselves?  I know that it isn't supposed to, and that your supposed to love yourself unconditionally no matter what, but when you get to a point where you are unhappy with your physical appearance, it does, at least for me, change how I feel about myself. 

I was doing really good, and I lost 30lbs, and I have 30 to go before I am really happy with everything, but during the holidays, I gave myself a little "break" on my health kick, and now, I am disappointed in my progress.  I knew that it was going to happen, and I wasn't going to NOT eat a Christmas cookie, but it just feels like November and December stalled any progress, and maybe that's why everyone resolves to be healthier as of January 1st...because we all ate so much CRAP for two months straight. 

After Christmas, we both felt so yucky, Kyle felt nasty and so did I... but this time has been different then any other... for the first time, I am not the only one in my home that is battling this.  I think that my husband looks amazing and he is the light of my life.  I don't see what he sees, just as he doesn't see what I see in myself... love is blind... so they say :)  So December 27th... the day after our very last Christmas celebration, we kicked it into high gear, and this is the first time ever that we are both wanting to make a change, and as selfish as it is, I am so glad that I am not the only one dealing with this.  He is ready to make the same healthy choices as I am because he has realized that as we age, our bodies don't burn fat like they used to... ahhh the only reason I wish that I was 20 again was so that I could eat whatever I wanted without and consequences! - that's probably the reason that I am in this situation!?!?

With 30lbs left to lose, I cant really complain.  I feel better then I did 6 months ago, and hopefully in 6 more months, I will feel even better then I do now.  Its just that I hate that I even feel this way... why do I even have this problem... why is it even an issue... why did I let it happen?  I get that Life happens and that we get caught up in all life's moments, but I just want to reach my goal and I want this journey to be over... its so much easier to put it on then to take it off...ugh!  Time to tighten the reigns and get it done... Its been WAY too long.

I read this today and it just really hit home...

I wont do it anymore.  After a good cry with a bag of BBQ Chips in my hand, and a sad stream of texts to Tammy, I found my motivation to keep pushing through...I have made some amazing changes, but more are waiting to be made... We have an amazing family who are also making healthy choices and together we will conquer this... just wish that it could happen faster!!  I am doing it the right way...without pills or cleanses, or all that other weird stuff you see advertised anywhere...  although lipo seems very appealing at the moment, but maybe that's the point... why its so much harder to lose then gain... because as you are losing weight, you are gaining wisdom about your body, and really dealing with the reasons that we are unhappy with ourselves, its fast and easy to cover it up with food... hummm I think I need therapy!!

My Loudest Cheerleader!  Love Him!!