We love the Zoo!

More of Marshall getting to eat some of his birthday cake. He is obviously excited about it!

We just love to go to the Zoo! We go as frequently as we can. Usually every few weeks. Whether it is cold out or not, the Zoo is perfect as we can hang out in Africa or the Rain forest.

We love the new penguin exhibit.  We could spend so much time in there just sitting and watching.  Well we could spend so much time in every place but it feels like you can be so close to the penguins, and they are always active and exciting.  One of the things that I love about us going to the Zoo is that we don't tire quickly of each animal, possible to the dismay of people that come with us.  But we can stay and watch every animal that we see for quite a while.  It really feels like we get to see more of the interesting things that they do when we take our time.  We also can go and see 2 or 3 exhibits and then go home, as we can see more another day.  It is so great. 

Dawsyn is enjoying some time with the gorillas.  Sometimes they come right up to the glass and sit right in front of the kids, looking straight at them.  It is so great.  The gorillas are definitely one of my favorites!  They are such amazing animals!

My darling girls posing in the kangaroo pouch.  They are just growing up so much.  It really hits me frequently of how big they are getting.  It is shocking.  They are just such amazing personalities!  I love to get to watch them and help them grow up.  To know them best and to love them best.  These are the moments that make all of the hard ones worth it!

Gainor Brothers!

What great uncles to have come and play.  The kids love every second that they can have their uncles attention. 

It has been a number of years since all of the Gainor boys have been able to be together. It was so much fun to watch them visit and laugh together.  To remember stories and just enjoy some time as brothers.  So here is the some of the big day with the Gainor boys together again!

 

  Marshall was just in love with the rocks.  I got a bunch of pictures because of his level of excitement.  It is hard to see but every time he would take a handful of rocks he would shake with excitement.  This is like something that my Dad does called the Wiggsy Shiver.  It is so funny that Marshall does it too.  So I was trying to capture that on camera.

My man is getting big!

Finally I am getting these up, but here it is:

Marshall is 1!!

This boy is just so sweet and fun!  He is full of personality, Independence and playfulness.  He is just in love with balls, if there is a ball around anywhere then he is pretty well happy.  If he can play with a ball with Great-Grandpa then he is very happy.  He just loves Great-Grandpa and will be playing with him the whole time while he tries to read his paper every morning.  It is fun to watch them play together. 

Marshall is also such a hungry boy.  He is my pickiest eater as a baby.  Usually my babies eat most anything but Marshall doesn't even entertain the idea.  If it is something he doesn't like then he immediately throws it off his tray.  That is probably why he loves balls so much, he loves to throw.  Anything that he gets his hands on he throws.  And he frequently throws his food.  The other day there was someone else sitting in my chair, which is right next to his high chair, and he had food in his hand, and his hand held up ready to throw, but he didn't do it.  It was funny to see him hold it there and not want to throw it at this other person sitting next to him.  He is so funny.

My handsome boy on his first birthday!  He is obviously working on some of his teeth here as most of the pictures have him with his finger in his mouth like this.

Hanging out with his uncle Mark. 
You can see here the plight of this poor boy, constantly being mauled by his sisters.  That is one thing that he isn't much of a fan of, he likes to play on his own and have them leave him alone. 

We had monster cupcakes for his birthday.  The special thing about this is that this is his first ever treats!  My babes don't get any sugar like this until they are a year old, so this makes the cake so extra exciting.  (Actually the week before his birthday was Great-Grandpas 88th birthday, and I found Marshall the next day eating the crumbs of cake out of a bowl left in the living room by one of the kids, it was funny.  So he did have an early taste of cake, I guess.)  But here are Marshall's cupcakes and his first try of them!  He was slow at first, unsure.  Then he dived right in!

We just adore this awesome little man!!  We are so grateful to have him in our family and watch him grow and learn.  It just happens way too fast.  He quickly isn't a tiny baby anymore, and nearly not a baby at all.  But we are sure enjoying the journey with him!