Zoo trip

On Sunday it was in the low 70s in the morning here in Dallas. It has been a while since it was so cool. Ari and I decided to take Zev for a trip to the zoo. He is really starting to actually notice some of the bigger animals and watch them.

Part of Zev's loving to hold things is leaves. Whenever we go on walks, he will point to leaves and I will pick them. He keeps them for his walk. He was excited about this big leaf. He held on to it for at least half an hour.

We got something on the camera lens (don't worry, we cleaned it later), but I thought this picture was too sweet not to share. Here are Zev and his dad looking at the giraffes.

People can go up and feed them. I'm sure we will do this when Zev is older, but we haven't tried it yet.

Here is Zev having a snack. I show this because it comes up again later...

He liked this monkey statue...

...So much, he was feeding him his snack. He has at least gotten good at pretending to share.

In the children's zoo, we went in to pet the goats.

Here he is grabbing a tail.

This goat went on to try to eat Zev's hair, but we missed the shot.

Walking to see the ducks with mom.

Zev really liked this pieces of wood. He played here for a while.

I think he liked stacking them because they don't fall over. Zev REALLY hates when he tries to stack things and they fall. I think we are going to the arboretum in the morning, so we may have even more pictures to share soon!

My Great Grandmother's 96th Birthday

On Saturday Zev and I got up and drove with my father and my cousin, Colton, to Early, Texas. We went to celebrate my Great Grandmother's 96th birthday. Mamaw is living in an assisted living center, and the party was in the one of the rooms there. It was 3 and a half hours there and back.

Here is Stacy and Julie bringing Mamaw into her party.

She was really happy.

Zev practiced his walking with Grandma and Aunt Julie.

I think this is the best picture of Zev in months (and my dad isn't too bad either...)

Dad and Mamaw

Dad, Mamaw, Zev and Me... Zev really loved the flowers on Mamaw's shirt. He wanted them so much, and he also loved the wheels on her chair.

Li Li, Zev, and Keaton

Lisa, Mamaw, Julie, and Keaton

Madi, Mamaw, and Colton

I think this is hilarious. It looks like my brother and Mamaw are just gazing at each other.

This is us trying to get Zev to get to make friends with Angie.

Angie is Zev's (some number of) cousin. This is her with Mamaw and her dad. She is so sweet.

At 13 months, she was trying to give Zev some walking tips...

Here is everyone together.

It was so much fun to spend the day with our whole family, and Zev did really well on the long drives. He is a trooper.

Gym Dandies

Zev has been going to "Gym Dandies" class on Fridays (and sometimes Mondays) at the Richardson Rec Center. He really enjoys playing with their toys for the first twenty minutes of free time. It is good practice for him with his sharing, and he has been doing better each class about not hitting or shoving others.

I didn't get any pictures, but after free time, we have circle time. That is a little more of a challenge to sit still for. Zev usually does better if he has an object to hold on to while he sits. Then we play with instruments, which you have to share and pass to the right. This can cause a big challenge, but it is good practice, I hope. After that we do the parachute which Zev really enjoys. We haven't decided if we will keep doing class again after next week as I only paid through September. I do know, know we will be having fun this Friday!

Buby and Buster and Cousin Kade

Zev's Buby and Buster came in town for the week. They had so much fun together. I am TERRIBLE about remembering the camera. I did get a few pictures though down below.

On Saturday after Yom Kippur services, we had friends over for dinner including my mom, Jay, and Zev's cousin Kade. He had lots of fun playing with Zev's toys after he went to bed. Kade loves footballs and trucks. He is a boy's boy.

He also loves his Papa.

Including, messing up his hair... Maybe next time Zev and Kade will get to play a little more before bed!

Zev definitely did lots of playing with his grandparents. He went with them to the mall, shopping, and on a trip with Buster to the park. Zev was really getting to know them, and they could not have had more fun together. He thinks Buster is hilarious, and Buby is very good at tickling his "piggies".

Hopefully at Thanksgiving, Zev will start remembering his family. We know he loves spending time with everyone.

Playing...

Zev has been using a few more of his toys the way they were intended. Ari and I get a big kick out of watching him play. In this video he is driving his truck (which he also sometimes tries to sit in...). Then he tries to get on his horse. He hasn't ridden it in a while because he is sure he shouldn't need my help, but every time he tries by himself, he falls over...



Here Zev is playing with this toy where he uses a hammer to hit the balls. He is actually really good at it, but he gets a little over zealous at times. I have been trying to get him to put the balls back up on the top himself because when I do it, I always get my hand hammered. SOMEONE is impatient...

I love when he drops the ball...

Ari and I think Zev is a really funny guy. Today he tried play-doh for the first time. He makes the best "gross" face when he touches it. I'll try to get a picture next time!

Chicago Weekend

We spent the last weekend in Chicago celebrating Lindsay and Oren's wedding. I am useless with remembering to take pictures, but luckily Rachel is good at it, so here are some of her pictures!

Noah, Rachel, Ava, and Jaren

Rachel, Jaren, Ava, and Buby Mary

Here is Miss Jaren bouncing on the bed! She is so much fun.

Noah with his legoes

Here is Buby and her sister, Auntie Ester visiting with sweet baby Ava.
Baby Ava hardly ever cries and she is just so precious.

Baby Ava and me...

While I was holding baby Ava, Zevi decided to come and snuggle with us too.

Grandma Mimi holding Ava

Zevi and I at the brunch on Monday

Our little family

Uncle Herby, Tova, Ari and Zev

Oren, Rachel, Tova, and Ari
I think this is such a good picture...

Grandma Dee, Amanda, Jaren, and Ava

Noah is a pretty silly guy. I tried to get married to him at breakfast, but he insists I am already married to Uncle Ari. That appears to be a deal breaker for him.

Zach, Rachel, and Ava

me and Zevi Punkins

I obviously don't care for him at all.

There were tons of kids playing together at the brunch. Here we have Jaren, Zev, Sadie, and Sophie.

Sadie and Sophie with Shane. They are just getting cuter and cuter. I love their little matching outfits...

Last, this is the only picture of the bride and groom together I could find. Here we have Grandpa George, Oren, Lindsay, and Grandma Dee with Ava.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. I just wish we got to spend more time visiting with everyone. It isn't too long until Thanksgiving and then I am SURE Zev will be walking. Then he can finally keep up with his cousins. Karen and Gregg come in town next week, so it won't be very long at all until Zev gets more visiting time with Buby and Buster.

A little car ride

Zev loves to go to the mall and play on the playground. I need to get a video of him all over it because it is too cute. Today I forgot, but I did get a couple pictures of Zev driving this orange car. He loves to ride in it. It is his favorite because it has TWO steering wheels. He does not like it when another kid tries to get in with him. He has taken to hitting people when he isn't happy, so we are working on that. Today though, he got it all alone, and he was loving it.

Wordless Wednesday...