Jen's Journal: Daun-day

The weather was PHENOMENAL today... a high of 67 degrees, not a cloud in sight (well... unless you count the volcanic ash-cloud floating so high that we can't see it!) We woke up early, had biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast and then we got in the van and drove out to Daun to visit the wildpark. It's a GREAT little park... has a drive-thru wilderness part where you can stop and feed llamas, donkeys, deer and pigs. Then at the top there are monkeys and birds. There's also a restaurant with a huge playground and petting zoo out back. And on your way out, you can stop and take a ride down the 300m (I call it a toboggan run) but it's like this little sled that you get on and ride down a hill, and then they hook you up to a cable that drags you back up to the top! SO fun! Of course Daddy took Ava on her first turn, and she screamed the whole way down... not cause she was scared, but cause she wanted mommy to do it.

Ava was especially excited because she got to help mommy drive through the wild-park! It's not often that the kids have a chance to be in an environment where they don't have to stay buckled up... but at 20kph, I didn't see the harm in letting her up front to "control" things. She had fun stopping and throwing corn out and laughing as llamas tried to climb in!

Stevie had a great time at the end - taking her turn on the toboggan run, ALONE! In the past, she's always gone with daddy, but she decided to brave the slope and go on her own. GO STEVIE! She had so much fun the first time, that she asked for a second :) Go get 'em girl.

Nico and I were just enjoying BEING.... being in the sun, being with the girls, being in the outdoors... the smell of pine all around was just awesome. No need for jackets today, although I kept my sweatshirt on cause once I catch a chill it just sticks with me!

Below, some pictures from our fun day:

Ava's in control!

Stebie! I hold ju haaaand!

Ava found a little friend JUST her size! (he followed her, looking for a kiss)

"Hey little monkeys! Ohh so cuuute!"

These three stooges were running and jumping and tackling one another... One ran up to Nico and tugged on his pants leg as if to say "Hey, wanna play?"