Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Close-ups at the Zoo

We finally did it!  I think we have been to the Zoo twice since I got the new Canon Rebel Camera and I have never had the opportunity to take the telephoto lens with me when we went.  I wanted some cool up-close pictures of the animals-especially the ones that you can only see from far away.  We were on our way to a Cardinal's game (Moriah's first one- blog post about that to come soon) and since it wasn't until that evening, we decided to make a really quick stop at the zoo.  Justus is now definitely going to think that going to St. Louis always means going to see the "zebras, giraffes, and elephants, and lions- roar, roar." :)  It made him excited this time.  I think it was the fastest trip I have ever made through a zoo.  We had a little less than an hour before the zoo was going to close and so we plotted our course through the animals we figured Justus would really want to see.  We started off to the trail which leads to the rhinos, hippos, and elephants and the rhinoceros was the closest he has been yet in all these recent trips we have made.  I pulled out my camera and started framing my shot.  I was so excited!  He stood there like a good boy and posed for the camera.  Click! Click! Click! Captured!


On we went around the corner to the home of the hippos.  They were all three basking in the water, but their heads were all above- making for a perfect picture!  Again I was having so much fun "playing."


We walked a little further and the hyena was asleep.  He looked up at Justus and me, but I only had a chance to take one picture and the camera focused on the leaves that were in front of him.  The cheetah was too far back and in the dark for me to get a good picture.  Oh well, we had gotten some good ones so far.  The elephants were next- they were kind of in a corner which made getting good photos kind of hard, but I was still amazed with how close I could get.



We didn't have much time left before the zoo closed so we made a bee-line for the zebras and giraffes.  On the way though I saw a raccoon (wild mind you) sitting off to the side of the trail. I was so excited that I still had my telephoto lens on and I was able to snap a few great pictures.  I have to say as odd as it seems that these photos were some of my favorite of the whole zoo trip and he didn't even belong there in the zoo! :)



I was so excited taking pictures of the 'coon that I got quite far behind, but with the telephoto lens I was able to capture a beautiful picture of my lovely family- Ryan is such a good Daddy!  I had to run (uphill) to catch up to them, but it was worth it!

We made a quick swing by the zebras, waved at them and took a few pictures.  

 The camels were being persnickety and wouldn't face me, so we moved on the the building that has the giraffes inside.

We had one last place to go- the penguin house.  We didn't have a map on us, but we wanted to get there as fast as we could since we only had about 10 minutes before the gates closed.  We made it almost there and then we came to a blockade- there was construction work (making new exhibits) blocking the way.  We had to backtrack and go the long way around, but we decided to go ahead and walk over there and see if it was still open.  Exhausted from the long walk and carrying Justus on my back since we were going so fast, we finally made it to the penguin house only to find a sign that said they were gone until 2015! :)  They are building a new polar bear exhibit and so the penguins which are right beside that are closed for now too. Hee! Hee!  We could only laugh at the hilarity of the moment. 

We said our goodbyes to the animals we passed by on our way out and ended our quick trip to the zoo!  It was very fun and a good exercise as well! 

Can you tell I love my family and my camera? :) 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Peter and Frances Cartwright Gravesite

I happened to be taking a nap on a car trip home when I awoke to us driving through a cemetery.  Later I found out it was the Pleasant Plains Cemetery in Pleasant Plains, IL. Ryan wouldn't tell me why we were there, but he had on his sheepish grin so I knew he had something exciting up his sleeve- but in a cemetery I was at a loss as to what it would be.

I finally saw the sign- Rev. Peter Cartwright Gravesite.  I was so excited!  To understand why, go here to our family's website and see the history that is part of our families homestead.

Peter and Frances Cartwright 
Peter

Frances


The top of the headstone

In Honor of his service in The War of 1812

It is the tall headstone

So cool to connect the dots of history!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Dinosaurs!

We recently had the privledge of sharing about Dinosaurs and the Flood with several families in the Astoria, IL area.  We brought all of our equipment and decorations and traveled to Camp Emmanuel where we spent the night in a cabin there before doing the two part presentation the next day.  We were greeted with great hospitality by Matt Haberman and his family and had a pleasure sharing with those eager to learn about the historical aspect of Dinosaurs, the Flood and the Bible.
Inside one of the building at Camp Emmanuel where we set up for our presentation

We put the sign "Don't Feed the Dragons (they may bite!)" on Moriah's play pen! :)
It was a beautiful place


Justus and Daddy and the Dino Crossing

Ryan presenting the facts


We were able to add some dinosaurs to our ensemble

This not so friendly T-Rex is taking a bite of Ryan's shoulder :)