The Hotchner Family Trio: May 2008

To celebrate Memorial Day and our first day off together as a family in months, Brian and I took Zoey to the cute little Las Vegas Zoo. It is really more like a retirement home for animals from the San Diego Zoo but, two year old, Zoey, knows no difference and Brian and I actually really had a great time there together.

Here is the monkey exhibit.

Brian and Zoey were poking in sticks and leaves for the monkey to eat and play with.

See how cute he is?

This is Brian helping Zoey reach down some leaves to feed the monkey. She saw other kids standing on the bench to get some but, couldn't reach them herself. "Monkey see, monkey do.."

Mommy and Baby taking a rest on the turtle's back.

Beautiful Zoey playing in the dirt, of course.

Zoey loved the Desert Tortoise exhibit. At first she was really afraid...

Then, Daddy showed her that it was alright to pet them and Zoey decided to try and feed them some lettuce and poke them with her stick.

They were enormous and walked really fast for turtles, pretty cool.

Here is a cute clip or Zoey and Brian playing with the turtles.

Jennifer, aka Mommy.

Brian, aka Daddy.

Zoey, aka Baby.

This peacock was so magnificent.

When Zoey got too close to it, it spead its feathers and shoke them, making all the "eyes" shimmer in the sunlight. I thought it was cool but, Zoey didn't seem to like the 'big, scary bird' much more after that display.

I love this close up shot-such a great angle. I love getting to practice my photography skills on lifes magical beauty but, sometimes you have to search pretty hard in a place like Vegas to find true natural beauty like this.

Brian took this picture of me in the sunshine. Great job Bri! I actually like this photo of myself. I think that it really captures the true essence of my happiness for the day, getting to spend some quality time with my little family.

This was my favorite exhibit-the Sea Otters. The were so cute and slippery.

Here is the best shot that I could get of one through the glass. It had just jumped out of the water and gone through a hole in the wall to sit and shake off on these rocks.

Here is A video of Brian and Zoey and the sea otters, enjoy.

Lastly, Zoey got to play in the little goat petting zoo area. Here she is looking inside this dark hole, wondering what was inside. I told her to go on inside and check it out...Then, I ran to the other side, turned on my flash and caught this on camera from the other end!

This is what Zoey found in the dark, lying in the middle of her pathway! She was surprised and a little scared to say the least but, eventually gave it a little pet as she tried to crawl over him. I told her she would have to go back the way she came when it became evident that the stubborn goat wasn't about to move out of the way for her. Too funny.

Here is the little baby goat getting some attention.

To finish the Zoo experience, we all went through the little gift shop and let Zoey pick herself out a toy. She, of course, insisted on getting, not one, but, two plush baby white tigers. "Two, I want two!" she told us. We asked her why and she held one up and said, "This is da Mommy" and held up the other, "an dis da baby." Then, she held them together in a little embrace and said, in the voice of the Mommy tiger, "Ohhh Baby." Those are the times in life that just brings a smile to the hearts of parents, watching your child growing and learning and emulating the way that you care for her...It was such a tender moment and since it then made perfect sence...Zoey earned herself her two cute tigers to take home. Now tell me, Is this not the most satisfied and happy looking child that you have ever seen?

For Mother's and Father's Day 2008, I dedicate this posting of my "Love for Life" to my Mother and Father... For all that you have both done for me, cared for me and loved me unconditionally, standing by me in a world of trouble and sorrow through my hard teenage years and through the laughter and tears of adulthood, you have taught me all that I needed to know about living well and choosing the right. You always knew that I was meant to do something bigger, better, more beautiful and meaningful with my life and I have found what I was missing through being a wife and new mother and raising a family of my own in the light of your footsteps. You will never truly know how much you have both touched the lives of all your children and the lives of our own and thiers...for eternity. You planted a tree of "Life" that just keeps on giving and growing. We Love you so very much! I put together a little post of 'Zoey photos' from most recent to the first photos ever taken. All for the love of motherhood and family life...ENJOY THE SHOW! Love, Jennifer