Happy Birthday Dad!

Zoos and Weddings. Same diff?

Saturday we took Rachel to the zoo. She seemed to really like it. However, she did like random things more than the animals. Like climbing up and down the fake rock embankments and peering down every single manhole/drain thing. They had a little petting zoo area where the kids could go right in with some farm animals. She got to pet and brush some baby goats in one place, then go in with bigger goats, a cow and a donkey in another. The goats were the only thing nearby to pet and I was surprised at how unafraid she was. She really liked it.

Also over the weekend, Justin, a guy at my work got married. I went to the reception on Saturday night and met up with all my other work peeps. Nathan stayed home with Rachel because, well, I wanted to go have fun.  I knew that if he went, he might be a bit bored, mostly because he doesn't really know anyone all that well and I wanted to feel free to stay as late as I wanted. And also, I wanted to see some drunk dancing for crying out loud!!Now, just to be clear, I don't drink or dance, but I love to watch it! And boy, did I see some. It was pretty fun. I almost went up and did the YMCA, but... I did it at my chair. We got some awesome blackmail pictures of my boss and his wife. My boss dancing. You'd have to know my boss to understand why this is so incredibly funny. But wow. It was great. I also got to catch up with some old 4H friends. Justin married Jessica, who I used to be in 4H with, therefore I knew both bride and groom. In fact, some might say I had a hand in getting them together....

Now some pics from the zoo...

Petting the baby goats.

LOOK AT EVIL, ANGRY KANGAROO!!!!

Mr Chimp. His good side. (AKA, not his ugly butt)

The bears were awesome.

We got to go in a giant cage with some birds and feed them. Nathan got
one to land on a stick.

Yesterday Gran, Mom, Rachel and I went berry picking. Strike that- Mom and I went berry picking.  Rachel went berry eating and Gran went to prevent Rachel from sticking the entire strawberry (green top and all) in her mouth. It's a good thing they don't weigh the children before they go out to pick. Granted, I think every person who picks eats a berry or two. Rachel, however, ate a berry or 27.  She initially thought it was fun to pick them and put them in her bucket, but soon decided eating them was a much better idea. She was pretty cute though. See pictures below...

Our basement walls are officially poured! It's taking shape, people! The forms will be taken off today, I think, and the floors poured later this week. Can you even imagine my excitement?!

So on our way home yesterday from berry picking, we passed the Lowell fairgrounds where there were signs saying "Circus Parking." We were like, what!? A circus in Lowell? And sure enough, tethered out in the grassy area were ponies and a camel. So we pulled in to let Rachel see. Not only were there ponies and a camel, but also lions, tigers and 2 elephants. Obviously the lions and tigers were in cages, but the elephants were tied outside a giant trailer under a tarp thing. Rachel was mezmorized. I wanted to take her to the show later that night, but Nathan was working late and then I found out that tickets were $15 per adult. Since we're planning on taking her to the zoo on Saturday, I decided that would be much more worth our money.

Test

Hi everyone! I'd like to take this time to thank everyone who has checked my site daily for an update. Here it finally is. I can finally say with certainty when they will be starting on our house. I can finally say that because there is a giant hole in the pasture!!!!!! (Our land is behind my parents in the former horse pasture.) I didn't even know they were planning on coming to begin excavation yesterday, but my mom called me at work and said hey, they just brought some tractors and dozers out back and they're digging a hole. Woo hoo! Today they are laying (setting?) the footings. I believe the basement walls will be poured on Monday or Tuesday of next week and the flatwork (basement floor and garage floor) will be done by the weekend. Then it has to set for about a week, the builder said, then a house will begin to take shape!!!!!!! You have no idea how excited I am. I was a bit worried because when they came out and staked out where the house was going to be, it looked really small. But I think that was just because it was in the middle of a big open space. Now it looks much bigger. It's about 2300 sq feet, so I knew it had to be bigger than I was thinking.

This weekend is district quiz finals. Should be fun. We're all going up to the campground. My parents, Tiedes Jr and Sr and probably all people named Gerig and Marks. Last night we had a volleyball fun night at Tiedes. Rachel had fun playing with Brant and Kadence. I actually played volleyball when Rachel would let me. I played badly, but I played. Twas fun. I'm excited for next weekend 'cause I think we might try and go to the zoo with Rachel. Then the 4th weekend we are going to the Cascade parade. Then after the parade, they are having a street fair by the library. They will have games, a petting zoo, small rides and... AN ELEPHANT! So Rachel will love that. Then of course my favorite thing about the 4th... fireworks!!!!

Now some random pictures- Proof that our house is beginning, Rachel on the Meijer pony and with her new bike helmet. Oh, and the baby bunny I found at work and brought home (briefly) and Rachel thought was the best thing ever.