The sun came out after it had rained all day. A perfect opportunity to go splash in the puddles around our neighborhood. Kate and Jocie really played well together during this adventure, which is always fun to watch. They got a kick out of watching each other playing in the water and walking/running in tandem, which we caught on video!
Also, here are some of the best photos from the walk.
Jocie was all smiles.
Splashing and smiling!
Kate looks a little more subdued, but she was an enthusiastic splasher too.
See?
Running home as the sun started to set. Enough splashing for one afternoon!
After months of no winter weather, we had a couple of days with a little snow. The girls were so excited about it that they even went outside in their jammies so as not to miss any of the action!
Happy Kate outside right after the snow started.
Note the jammies under her coat and boots.
Jocie, also clad in PJs, samples the snow on the deck. Yum!
The snow started up again later in the day so out we went again. Kurt and Jocie are headed down the driveway.
Kate wore her hat unwillingly for this picture and then never again.
Jocie running through the snowflakes.
Kate making snowballs.
Jocie spent the whole time outside smiling like this. The fact that her hat is on backwards makes this picture even more perfect!
The best part of the snow day was the girls interest in watching Kurt make and throw snowballs. I caught a bit of it on tape so here is a brief video of the snowball fun.
During the last week of 2011, we took one more trip to the zoo. This time it was to ride the zoo train. The nightly line for the train during ZooLights is typically a 1-2 hour wait, which is something the girls would not be able to handle. We found out through an autism group that the Oregon Zoo will give special accommodation to families like ours. We arrived and were invited in to the reception area, where they called ahead to the train employees. We walked right down to the train "station," gave them our name and they escorted us to a special waiting area and we were the first to board the next train! The girls had a blast on the train ride and we are grateful to the zoo for their kindness and understanding of kids on the spectrum.
Zoo Train!
Mommy and Jocie getting ready for the ride.
Kate and Kurt sitting right next to us.
The pics of the girls on the train while it was moving turned out rather neat. This is the view of Kate's side.
Jocie's side wasn't as bright, but the swirling effect is still there.
Me and my girls exiting the train.
Kurt and the girls with a lovely green background.
After discovering early this month that the girls really liked riding Max, we decided to make a day of it. During Christmas break we packed up the fam and headed to the Sunset Transit Center. We thought we'd ride until the girls got bored, which took us all of the way out to the airport. We stopped at PDX for lunch and some "run around" time, then hopped back on the train and rode back to the zoo. The girls LOVED it! Their favorite part - other than the whole train ride - was stopping at the Washington Park station and watching for Max to enter the tunnel. It lights up the whole tunnel and blows this whoosh of cold air through the station. We stayed in the station to watch a couple of trains go by, just for fun. It turned out to be a really fun day and a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Jocie, Kurt and Kate waiting for Max to appear out of the tunnel.
A happy Kate waits for the train.
Jocie and Kate trying to wait together.
Jocie with a smile as she waits for the train.
Jocie looking out her window.
Jocie is so comfortable on the train that she even whipped out her cell phone!
Kate watching the cars zoom along on the freeway.
Kate relaxing now that she is a seasoned train passenger.
