Because the week is filled with hectic schedules and not as much family time as I'd like, I love love LOVE to savor our family togetherness through the lens on the weekends. This is the most special time because we're all together the entire weekend and being with my family (and capturing it all) is my number one passion of all. :)

This weekend, I savored (through my iPhone lens), my two kiddos in the back of the car ready for our trip to the zoo in the city. I just LOVE savoring them in the back like this, because, before I know it, the car seats will be gone and they'll be little adults, never needing me to constantly pick up everything they drop on the floor. ;)

I always love our drive to the zoo. We get to drive through some of the streets that are covered by the oak trees that fill the city and, of course, we drive a long St. Charles and see the street cars. C's favorite!! :):)

Once at the zoo, we said hello to the flamingos,whom were actually all bundled up and not racing around chasing each other for once. Ha!! And, then, like always, C said hello to her little duck friends. :)

We hit up the playground, where both kiddos let of some steam.

And, this...THIS right here...is HUGE in the life of Camille. This is the FIRST time she has ran, without any fear, across this fun, little bridge. She always had to check things out before crossing and if other kids came by, she'd back up and wait to cross, slowly, when she was all by herself. For her to run across like this...HUGE!! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, Camille!!! :):)

Then I got side-tracked by another big oak tree...there's just something about them that I just love to savor! :)

We saw my favorite animals...the sea lions!! These guys always make me smile and I could watch them all day long. They make me feel like I'm by the ocean. Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!

And, of course, the lovely Orangutan, just hangin' out, like he always does. :)

C was all about taking the train ride this time. When I put my arm around her once we started moving, she pulled away and said, "I can't sit by myself." Ha!! I was like, "OK!" but then, soon after, she held my hand the entire time. Awwwww!! :):)

And...drum roll please...dadadadaddddaaadadadada!!!! We experienced Luca's FIRST carousel ride!! Woohoo!! I was more excited than he was, while waiting, but once we started moving BIG BIG smiles were had!!

He enjoyed his ride so much that when it ended, he cried and threw the biggest fit ever because he wanted to stay on. Oh yeah...we've been there, done that with a certain someone named Camille. Oh yeah!! One of the best parts of parenting, right??? ;)

What we LOVE about the zoo here, is on the weekends, they have middle school, and maybe high school students, working around certain areas of the zoo with different types of animals for the kids to touch and learn about. On our way out, C got to say hello to Charlie, the collard greens, carrots and apple eater!! :)

Then they each got a little souvenir for the ride home. Luca LOVES monkey's these days...always saying "Ooo Ooo Aaa Aaa!!" So he was REALLY happy with what we picked for him and C has been having lots of fun playing with her zebra. Awesome, awesome stuff! :)

C wanted to get her face painted at the zoo, but we just bought her a NEW face painting kit, so that night we turned her into a witch. She was in love and was having lots of fun chasing us around and scaring us. :)