The Clark Crew at the Zoo!!!

Day Three - Monday, March 22

After a busy weekend of hanging around the homefront and prep for church, we were ready for our first real outing... what better place to start than our favorite - the Taipei Zoo...

We usually take the train up to the top of the zoo then walk down to see the animals... I usually say it's because Hunter loves the train, but really, when pushing the double stroller - it's just the most energy-efficient way to go!!!

Hunter is not much of a trend-setter, but he does seem to be aware of what's 'cool' around him... though he must know some unwritten rule that a girl's hat leans to the right and a boy's leans to the left.

Helena wasn't intimated by the enormous python glaring at her... she just glared right back!

Here's a new sport in Taiwan - turtle hopping... Tony's trying to get Mei Mei started early.

The lemurs were wild and oh so loud... Lynne couldn't resist getting Helena out of the stroller to see these guys... and Helena was milking it for all she could.

The big gorillas were out this time... I don't think I've ever really noticed them much... but it was a warm day and this was a great place to stop and watch for a while.

Feeding time for this family... looks like us when we've got one ice cream to share.

You wouldn't see too many Taiwanese families doing this...

And of course, Dad and Lynne had to see the Pandas... they were bigger than one imagined and smaller than the other thought... so I guess it was good they got to see them in real life.

It was a good, long day out at the zoo. We came home and had leftovers for dinner and the kids were in bed before 7pm. Tony and I took the opportunity with free babysitters to get out for a movie - so we headed out to see The Hurt Locker - which wasn't the lightest of films, but thought-provoking and a good time to get out together nonetheless.

And morning and evening were the third day.

Hanging Around The Ambrose Home...

Thanks, Matt & Tori, for opening your house and hearts to us!!! We loved spending time at your place with all of you!!! Let's do it again, eh?!?

The ice cream truck stopped by at the end of mom's party in the first week... you better believe Hunter remembered that word "ice cream man" whenever he drove by again!!!

My parents spent a lot of time hanging out at the Ambrose's house with us... it was fun having them around so much as well. I think they enjoyed seeing the grandkids together (Evan spent a lot of time here too - but he was usually asleep).

Good ole lazy summer mornings... these kids rarely had time to stop like this... they always had something going on.

Hunter spent LOTS of time in the pool... he really improved and started putting his head under and kicking to us underwater... but since we've been back to Taipei - he's only been in the pool once and it's almost back to how it was before... he's just not as interested. Hmmm... what to do now?

It was fun to have the Cash family come over and hang out with us a couple of times to make use of the pool and the good weather! They've got a daughter born the same day as Evan so we talked a lot about baby stuff. They are a lovely family - we always enjoy visiting with them.

Hunter's bunkmate

Madie enjoyed helping out with Helena and Helena enjoyed being close to her only girl cousin here... these girls will have to stick together!

A couple of times I was home with all five kids on my own... what a revelation that this is what it would be like if I really had five kids!!! I guess it is managable - just noisy! The kids and I played a game called Hullabaloo... it was a little harder for Travis & Hunter but they caught on and we all laughed quite a bit! Especially at Trevor's victory dances!!! Nice moves, Trev!!!

There were lots of wrestling matches around the house... Helena got right into it too! She loved wrestling most with Uncle Matt!!!

Helena's first real spaghetti dinner - the classic baby picture eveyone needs in their babybook (if she gets a babybook this will definitely be in it)!

Lulu, the most patient dog I've ever met! Helena absolutely loved her... and Hunter still mentions her name - "where's Lulu?".

Four Generations

Travis was a lot of fun and he was pretty patient with Hunter considering he's only a year and a half older! Thanks, Travis for all the clothes passed down to Hunter... he looks a bit more like you!