Smithsonian Zoo Monkey

Tori, Kayli and Sydni (click to see it close-up)

During a recent family vacation to DC, we spent some time at the Smithsonian Zoo. It's become our favorite closest zoo considering the North Carolina Zoo is located about an hour and a half from us and once you get there you basically need to walk outside for another hour and a half to actually see any living animals.

While at the zoo in DC, we were fortunate enough to capture some rare documentation of a monkey in the primates exhibit building. We are told that this species of monkey can have sporadic behavior and it is hard to know what to expect when in the presence of such a rare species! After observing her for a while, I'd have to say that assessment is correct! :)

Naomi Faith - 19 months
(click to see the close-up -she's such a character!)

Welcome Oreo!

Bunny love at first sight!

After much research, many months of parental convincing and anticipation, Kayli has adopted a new friend, Oreo the bunny!

Oreo is a year-old Holland Lop Bunny whose previous occupation was as a class pet in a first grade classroom. Unfortunately, Oreo needed to make a career change because of the change in the school policy which no longer allows pets in the classrooms. Fortunately for us, we snatched her up as soon as we saw her posted on Craigslist!


Oreo is well loved and is successfully performing her current role in our home of thoroughly entertaining my girls and their friends. She is quite lovable, soft and cute. She enjoys eating flowers, bananas and paper towel rolls. Her favorite pastimes are rearranging her cage contents, upsetting her food bowl, overturning her litter box, munching flowers, hopping around outside on her leash (yes, she does have a little rabbit harness and leash of which I will need to post pictures of later as it is quite humorous, especially when Bryan holds it) and of course, being loved and cuddled by Kayli!

Friday Night - Movie Night

Last week's feature film: Chicken Run

Tori, Naomi and Sydni

I don't know about anyone else, but after a week of school, work, babysitting, etc. we're all really zonked! Friday nights are our time to unwind, relax and hang around the house. Ultimately, each week we've developed the tradition of the "Friday Night Movie Night." This is the part of the night when we scramble into some jammies, dim the lights, grab a big bowl of popcorn and while cuddling up with a big blanket, we pop in one of our favorite movies. The more recent titles include, "Ella Enchanted, Wizard of Oz, Princess Diaries, Chicken Run, Finding Nemo" or as in last night, "Labyrinth." Sometimes we have friends over (like we did last night) and sometimes it's just us girls; either way we have a good time laughing with the funny times, cuddling during the sad times or shaking and squealing during the spooky times.

This week's feature film: Labyrinth
Left to Right: Kayli, Jack, Sydni, Hanna and Tori, Monique (in back) and Naomi (in front)

A Cousin at Last!

Presenting the beautiful Ella Ruth

Kayli, Tori, Sydni, Naomi and Ella

Ella Ruth was happily welcomed by our girls for a visit last month. They couldn't keep their hand off her! Seeing Uncle Jason and Aunt Laurie was great too and we're so proud of the awesome job they are both doing at caring for their sweet baby girl. It is a relief to know that we're not the only ones in the family to have girls!

We were so thankful to see our new little niece. It was a great time and we look forward to another family reunion soon. Just think, this time next year we might just have another little girl to add to the line. (That is if Uncle Nathan and Aunt Ann follow through with the Hamilton tradition of only producing girls!) ;) Yeah girls!

Bunny Ears

Ella - just can't get enough of her!