On May 25th we went to the National Zoo. Mykenzi had no idea where we were going until we were half way there, so it was really neat to surprise here with a few hours at the zoo and the sights of the city. We haven't been to D.C. or to the zoo since Mykenzi was 11 months old, so there were lots of new sights for her to take in.
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I've often heard the Washington Monument compared to a pencil, but Mykenzi says it looks like a big finger pointing up. This doesn't have anything to do with the monument, but it just made me remember that she also spells her name out loud like this "M-Y-K-E-N-Z-up and a dot."
So not sure what we're doing, but as always, along for the ride and willing to take in anything new.
This was one of the more memorable moments of the trip for Mykenzi, when the tiger jumped in the water and began playing with the giant ball.
I just have to mention what a good daddy my children have to hold one while the other is sitting on his shoulders. As for Mykenzi's expression, watch that on the next 2 pictures as well.
You would have thought an animal was coming over the wall or something.
Because I knew I'd be shooting in Full Auto all day in order to just enjoy the day with Jonmark and the kids instead of concentrating on getting perfect pictures, I took a moment to switch to Manual Mode and shoot this waterfall (man made, but still pretty) while Jonmark studied a map to plan out our journey through the zoo.
The monkies were also a highlight of the trip. All of the monkies were just sitting there, so Mykenzi asked why, and Jonmark told her they were in time out.
We used the double stroller too because it was super busy being Memorial Day weekend and a beautiful Sunday as well.
Here's something Jonmark had just said moments before that he'd like to see one day, a monkey traveling these cables. We watched two of them go along the cables until the crossed the path over head. This is quite the spectacle too, it jammed up the paths with everyone looking up and cameras firing constantly.
I have no idea what this thing is supposed to be that Mykenzi is sitting on...a bear, a pig, a hippo....I do not know.
Camden had a full belly after lunch, and a shirt covered in it, so he went to sleep peacefully. We didn't even notice until we stopped to show him an animal, called his name, and realized he was out!
Sunbathing seals
Last stop - the Kids Farm, and Camden missed that too.
On our way out of the city. We actually had a lot of fun riding around the city answering various questions for Mykenzi, who seemed most intrigued by the tunnels than all of the buildings, and the crazy drivers kept us all laughing.
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When we first arrived in D.C., we hit a traffic jam that stopped us for 12 minutes, and while that usually frustrates drivers, it was actually a very patriotic moment and it felt very appropriate. Memorial Day weekend is when Rolling Thunder rolls through D.C.; hundreds, I don't know it might be thousands, of motorcyles travel there, which we knew of, but we didn't expect to sit on the road waiting for them all to cross the bridge behind us and merge onto the road in front of us. Camden was of course asleep, but Mykenzi was wide awake and loving every minute of this. I really hope we don't have a future motorcycle babe on our hands because she's always loved motorcycles, but she never complained about sitting there for even 1 second during that 12 minutes and instead pointed out every single motorcycle with the American Flag flying on the back. A lot of people also got out of there cars to stop and watch this motorcycle parade of sorts, and all you could hear was the Rolling Thunder. It was actually beautiful.
Camden never used to pay attention to the 2 baskets with lids in the family room, even though they hold tons of toys, but a few nights ago he actually realized he could open them up and hit the jackpot as far as toys go. He had a little trouble holding the lid up, so Jonmark held it up for him, and then I caught him climbing in the basket.
He looks absolutely thrilled with himself! 
So not sure what we're doing, but as always, along for the ride and willing to take in anything new.
This was one of the more memorable moments of the trip for Mykenzi, when the tiger jumped in the water and began playing with the giant ball.
I just have to mention what a good daddy my children have to hold one while the other is sitting on his shoulders. As for Mykenzi's expression, watch that on the next 2 pictures as well.
You would have thought an animal was coming over the wall or something.
Because I knew I'd be shooting in Full Auto all day in order to just enjoy the day with Jonmark and the kids instead of concentrating on getting perfect pictures, I took a moment to switch to Manual Mode and shoot this waterfall (man made, but still pretty) while Jonmark studied a map to plan out our journey through the zoo.
The monkies were also a highlight of the trip. All of the monkies were just sitting there, so Mykenzi asked why, and Jonmark told her they were in time out. 
We used the double stroller too because it was super busy being Memorial Day weekend and a beautiful Sunday as well.
Here's something Jonmark had just said moments before that he'd like to see one day, a monkey traveling these cables. We watched two of them go along the cables until the crossed the path over head. This is quite the spectacle too, it jammed up the paths with everyone looking up and cameras firing constantly.
I have no idea what this thing is supposed to be that Mykenzi is sitting on...a bear, a pig, a hippo....I do not know.
Camden had a full belly after lunch, and a shirt covered in it, so he went to sleep peacefully. We didn't even notice until we stopped to show him an animal, called his name, and realized he was out!
Sunbathing seals
Last stop - the Kids Farm, and Camden missed that too.
On our way out of the city. We actually had a lot of fun riding around the city answering various questions for Mykenzi, who seemed most intrigued by the tunnels than all of the buildings, and the crazy drivers kept us all laughing.
Camden and Mommy on Camden's 1st Birthday 
I know this is dark, but you get the idea...Camden wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a big, wide open mouth, wet kiss on the cheek!
Camden's new Power Wheels from Mommy and Daddy (probably more so from Daddy because he was very excited about buying this toy). I need to post a video of him riding it, he pushes the button on the handlebar and his head flings back. It almost looks like when you see someone learning to drive, the power wheels kept jerking forward then to a stop. He just pressed the button once, it moved, his head flinged backward, and then he stopped jolting himself forward a little.
I'm not sure if he's checking out his shadow or just wanted to see the front of his new ride!
Mykenzi was driving around and around him in circles while he sat on his jerking himself back and forth trying to get it to go (not pressing the button though, just with the hands on the handlebars trying to get it to move by jerking back and forth excitedly), so she stopped to try to help him.
Lunch time...Camden's favorite meal so far. When he was first born he would rather sleep than eat; you might remember he wasn't gaining any weight at first so we had to start feeding him every 2 hours day and night, which meant waking up by an alarm to feed him because he never seemed to wake up for hunger, or wasn't ever hungry. That lasted two weeks, and after that he loved formula, and never took to baby food or table food until recently when we visited with Trenton and tried some of his favorite foods. Now Camden is a really good eater, except when it comes to vegetables.
More presents from Daddy, Mommy, and Big Sister!
Watching his presents being opened by a special helper. This is one of her Big Sister duties that she loves the most, opening presents for Camden. By Christmas though, if he's anything like his sister, he'll have it figured out.
She picked this toy out for him from her. It's a truck with a lion and tiger on it, and there's a button on the truck that when you press it either plays music or roars like the animals. Camden loves the music!
More help opening the presents from Nana, Paw Paw, and Sarah, but he's actually pulling some paper off here. Usually he just wants one piece of the paper and he'll be happy with that.
Checking out the horn on the new Vtech 3-in-1 Smart Wheels from Sarah.
His new Mega Blocks wagon from Mommy and Daddy.
He either just pushes the wagon around....
or eats the blocks!
Sharing is tough when it's not your birthday!
When everyone sang happy birthday Camden just looked around smiling like he was taking in that special moment that was all for him!
Camden and his new bubble blowing lawn mower from Maw Maw and Pop!
She surprised us a second time when she went up to get her diploma and shook the Pastor's hand.
Smiling proud! 
If you look really hard you can see the goat that walks up a ramp from the ground to the top of the pole on the right side of the picture and over to the top of the pole on the other side of the road. You can actually feed him some how up there. We've never done that, but we've watched other kids do it.
Mykenzi picking, and eating, strawberries. They don't have any pesticides on them so they told everyone that we could eat them right there in the field. I was a little worried about bugs and dirt, but we had just had several days of heavy rain before that so Jonmark said no worries.
Getting help from Daddy.
Camden had fun walking around, sitting in the grass, and eating strawberries as well!
They were huddled together checking over a strawberry that Mykenzi picked and wanted to eat!
Mykenzi and her friend Lily.
