Blog Block

So, yes. I realize it has been over a month since my last post. I am so behind in blogging. It isn't really for a lack of material. We have had a busy summer with lots of news and photos to share. I could say that I have been super busy - the usual excuse. Or, I could say that it was due to school work. Which is kind of true. After all, it was 16 weeks worth of material shoved into a 6 week course. But that ended a couple of weeks ago. I could say that I have been working a lot or that is it just pregnancy induced lethargy (OK, that might be some of it). But honestly, there isn't really a good reason. I am just plain lazy.

But then again, I am not really sure if laziness is really it. To be honest, I have become a bit weary of my blog lately. It seems like it has turned into a photo sharing site that is void of any substance. I dump pictures of our recent escapades because it is easy and quick. That is not what I wanted this blog to be. But why would these thoughts keep me from at least posting the usual pictorial reviews?

The answer is I have no idea.

What I do know is that I have been doing a lot of thinking about my blog lately and have been contemplating how to make it more interesting. I want it to be more than just a Mia photo blog. I want it to reflect more than just our photo ops. I would like it to have more substance and meaning. Our lives have changed a lot since the inception of this blog. Our focus on our furry kids shifted to parenting not just one, but soon two children. Does A Brief Paws still appropriately reflect our lives? Maybe. Our love for the furry, four legged kind has not changed. Creating a bigger, better blog takes time and I think I am currently doing some soul searching about whether or not I am prepared to commit the time needed to make the blog what I want it to be.

So thanks for being patient with me as I go through blog identity crisis. At the very least, I promise to keep posting pictures. Because at the end of the day, this blog is something I want to keep doing. I am not giving up easily.

Thanks for the ear (or eyes).

In the meantime, here is a little treat to tide you over.

6 Years Ago Today...

I married the greatest man I have ever known. My best friend, my soul mate. Happy Anniversary, my love. May our love grow ever stronger with each year.

Pic(s) of the Week: Summer

Ah, summer. Hot, sticky summer.
And there is nothing better to relieve the summer sweats than with a nifty new pool...

Day At The Zoo

For the first time in the years since Gabe and I have been together, we did not have big plans for Memorial Weekend. We are usually always either traveling or having a big party.

This year we decided to stick to the homestead and work our fannies to the bone catching up on yard work that has been neglected due to weather, travel, other priorities and just plain laziness. Since we have 5 acres of land to tend to and non-stop rain this spring, we were buried in weeds, grass, and more weeds. There is so much to be done, that Gabe and I have to tag team just to get it done.

In the midst of all this work, however, we decided to give ourselves a break and take Mia to the KC Zoo. Her first zoo experience. And we all had a blast.

The best time to go to the zoo is in the morning right as they open. Not only do you get rock star parking, all the animals are active.

The first exhibit we came upon was the polar bears. And let me tell you, he was in a great mood.

Mia was fascinated...
Here is what she was looking at on Daddy's shoulders...
The polar bear was my favorite of the day. :)

Mia went nuts over the tigers...
There was a lot of this going on...

Then she found a playground. Her favorite thing in the whole wide world...

She even got excited when she saw the carousel...
...but wasn't too happy once she realized the zebra goes up and down...
...and was happy when it came to a stop...
...and of course wanted to do it all over again. :)

We stopped for lunch, but she didn't eat a bite. She was too excited to keep going. After all, there was still so much to see!

Like the incredibly LOUD mackaws...
and the elephants...
There was much more after this. But with the 90 degree humid weather, mommy was suffering from heat exhaustion and forgot all about taking pictures. We went for what-seemed-like-a hundred-mile walk though the African exhibit where we saw hippos, giraffes, zebras and alligators. Mia went nuts over that stupid alligator.

Finally, after 3.5 hours of zoo-filled fun, we headed for the exit. It was a terrific family day. Mia was a champ through it all. Surprising us with her stamina. She didn't use the stroller until the very end. Running full force all morning.

Then finally...

Crash.

It was a good day.

Pic of the Week: Middle America

On our floating trip last week we came across this...

Gotta love middle America!