Cancun

Since we enjoyed our vacation in Cancun, Mexico in March so much we decided to spend another week there just after Thanksgiving. Mia was ready to head to the beach as well:



A few days were too cool and windy to go swimming at the pool but we still found enough things to do and it didn't get boring


Instead of a evening swim at the pool we introduced an aperitif hour at the bar

Mia also enjoyed the evening dance

Sometimes we just relaxed in the hotel lobby

Busy Sunday

An unusually mild Sunday turned out pretty busy. After shopping for a picnic at the newly opened Trader Joe's just a block away we headed to the National Zoo again. At the children's farm Mia touched the cow and the donkey for he first time, The cows are kind of big and she was a bit scared before


We also got to see for the first the orangutans use the O-line. These are cables on running between towers so that they can to go from the ape house in one part of the zoo to another.


The tiger was pretty active as well and Mia though the roaring was too strong. The panda bear was eating a big doughnut for lunch.
After that we went straight to Christopher's third birthday party. Mia's favorite part was of course the birthday cake

The school poster

A picture of Mia was selected for a poster of her preschool: A serious looking Mia is holding a flag. For her it was not the first time she was picked for an advertising role like this: One day after she was born we were asked if a few pictures of her could be taken for the hospital magazine.

At the Zoo again

On a wonderful fall day we headed to the zoo again. With the cooler temperatures the animals seemed to be more active and we managed to see quite a lot.
The giant panda bear tried to get some treats out of a specially designed "cookie jar::


The lions were really playful and chased each other or rolled around a big ball:

A tiger preferred to walk back and forth by himself:

An elephant was munching down some snack:

Mia watched all this and more and after a long morning at the zoo fell right asleep during the 15 minute drive back home

Halloween Party

For Mia's first big Halloween party she dressed up as a kangaroo. At her preschool the big day started with a parade were the younger one got help 'big" kids ,

Then after, juice, cookies, cup cakes, candy and fruits it was story time::

After that Mia could unwind a bit in her class room:

Air and Space museum

On a cold weekend with the first snow of the season we made a trip to the Air and Space museum out by the Washington Dulles International airport. It has lots of space to run around and lots of airplanes, rockets and other things to see.

Fall Fest

Our neighbor invited Mia to come along for a fall festival at the Ft. Myer base which is just a short drive from our place. Mia enjoyed most the scarecrows.