Zoo Spooktacular

Tonight we spent our Halloween at the Springfield Zoo Spooktacular! It's a pretty neat concept! On Halloween night, they decorate the zoo all spookylishious. We saw Max and the Wild Things, Elmo, and lots of great pirates, skeletons, and more jack-o-lanterns than we could count. We all took a train ride around the Zoo Lake. Sutton was thrilled to ride the "Zoo Train" while we passed The Smurfs, Snoopy, The Madagascar gang, and best of all...Dora and Diego. On the way back to the car The Mad Scientist made Sutton a special concoction. When we got home Sutton was excited to read her Halloween books for the last time...until our next Spooktacular Halloween.

Love to all,
Kurt and Courtney

Halloween in the Halls!!

Today Kurt and I took Sutton over to the Missouri State dorms for some early trick-o-treating. It really took me back, seeing all those disgusting dorm rooms, to the good old days of Wofford hall at Winthrop!! Sutton really had a great time and was able to actually participate in some trick-o-treating festivities. Enjoy the pictures!! Also, if you couldn't guess, Sutton is dressed like a Fairy:)

Christmas in Branson and Fall at Busiek

It was such a beautiful fall day here in Springfield and so, Kurt and I decided to take a drive through the Ozarks down to Busiek State Park and Branson Landing. The trees were amazing with all their bright colors, the weather was a perfect 70 degrees, fall was all around us. The walk at Busiek got us really in the mood for the upcoming Halloween festivities....getting us excited to carve pumpkins, bake pies, and go trick-or-treating. However, when we arrived in Branson it was a totally different experience. Everywhere you turned there was garland, snowflakes, tinsel, and ornaments. Christmas music was blaring from surround sound speakers and there was a ginormous Christmas tree in the square. I couldn't believe my eyes! Here we are a week away from Halloween and already the Christmas shopping has begun!! All in all it was a very beautiful but surreal day. Enjoy the pics:)

Love to all,

Courtney

Clifford The Big Red Dog!!

This morning Clifford (and what seemed to be 100 toddlers) gathered at the local Barnes & Nobles for reading time. It was a half an hour packed with excitement, stress, and tears. When I told Sutton that we were going to the book store to meet her favorite red dog, she was ecstatic! All morning she wouldn't stop talking about Clifford, how much she loved him and wanted to hug him. After about 20 minutes (which seemed more like an hour) of patient waiting, Clifford finally appeared! All the children laughed, cheered, and clapped. We all listened, even Sutton, intently to the story that Clifford read and once it was over it was time for a quick hug and a picture. Sutton couldn't contain herself...she was practically ripping my arm off to get to the stage where Clifford was sitting. Finally, we arrived, it was our turn to shake Clifford's hand and get a great big hug and kiss. So, what does Sutton do? After all that waiting and excitement she flips out, starts to cry, and runs away scared as can be! Kids, I will never understand them:) Enjoy the pictures!!

Love to all,

Courtney

Alligators, Crawfish, and Swamps, Oh My!!!

Just recently we took a business/family trip to Louisiana. Kurt is working on a Grant project dealing with Louisiana's vanishing wetlands and so, Sutton and I decided to tag along for the ride. I've been to Louisiana (Baton Rouge & New Orleans) on many occasions with Kurt to visit friends and of course, go to Mardi Gras. We've always had a blast but, this time, traveling with a two year old was a totally different experience!! It was still a lot of fun...I really love the culture, food, and music in Louisiana and I LOVED that Sutton was able to experience new surroundings. However, instead of partying on Bourbon street till 2 a.m or hanging out at the Thirsty Tiger in Baton Rouge, our days were filled with swamp tours, zoo trips, storyland, and bedtime at 8 p.m. I guess that's what happens when you have children. Life, and the idea of fun, take on a whole new but wonderful meaning! Enjoy the pictures!!!

Love to all,

Courtney

Greetings

Welcome friends to the exciting life of the Heinleins! Let the blogging begin:)

Love to all,
Courtney