A trip to the zoo with our longtime friends!

Earlier today, our family took a trip to Asheboro, NC to visit the NC Zoo with our friends, the Goettsch family. Steven originally met Erin and Mark way back in high school when they were all in the band together. I had the privilege to meet and get to know them a bit once I started dating Steven in 1998. The last time we all saw each other was at Erin and Mark's wedding in 2003, but thanks to facebook, we've reconnected recently! As it turns out, this sweet family has a little boy just four months older than Isaac and are expecting their second child (a girl!) only four days before our baby girl's due date. :) It has been a blessing to get to know Erin, Mark, and now their son Nathan through the blogosphere. We do live about three hours apart, so today was the first time we've been able to physically meet up with them. It was a great time of fellowship and family fun! Erin and Mark, we had a blast!!!

Here are some pictures from our trip:
Compare these to the last time we went to the zoo! Isaac's grown SO much over the past year!

Steven and Isaac watching the elephants:


Steven and Isaac cooling off under the water-sprayer: (the pregnant mommas loved this too!)


Mark, Erin, Nathan, Steven and Isaac watching the rhinos:


Our family, at the African plains overlook:


Isaac (and Nathan) loved this statue of a lion, which was good because the real lions didn't want to wake up from their naps and let us see them):


Daddy and Isaac having fun!


A sea lion: (Erin pointed out that he probably feels very far from the Arctic in the NC heat. Yep, I bet he's missing the ice something fierce with this heat and humidity!)


A lovely eagle (with an injured wing):


The lovely eagle eating a rat (piece by piece, which Mark and Steven loved watching. Ewwww.):


Erin, me, and our bebes:


Our group shot:


What a GREAT day! And GREAT company!