labor is fun when grandparents are around

I loove traditions.  Like, too much, but knowing that is not helping to reign me in any.  Fall has become full of traditions for our little fam, and I can hardly contain myself when the season comes.  The first of my favorite traditions is our annual Labor Day weekend visit from my parents (what? you say that still counts as summer? shush.).
If you feel like you have seen these pictures already, it's because you have.  Well, last's year's version, but same place, mostly same animals, and same kids plus one (and no pictures of her because I think she slept through the whole thing).  And it was just as fun!  We hadn't been since last fall because of busy-ness so our kids were really anxious to go.

 It cracks me up that they're always so fascinated with birds, the tiniest animals there.

 emu stare-down 

 My parents are so cute.  Even the ostrich agrees.

 This year they added two baby giraffes! 

 I'm thinking this was his first year to ride the pony there.

Big boys are over the pony and now only camel-riders.

And because the only thing you could follow up Living Treasures with would be Chuck E. Cheese, we went there afterwards.  Can you guess why my kids are loving these fall traditions too!?  My parents are so sweet to even suggest taking two vans so that Bran could make it home in time for the Michigan game, so everyone was happy. and exhausted.  and full because there was also a lot of eating thrown in there.

Here's to kicking off another fall of fun!