Hey all!!! Hope you are all doing splendidly. Did you wake up this morning saying, “I really hope I see a picture of an alpaca today?”. If so, this is the post for you!
Before sharing all about meeting those fun little not so little creatures, I have a few more things to share!
I’ve been really focusing on family meals lately. It’s a toss up if Quinn will actually happily sit in her seat to eat or not, but we try. It’s also just a toss up. Literally. Her food is usually tossed sometime during the meal.
August 21st I made a shrimp stiryfry. Here’s the batch stir fry sauce I made that we all thoroughly enjoyed! I mixed tofu into mine and Quinn’s since we love that too.
We went through a stage where I would put her yogurt in an ice cream cone to get her to eat it. It worked but it was messy, heheh!
This was in the thick of when I had given up coffee, hence it was a matcha latte and oatmeal for breakfast on repeat! I actually should get back to incorporating matcha. It was yummy and sans jitters, it just takes a tiny bit more effort to make with whisking the milk and such.
August 22nd I had a GI appt on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus. I found a delicious poke bowl stop to get in a nourishing meal right before the appt. I felt so silly taking a pic of my hospital cafeteria meal, but it was too pretty (and tasty) not to! 😝
That evening I made us some peach, corn and steak salads for dinner from the Feeding Littles cookbook. It sounds like a weird combo, but it came together beautifully! I added goat cheese as well. And bonus- it was easy. DJ and I agree sometimes the easiest meals also taste the best.
I brought out the stir fry sauce again the next night to put together some leftovers.
August 24th, Moose and Quinn spent some time in the morning chasing each other around.
We also picked crab apples off the tree. I just had to pay very close attention that she didn’t try to eat any said apples.
I made Quinn cheesy broccoli roll ups with lunch that she didn’t want, so I ended up eating them…How it goes most days 😅.
Cuddles with Moose during nap time ❤️. Since I’ve cut out working out entirely now, I try to use any leftover nap time outside of chores to cuddle with Moose and give him some undivided attention.
He’s a big fan of the sun-bathing on the deck!
That evening I made us some pasta alla vodka for DJ and me and a veggie sauce pasta for Quinn. She didn’t want hers with all the good nutrients, only ours 🤪.
I was craving a McDonald’s ice cream cone after dinner, so we treated ourselves to a drive through cone. Luckily, Quinn didn’t even see the ice cream since she’s rear facing in the seat, so we got to eat them as we drove home without her asking for a taste of them lol.
August 25th, Quinn and I visited the Akron Zoo, a small but well respected zoo in our area. It is the perfect size for a couple hour outing. We brought along Quinn’s teddy bear with her that actually used to be my teddy bear when I was little 🥰.
Her favorite part was their goat feeding petting zoo!
I couldn’t believe the size of the grizzly bears up close! The picture definitely doesn’t do justice.
We did the carousel and when it rained we sought cover in a Photo Booth 😊.
That evening I kept it easy with salads, burgers and sweet potato fries.
*Record scratch*- you must be thinking to yourself, “Wait, that’s it?! I thought we were going to see alpacas!”. Hang tight! I promise to share them soon 🙃.
August 26th we had over my brother, SIL and our nephews and niece for brunch!
We ordered Bob Evans, and it was so good!!! Their biscuits are just the best.
We had so much fun, and it’s always a joy watching the kids run around and play together.
August 27th I started the day with making cheddar potato egg cups as an easy breakfast. (Also from Feeding Littles).
We’ve been getting back in the groove to going to church on Sundays too. We so missed it! We would like to get more involved there too now that we feel we have found our home church 🙂.
That evening, we went to Applebees! DJ and I went to Applebees so many times through high school and college (you pick two, anyone?!), but haven’t been back since. It was so fun to go there, and we forgot how darn good it is. Particularly I love that the food comes out piping hot.
Quinn has been loving her shopping cart recently. She pushes it everywhere around the house! I’ll put a bunch of produce on the counter and hand her one at a time to put in her cart. She’ll sign “more” until the whole cart is filled up. It’s a fun little game 😄.
One day when I was cleaning up from dinner, I looked outside and witnessed this adorable scene of Quinn on DJ’s shoulders looking for the ponies.
And very exciting… August 29th I took Quinn to HomeGoods for the first time!! We went there and to the Dollar Tree for some fall decor.
Of course, we had to get Moose something too.
Quinn picked out this fox and blanket that is so soft and cuddly. She’ll point back and forth to the dog and pumpkin on it as I say “Pumpkin!” “Puppy!” over and over… and over again hah.
And finally, (cue 21st Century Fox intro sound)- we are finally to the alpacas!! I’m a woman of my word if nothing else!
On August 31st, Gigi met up with us and we drove to Majestic Meadows, an alpaca farm on several truly majestic rolling green acres.
We bought tickets ahead of time, but you can also buy them on site for a little more. You’re able to buy food for the various animals and feed them too. They’re all so gentle and clearly used to the visitors.
I thought there were only alpacas here, but there were so many (unexpected?) animals too! They had camels, turkeys, goats, pigs, kangaroos and wallabies… and more I’m sure I’m missing!
Quinn was not shy! Besides the alpacas, her favorites were the pigs and the wallaby!
Being sweet with the alpaca ❤️.
One of my favorite pics ever of her and Gigi!
All the different alpacas had different personalities, it was kind of funny to see.
As we were leaving, we noticed a little playground for the goats. It’s hilarious to watch them climb around on them! They also do goat yoga here- something I’d like to try sometime.
On our way out, we stopped in the gift shop and Gigi got Quinn this adorable little camel we named Cami!
Well I hope this post gave you your animal fix! Have a great week friends 😊.
Questions for you:
– What’s your favorite animal?
– What’s your favorite chain restaurant? (I think mine may be Cheesecake Factory!).
<3,
Mackenzie
Hmm, your alpaca et al farm trip looks like fun. I go to an alpaca farm here in Michigan too, but they have just alpacas (boring next to yours). I love the pictures of Quinn visiting up close and personal with the critters. Did people warn you about the alpacas spitting? Someone told me that, but neither I, nor the camera, got spit on by an alpaca. Goat yoga is a thing? Sounds fun. Moose was enjoying being loved on … keeps his nose from going out of joint. You have a huge yard Mackenzie and I also liked the pic of DJ with Quinn on his shoulders and Moose close by looking for ponies. So sweet. I’ve never been to Cheesecake Factory – the one in Michigan that is closest to me is still far away and people grumble that there is an hour-long or more wait. I do like Applebee’s, also Chili’s, though it’s been a while since I’ve been to either one.
They did not warn us about the spitting!!! Too funny! It makes me think of The Emperors New Groove- didn’t a llama or alpaca spit on him? Or am I making that up? 😄
The yard has been such a game changer. It’s so funny when Moose gets the zoomies outside too. He definitely couldn’t do that when we lived in the townhouse!
I need to go back to a Chili’s soon too!! We actually have a giftcard so I need to find one nearby.
Have a great week, Linda 😊
Oh, I never saw The Emperor’s New Groove, but yes alpacas and llamas will spit, usually at each other (kind of like having a temper tantrum) but if they are nervous or annoyed by your presence, they will spit at you. In a separate comment, I’ll show you a short video that made the rounds a couple of years ago.
Your backyard is perfect for Quinn and Moose to grow up together.
You enjoy this last bit of Summer-like weather before Fall temps descend on us. 🙂
So interesting!! We did see two fighting at once- one of them was bleeding , it was actually really concerning. The owners kept telling them to knock it off !
That would concern me too Mackenzie. Maybe they were being showoffs for the crowd expecting more treats that way. There’s one in every crowd!
Haha so true!
Fabulous post! You are amazing- you work, and you’re a spectacular Mom, and wife. Your food dishes are as much fun to look at as your animal photos! Thanks for a very enjoyable post!
My favorite animal, besides dogs- would be horses.
Chain restaurant- well, I used to love, love Sweet Tomatoes, which I always went to in Florida. But they closed during the pandy. I’ll go with Bob Evans, although I may change my mind…
Aw thank you so much 🥹. That means more than you know!!
Great call with horses!!!
Oh you know, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a Sweet Tomatoes but have heard great things!! Bob Evans is hard to beat!!
Awww I love that sweet little baby so much! And your Mom is just the coolest-hippest grandma.
I bookmarked the stirfry sauce and the steak/peach bowls look delicious, as do the cheesy egg cups! Oh and the broccoli cheese thingies. Yum!
Hi Jinjer!!! Aw thank you- I’ll pass along the kind words 😊
Yayy! Even though the cookbook is for cooking for toddlers, I really love the meals!!
Yes, Cheesecake Factory! Haven’t been there in ages, but so good!
Yesss! That brown bread … mmmm mmmm! I lived on that when I was pregnant haha. Thank goodness I could buy it in the grocery store!
I desperately need to use my Feeding Littles Cookbook more! I don’t know why I haven’t. Ugh. I was on a roll. All of your meals look and sound incredible. You are a very thoughtful and wonderful wife and mama!
I die over Quinn’s hats and outfits! She’s so sweet. You do so much with her. It’s precious!
I love that shopping cart! We’re not sure what Santa will bring her this year. It will be her only gift from us, and I love classic or wooden toys because they look like they were made by elves. The shopping cart looks promising.
The alpacas are adorable! Such a fun outing and place to visit. I love your humor woven throughout this post.
Thank you for sharing! What a bright start to this week.
I definitely go through phases with it too! I am so glad you told me about it though. It’s such a great one!
Thank you for your sweet words, so are you 🥹.
Same!!! She is all about anything she can push! I think this one is a Melissa and Doug one- I think she got it for her bday from grandparents!
Aw thank you 😊 have a great rest of your week, friend!! 💕
I desperately need to use my Feeding Littles Cookbook more! I don’t know why I haven’t. Ugh. I was on a roll. All of your meals look and sound incredible. You are a very thoughtful and wonderful wife and mama!
I die over Quinn’s hats and outfits! She’s so sweet. You do so much with her. It’s precious!
I love that shopping cart! We’re not sure what Santa will bring her this year. It will be her only gift from us, and I love classic or wooden toys because they look like they were made by elves. The shopping cart looks promising.
The alpacas are adorable! Such a fun outing and place to visit. I love your humor woven throughout this post.
My favorite animal is a cat (surprise!). My favorite chain restaurant is a tough one. I’m really not sure! We ate at Applebee’s and Ruby Tuesdays so much growing up.
Thank you for sharing! What a bright start to this week.
Oh my goodness, so many fun things in this post and I LOVE all the animals! We just had a new animal park open up maybe 20ish minutes away and I really want to go. My only fear is that I’ll look like a child and we don’t even have any children yet, haha! Animals make me so happy though, they are just precious. I love cats, we have two of them and they are our babies. 🙂 My favorite chain restaurant is Chick-Fil-A, I know that’s like a fast food chain, but it’s always so so good. I do love Cheesecake Factory too though! Also, all of this food in your post is making me so so hungry now, haha!
Have a fantastic week! 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
So glad you enjoyed this!! 🙂
How exciting!!! No, I say do it!! Animals are for everyone 😄. Awww I love cats so much. I wish we could get one but DJ is allergic :/.
Ohhhh YES Chic Fil A is a favorite here too 😋. Have a great week too, Ashley. I loved reading your comments!!!
So fun to remember our very special Alpaca Day! You captured the day so well with all these great photos. Love the photo of. Quinn on DJ’s shoulders looking for ponies and favorite chain restaurant? Hmmm, agree with another reader about Cheesecake Factory, my hubby says Outback!
Yes!! DJ and I were just talking about Outback actually- it’s where we ate the night we became officially a couple all those years ago! 🥰 Bloomin’ onion and bloomin’ relationships 😁
Hmmm favorite animal is a sea turtle, but if I’m going to a zoo, Red Pandas are my favorite.
Can I say Piada…? 😅 My favorite chain restaurant is actually a tie between Chili’s and Red Robin, but my most frequently visited is Wendy’s; there’s one 2 miles away from home and they have the superior fast food french fry IMO.
Red Pandas are SO cute!!
Yes you can!!! It is one of my faves too. Oh my gosh Red Robin!! I haven’t been there in forever, but I love their whiskey river burger and fries with their seasoning 🤤. But yes Wendy’s fries are soooo good too!!! I love their chicken nuggets too.
I think you and I are soul foodies– I get the whisky river burger but with sweet potato fries and Wendy’s nuggets with bbq sauce and a small chocolate frosty with my fries is my go-to meal. 😀
Yes yes soul foodies is right! I have got to find a Red Robin sometime soon – and may have to stop at Wendy’s today 😋
Great photos! 🍂🍁