Yes, I have a dream. A dream that one day my bathroom will be more zen like. It will be a spa-like oasis that is free of random toys, plastic steps and stools and brightly colored rugs but alas, this is my spa....
So the family spent5 hours at the Zoo on Saturday and it was great. We saw lots of animals and drank tons of water. Here are a few of our favorite animals from this trip.
The following are my favorite animals! We really enjoyed ourselves and then we all come home and took a 2 hour nap, and I mean everyone!
We ended the day playing at the new splash pad at the back of the zoo by the monkey village. That was a hit. It has a big cave with 2 slides, a little river running all around the perimeter, water that shoots up from the splash pad and from the rocks and sweet, sweet misters. You could seriously stay there all day when it is 101 outside.
Whenever we go to the Zoo Griffin always wants to see the giant Galapagos Tortoises and the turtles all over the place. So I found out you could have breakfast with the Timeless Tortoises and I signed us up. Unfortunately we had to get up at 6 am on a Saturday to get there on time but we suffered through and had a fantastic time. We got to go right on in with them and pet them and feed them carrots. Their shells are like our fingernails so they can feel through them and when you pet them they stand up tall so you know they are lovin it. They areHUGE with Al being over 625 lbs and the oldest at over 122 years old. We fed Pete the 2nd biggest and oldest. He was so funny. He was shlumped on the ground looking half dead when we got there but he got a whiff of that carrot and got up and started chomping. Griffin was in HEAVEN and has already asked when we will be going to feed them again. Al was much more savvy than Pete and was practically running kids down to find the next small person with a carrot. Pete took his sweet time and only Griffin fed him. I guess Al just has more wisdom than Pete. Al also really liked you to scratch him softly and he stood up and stretched his neck to show you his delight. It was so fun and Griffin isn't the only one who wants to go back soon!
Here in the valley of the sun we have been pretending it is fall since it has only been 100-102 this past week, lookin for 90's next week. So to get in the mood, I got some fall decorations out and hung up some new ones in the kitchen/dining room. There are metal pumpkins by the front door and we are ready to go. Fall is here!!
In light of the cooler temperatures, ;> Lewis and I went to the Wildlife World Zoo on Friday. It is only 5 miles from our house as opposed to 25 miles to the Phx Zoo which is much nicer when you gotta be back for nap time in 2 hours. We saw Lions, and Tigers and Ducks, oh my! Guess what was the favorite? Yep, that would be the ducks! One little duck followed us around for about 15 minutes which made Lewy very happy. He also loved the reptile house because the crocodiles were all right up against the glass and Lewis loved touching their noses and saying no, no. (He can do eyes, ears, hair, mouth and nose now!)
I have also failed to mention how happy we were to see the backside of August. It wasn't the best month for us. Lewis and Griffin both had double ear infections; Griffin missed 5 of the first 10 days of school. Then I had this little cough that I just couldn't shake and wham--walking pneumonia. Sweet. Brad got himself a pinched sciatic nerve in his back and then he made the mistake of saying "I wish I'd have had a kidney stone instead, at least that pain goes away." And wham--3 days later--kidney stone. Be careful what you wish for!!!! And yes, the pinched nerve is still with us 6 weeks later :<
The girls are in choir now and are singing all the time. It is great! We love to hear their beautiful voices. My biggest problem is I keep forgetting I have to go get Griffin off the bus when they stay after because kindergartners can't get off the bus without an older sibling or parent. Luckily Helen--bless her heart--calls me from school every week to remind me! What a sweetie!
You know the saying NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED? Well today I am living proof. Last night at Target I heard a page for anyone who had jumper cables to come to the front of the store. Well, I have jumper cables so off I went. A woman needed help with her car and I was the only one who responded to the page so out to the parking lot we went. I got the cables on and all was well when Brad called to see where I'd gone (he was inside with all the kids in the toy section when I went upfront) I finished the call and one of the clamps wiggled loose and started to spark so I quickly put my phone down on the TIRE. Yes, the tire, I put my NAVY BLUE phone on the tire of my Yukon XL in a dark parking lot. Needless to say I didn't remember where I had put it until I had moved my car after my new friend had her car up and running again. Sweet! So this is what my 2 month old Centro looks like after my Yukon ran it over. Sweet right?
Luckily I am smart enough to have insurance for my phone so I will be up and running again on Monday but a whole weekend without my phone?! How will I survive?!!!
bath-tub basketball
pool toys aren't just for the pool ya know!
Griffin "Car Washin" Lewis
Mary
Griffin
Helen and Lewis
Griffin, Mommy & Al--122+ years old 624+ lbs
Al
Grif feeding Pete
Griffin & Pete
In pieces!
Smash-a-roo
Powered Up--great graphics on the screen!
