Vacation Highlights

One of the highlights of our vacation time last week had to be our return trip to the zoo for Father’s Day. This time around we went shortly after the zoo opened and we got to see some pretty neat stuff. We saw the three Arctic Wolves up close while one of the keepers tossed in some snack food (small rodents, I think); the three puppies know the sound of the keeper’s keys jingling, so when they heard that they came running!















We also watched as the otters devoured dead baby chicks, feet and all; apparently river otters have some pretty sharp teeth. I thought about taking pictures, but I was fairly confident that not too many people would be interested in witnessing what happens to the leftover Easter chicks. Poor things.

Our son’s favorite animals on this trip were the goats. He had a splendid time brushing them and we had to go back to the pen several times.















The other item of interest to our babies was the purchase of a brand new standing sandbox. We had to search high and low to find one. It would seem that once Memorial Day passes, certain outdoor toys are difficult to locate. The sandbox is lots of fun and makes quite a mess. I love finding sand in my couch.

The Vacation is OVER

Last week the husband/daddy was home on vacation. It was nice to have an equal child-parent ratio: they seemed so much easier to manage. We went out frequently, mostly to the hardware store/garden center, but also to the park to play on slides and go for walks on the trail.

During this time I discovered that my previous aversion to gardening was somehow mistaken. For most of the week, I rose earlier than everyone else and enjoyed the birdsong of early morning and the quiet from the city, and worked in the garden, planting my new acquisitions. It was so relaxing and calming that I have decided to continue to rise early and spend sometime out of doors by myself as often as possible.

The week flew by so quickly and we didn’t get as many projects done around the house as we had hoped. We purchased most of the supplies we need, however, and the pile of project paraphernalia awaiting use in the basement is beginning to grow out of control. At any rate, the garden is practically done (for this year anyway), the porch is sanded, the picnic table painted, the gate repair started, and the pavers laid in the front of the house.

Getting back to the grind of everyday life yesterday was a little tough. I’m outnumbered again and the kids really made the most of their numerical strength. It was a day of near breakdowns, a few flip-outs, and general weariness. But I’m sure we’ll all be back in the groove soon enough.