Family Time.
I took NikkiZ and Wes on a camel ride at the Zoo Saturday. I was more excited than they were but once we got there, NikkiZ wanted to ride alone. I made her ride with me first, and then we used the Solo opportunity as an incentive to stop whining about the heat already. When she finally got on it she didn’t even flinch. No fear. No hesitation. Just her on a camel, like there would be no reason for her to do anything but ride alone and riding with her Mom was simply an effort in tolerating parental authority.
The rest of the Zoo trip went great. The only animals we wanted to see but didn’t (They were inside, maybe? Avoiding the heat? Shopping some back to school sales? Getting a manicure? I don’t know.) were the Gorillas. Everyone else was out even in the heat and the kids had a ball. We fed flamingos, (OMG…tickled the CRAP out of my hands!) we rode camels, we hung out inside the fence with the Kangaroos while they ate and we watched the Sea Lions do their training sessions. All in all a superb trip. It wasn’t even crowded because the rest of the potential customer base was obviously smart and knew how freakin’ hot it was going to be.
On the way home, all three kids fell asleep. It’s a nice moment, a car ride back from a busy family outing out of town when everyone passes out from exhaustion. I just kept looking in the back of the van at them all. NikkiZ and AndyZ both passed out in horrible uncomfortable positions in their car seats. LilZ spread out across the back bench seat. Everyone snoring and sweaty and quiet. I wish we had the time and money to make trips like that a lot, but between those factors and just the simple fact that someone is always busy – we rarely make it out on big trips as a family. MrZ and LilZ often have their own schedules dragging them away so having the five of us in the van after a successful family outing? Felt very nice. Me and the little ones? We do stuff together all the time. They get bored with me. All five of us? We probably could have spent the day at Wal-Mart and it would have been just as exciting.
Although…Wal-Mart doesn’t have camels.
Sounds like you an awesome time given the heat
Aw, at least your kids enjoy stuff like that. There’s a picture of me on a camel at the zoo when I was NikkiZ’s age, and I look bored as HELL. She looks like she’s having fun!
OMG, that picture of the boys is so sweet! Your little ones are lucky to have a big brother who is so willing to be such a big part of their lives in spite of the age difference!
I agree with Monica-I love the picture of the boys! Glad you had a good time at the zoo in spite of the heat.
Sounds like a pretty great day! And too cute that all 3 fell asleep heh.
Glad it went well. How tempted were you to keep driving to keep them all asleep (a common theme in our one-baby house)?