A Day at the Zoo

Is there any place in the world quite so fun as the zoo? I mean, where else can you go over and over and never get bored. (Alright, Target is another place, but only if you have money and no kids with you!!) But really, I love taking the kids to the zoo. A few years ago, my parents got us a membership so we could go anytime. That was quite possibly one of the best presents ever.
The zoo is great because even though the animals are always the same, they're never doing the same thing. And they're not your ordinary housepets, either, so even if they're just sleeping, it's still pretty cool. I may shudder every time we approach the tarantula cases, but I love hearing Garrett's voice..."Hey Mom!!!! Look at the creepy crawlies!!" (As if that wasn't the only reason we entered this section in the first place.) Paige is finally old enough to take interest in the animals, so the fun has grown that much more.
I think one of the reasons I like the zoo so much, is that you feel like the best parent ever, no matter what arguments may have happened earlier in the day. So you lost your patience with your child because he was singing the same line of a song really loudly over and over and over (not that this has happened to me, of course...purely hypothetical!) It doesn't matter once you've arrived at the zoo and seen the look of wonder on your child's face as they watch the lion pace around. Or you were embarassed by the outfit your child put together (try telling Garrett that red Spider-Man pants and neon green and pink Hot Wheels shirts don't go together) But once you're out in the sunshine looking at exotic animals, you're happy to take pictures of some crazy outfit.
And then something happens to make your perfect parenting illusion come crashing down. For example, (again, hypothetically), your child that you told the Internet was potty-trained, has an accident after you have tried 3 times to take her to the bathroom. She melts down because she wants her wet clothes off THIS INSTANT, whether or not she is in full view of the rest of the world. Meanwhile, her older brother starts hyperventilating because he thinks the change of direction to the restroom means that he won't get to play on his beloved play structure. So, by the time you reach the restroom, you have 2 screaming children, wet and smelly clothes, and steam coming from your ears.
But then you head back out to the playground, and suddenly you are mother of the year again. Ahhh, the zoo.....

Zoo trip

Milestones

It's been a week of small but significant achievements for us. We had a warm spell (which unfortunately is leaving us today), and that prompted us into major "Spring-Clean" mode. We moved furniture, threw away a TON of stuff, and fixed things that had been broken for a long time. There's still some cleaning to do, but I feel like we live in a new home! Now we'll just see if we can maintain it. (Especially with two small hurricanes named Garrett and Paige living here...why do children leave a wake of chaos behind them?)
Another very important achievement is that Paige is finally potty-trained! (Knock on wood). We've been working on it since last fall, but she just couldn't seem to get it. She was fine if I took her every half an hour, but that's really just "mommy training", so we backed off for awhile. She has been in "big-girl" underwear for at least two weeks now with only a few accidents! We're counting down the days until we no longer have to buy any diapers! (We're still using them at night). With the exception of about a month before Paige was born, I have been buying diapers for 5 years now! Whew! That's a lot of money in the ol' landfill! So, we are very excited about this latest achievement.
In other news, Garrett got his very own library card yesterday. He had to sign his name on it and everything, and he was proud as could be. He insisted that he do the checking out himself, and he presided over it with Nazi-like watchfulness. ("No, Mom! This book first!!)
And, most excitingly (is that even a word?) for me, I have been offered a job teaching second grade next year! I'm not completely excited about working full-time again, but it seems to be the best solution. I don't want to continue teaching piano lessons once Garrett's in school full-time, because it eats up my afternoons with him. And Paige will be starting preschool, so this seemed like the ideal time to go back to teaching. So, I will be teaching at Eastern Hills again in second grade. God is so good to provide!
I've included some pictures from our trip to the park yesterday. It was around 60 degrees yesterday, so we enjoyed the warmth and sun after weeks of cold temperatures. Tomorrow is supposed to be 37 degrees, so I guess it was a short-lived enjoyment! Spring will come, but I wish I could hurry it along!
Happy Valentine's Day!

Park Fun

Kids Say the Darndest Things

For the most part, I try not to be one of those mothers who is constantly telling anyone who will listen what cute things her children are doing. Other people usually aren't all that interested, and things that I think are totally adorable can seem like nothing to someone else. But, with not much else interesting happening in our lives right now, (beside the great spring-clean of 2008...whew!) I thought I'd regale you with some of Paige and Garrett's funny sayings.
Garrett, being the more advanced of the two, takes the majority of the awards for hilarious comments. My all-time favorite happened about a year ago. He was wearing his Spiderman slippers and came running down the steps. At the bottom, his feet came completely out from under him, and he fell right on his backside. I said "Whoa! Are you OK?" He looks at me calmly and replies "Yeah. That's why they call them 'slippers'!"
Two days ago at lunch, I told him to clear his dishes and wipe off his spot. He shakes his head in frustration and replies "Why do I have to do all the work around here?" To which I, of course, laughed hysterically, because it is obvious to me who does all the work around here!
Garrett's newest funny word is "prefer". I have no idea where it came from, but he actually uses it correctly. I told him today to take his toys either to his room or downstairs to play. He thought for a minute and then said "I think I prefer downstairs." And off he went, leaving me with my jaw hanging open!
Garrett's last funny story happened last week. At school, they learned about gun safety. He was rattling off the list of safety rules they learned..."Stop! Don't touch! Leave the area! Tell the dump!" You read correctly -"tell the dump!" I kept saying, "What was the last one?" and he kept repeating it. I told him I thought it was "tell an adult", but he insisted it was the dump. I asked him why we would tell the dump about a gun, and he replied (as if I were the stupidest mom in the world) "So they could come get the gun and throw it away!!" It made perfect sense to him!
Paige's funny sayings have more to do with the way she says things, so they aren't quite as funny in print. She loves the song "Yankee Doodle" and always asks me to sing the "macaroni song". But, she can't quite say "macaroni", so it always comes out "whac-a-noni". Something about it cracks me up.
Last week, we had to have a talk with Garrett about using his bodily functions at the table. (Boys!!! What is it with them?) A few hours later, Paige let out a little "toot" and she goes "S'cuse me! My bottom burped!"
Paige's last story is more amazing than funny. Last week we were stopped in the car at a red light. She was just sitting there, looking out the window while Dave and I talked. Suddenly she yells out "Mom! I see an 'x'!" I look over, and she's pointing right at the Fed-Ex truck next to us! Now, some of you probably have children who knew their letters at two and a half years of age. But considering that Garrett, is still mastering his, I was blown away. Of course, if Paige starts reading things, I would actually be a little scared. Smart is great, but genius...not so much! So, we'll hope for nice, normal progression!
Okay, now that I've bored you all to tears, I'll sign off. Thanks for indulging a little "mom brag"!