Z is for Zoo

Z is for Zoo.  We took a road trip last week to the Hattiesburg Zoo as a babysitting excursion with my niece.  It was a good bit of a drive over (almost 2 hours due to thunderstorms), but once we got there, the skies cleared and though everything was wet, it turned into a nice day.  By the end of the day, the skies were bright blue and it wasn't too terribly hot, even though we were all sweaty and nasty due to the humidity.  Even though we were an hour and a half inland, it was still sticky wet and the air was straight up heavy.  However, over the course of the four hours we spent at the zoo, the kids had a blast.  The zoo wasn't the largest or the first zoo the kids have visited, but it was a pleasant trip with very little bickering between the kids.  In fact, I can't think of a single snafu between the kids.  Yes, they had their moments, but nothing more than a little whining.  I am very proud of how all the kids acted, even Apollo.  However, we have learned that we are also dealing with a potentially dangerous symptom - wandering.  Watching four kids in a zoo is a little ambitious and Apollo wandered away from me more than once.  Thankfully, he was never far, but it was a slightly terrifying moment to turn back from helping one child to find that the one who just right next to you has wandered off - especially when that child doesn't understand normal boundaries.  He was located very quickly both times he wandered off, but I am considering a kid leash for him.  Maybe not one of the backpack variety (though I do have one for the three year old who tends to be a runner), but maybe a wrist leash like I had as a kid.  I remember it, so I am sure I was at least five the last time it was used and I don't fault my parents one bit.

The kids really enjoyed the bug playground.  In fact, they would have stayed there absolutely all day had I let them.  They also loved the train, which we saved for the last part of our regular tour of the zoo, right before our picnic.  Their favorite animals were the Galapagos Tortoise, Peacock, Lemur and Zebras.  They also liked the petting zoo, where they got to pet African pigs and goats.  Also seen - tigers, alligators, flamingos, a giant anteater, a coatamundi  and prairie dogs along with lots of snakes, birds and lizards.  Overall, it was a lovely little excursion which ended with a fun trip to the splash pad located inside the zoo!  There was even a hurricane simulator there that we used as a fun dryer.  The splash pad excursion lasted over an hour and the final exhibit was the gift shop.  It was also the most tension of the entire day.  Adrianne quickly settled on a tiger and Orion found a tortoise and decided that was what he wanted, even though he had been talking nonstop about the snakes.  So when Apollo also wanted the tortoise, I tried to convince Orion to get a snake instead and that began an argument between them that lasted fifteen minutes.  I finally convince Apollo to get a snake, and he is now in love with it.  So in the end, we brought home Ringo the Lemur, Spike the Tortoise and Kaa the Snake.  Tricky the Tiger went home with Adrianne. The kids got a little whiny on the drive home, but it was over an hour and a half home after being at the zoo all day, so it wasn't totally unexpected and I would do it again - but with a leash for my little wanderer.

Z is for Zzzzz.  It is now June and the temperature outside is already reaching the level of ridiculousness.   Since the boys have consistently been coming inside smelling like they just came from a barn, I decided it was time for our annual summer buzzcuts.  You can see Apollo's above a little bit, but it is so much more obvious with a before and after picture.  He was a little hesitant about it and he hates the sound the clippers make, but thankfully this is typically a once-a-year type thing for him.  His hair is thick and when it gets long, it gets super stinky when he sweats.   His hair is going to be a pain in the neck by the end of summer due to his double cowlick, but for the next couple of months, we can take hair-brushing off our long list of getting dressed necessities since he takes forever to get ready as it is right now.

Z is for Zip.  Following the zoo trip, we opened the OAP Waterpark in our backyard.  My dad and I built the boys a homemade waterslide and splash pad.  We also have a family swimming pool that I got last year on deep discount.  It isn't a deep one, but it was nice to cool off in while the sun was heating things up.  Even Phoenix was fearlessly sliding down the waterslide into a homemade retainer pool at the bottom - last year's stained, leaky family pool.   The boys played for over an hour before momma decided it was time to go inside and get ready for dinner, but there were very few squabbles - mostly over who got to slide down on which kickboard and who got to play water basketball.  Overall, it was a fun time had by all and they are already requesting to do it again!  I told them they have to let the yard recover for a while before we can do it again, but I know I now have a useful bargaining chip for getting chores done!