So much to discover!

DS2 said that today while watching turtles in the Amphibian and Reptile house at our zoo.

DH took the boys there last Sunday afternoon while I napped, for my "Easter present". He considered applying the admission price to a membership but didn't do it because he wanted to check with me. It can be done after the fact, but only the same day. Oops. Today after church we went again. This time we went straight to Member Services to get a "household" membership. $85 for 2 adults & all the kids in the family for a year. Perks include free admission, some members-only events, discounts for the store & educational classes, and 50% off at reciprocal zoos (including Boise, where Grandma & Grandpa live).

First we hit the restrooms, then watched the flamingos, then to the children's farms (Asian, American, and African), then to the penguins during feeding time (great zookeeper commentary!), then DS2 announced that he wanted to see the reptiles. Going into the Amphibian and Reptile House is a pure act of love for DH. He really dislikes that place, especially the snakes. I stuck with DS2 and DH stuck with DS1. As we rounded a corner to a glassed in dessert, I pointed out a salamander to DS2 and he commented about seeing the turtles. Then he said, "So much to discover!" I couldn't stop grinning after that!

I haven't been enthusiastic about getting a zoo membership because going involves a lot of walking, and it is usually hot or rainy or crowded (if the weather's nice) or I just get tired. However, I'm really glad that we did. It will certainly be a great bonding time for the fellas, and if I tag along once in a while, that will be good too.

This and that

Several times in the past month I have thought, "I ought to blog about that," but I haven't. It's been a crazy couple of months.

We bought a house Feb. 1, after seeing it for the first time on Jan. 14. Those two weeks included lots of "field trips" to businesses to take care of the paperwork. Phase 1 of moving happened on Feb. 9 with a moving truck, 2 pickups, a jeep, and a trailer, and a second trip with the moving truck (and about 10 wonderful friends). We have been making trips to "our old house" and "Grandpa's house" to sort, toss, and move things, as well as picking up Grandpa's mail. We have met a multitude of contractors for estimates for some repair and remodelling. Last week the boys got to watch "the builders" (as they call most construction workers, contractors, and laborers) remove and replace a door at Grandpa's house. Except for the electric hack saw being too loud, they enjoyed watching that project. When we finally get a contractor chosen for the renovations here, I think they will be interested in watching that transformation, also.

I talked with DS1 about me wanting to have some "school time" each day. He liked that idea and chose after breakfast, before play time. So I wrote out an untimed schedule for us. We haven't had any "school time" yet though, because something has preempted our mornings every day since we made the schedule below.

Wake up time
Get dressed
Breakfast
School time
Play time
Lunch
Play time
Snack
Play time
Supper
Play time
Put on pajamas
Story time
Sleep

We have it rough, don't we. :-)

A few of the interesting things that have happened lately include:

• Zome


• Watching a St. Patrick's parade in person


• sidewalk chalk


• playing on the sand hill and dirt hill next door where they are building a house


• following geese (with a duck call) into a wheat field and getting 2" of mud caked on our shoes


• 30 minute free trial games on nick arcade


• putting together an entertainment center (using a screwdriver and a hammer)


• playing with complete strangers at a playground


• playing soccer in Grandpa's back yard


• climbing a chain-link fence without assistance


• shopping


• reading the first 4 books in Fun Tales without assistance, on the first try