The Phillips Kids Take On Richmond Zoo

Sometimes I ask myself at the beginning of an adventure is this a good idea?  Today I was unsure as to whether I could handle it.  At one point I asked Curt so if I break down either mentally or the car does what should I do?  In both cases he replied 911.  Curt was unable to attend our adventure due to a track meet (the team finished 3rd and broke a record!!) so it was just me and the little people.  I always try to anticipate what could possibly happen with these two and fail most times.  For instance we went to the Bounce N Play (wonderful place for kids) last weekend with my parents.  We had been there before so I thought no big deal.  I wished everyone well and let the fun begin.  In 15 minutes time Sab comes running over telling me he was going to puke.  WHAT I asked.  Keep in mind it took 40+ minutes to drive there with my mom wedged into the backseat between these two angels.  So we rush to the bathroom, my mom is wide-eyed watching Mia, my dad is on alert with all the coats and purses (mom, most men would not do this!).  We arrive to the bathroom, Sab proceeds to tell me he hit his head on his knee while sliding down an inflatable slide, knocked himself out cold and felt ill.  In two minutes time he peeled himself off the floor, requested a Gatorade, and an on-sale stuffed dog.  Hard to keep up with the flow.

So off to Richmond Zoo we go.  An hour and a half ride. Packed to the hilt, stroller, extra sippy cups (Mia consumes her calories thru drink), juice, squeezable yogurts, extra clothes (they find every water puddle, mud pit, natural disaster wherever we go) and camera.  Well, the camera wasn't charged of course.  The weather was nice, a bit windy and we are in line!!!  My BFF Maggie Magellan GPS led me there without a hitch.  One, let me repeat ONE cashier was working the line of 40+ adults and children.    Sab immediately says ARE YOU KIDDING me!?!?  Gee, I wonder who taught him that?  Oops.  So with any wait Mia has a breakdown, Sab is trying to capture her while I pay and contemplate rounding up to the nearest dollar for a zoo donation.  Will it pay for an additional cashier?  Enough bad talk.

Pre-Fit in line.  It's brewing though.  She usually yells cheese when the camera is rollin.

Sab is tickled.  Outside.  Animals.  Possible mayhem.

WE HAD A DELIGHTFUL TIME!!!  Sab is collecting bird feathers (he can't understand my disgust) and Mia is transfixed by all the different types of monkeys.  We have feed so we randomly hit animals with it and some take it.  I couldn't believe how many endangered animals they housed - NICE.  We arrive to the "gentle giants" aka the giraffes.  This giraffe's head immediately comes thru the fence .  His head seemed bigger than Mia's body.  She screamed, grabbed Sab's hand and didn't let go the rest of the day.  He fed the giraffes and she watched giggling.

The adventure worked today.  Now if you ask Sab he'll tell you the wind blew dirt in his eye, he got a splinter by grabbing on to the fence (which you weren't supposed to do) and his mom let him ride a train where the animals weren't fenced in and approached the train.  Tough critic that kid.  I'm beat and bed time is fast approaching!!!!

Sab trying to lift Mia to see the prairie dogs.  He really put forth a lot of effort today.  The little girl beside us was pretty geeked up about it all.

Nothing to do with zoo.  I took it yesterday before going to the playground.  She has monkey (which we almost lost to an overeager boy in our bible study group) and he is dusting off his halo with that smile.  Both with Popsicles - all the time.