Zoo Part I

So we went to our favorite zoo this weekend. And YES, we did stop and see a few live animals, but for the most part, the kids were only interested in finding and climbing on the cast iron animal statues. Hello? Live gigantic elephants standing 20 yards in front of you, or small metal baby elephant statue that you've actually seen 4 other times? What is more interesting? The elephant statue. And the rhino statue. And the buffalo statue. And the numerous monkey statues. And the aardvark statue. And the lion statue. And the ostrich egg statues. And the rhino cut-outs. And the bee statue. Anyway, you get the idea. I don't think I'm raising any future zoologists around here, but then, maybe my craft-happy kids will end up designing animal statues one day. Here are the only pictures of real animals I came home with on Saturday. More of the statues to come (ooooh - aren't you on pins and needles waiting for those?). :)

Round Meadow Hike

After we finished at Mabry Mill, we stopped at the Round Meadow trail head for an easy hike through the woods. The hike took longer than the 20 minutes estimated on the sign, but that was because there was so much to stop and look at - acorns to fill our pockets, mushrooms, fuzzy caterpillars, colorful leaves, walking sticks, a stream to rest by, a huge bridge to admire, stumps, logs, roots, the smell of pine, the sound of nothing - it was so nice! Everyone did great on the hike - no complaining, and even EB was content to walk or ride on G's shoulders for most of the trip (this spread splits tree in middle on the blog - oh well!)

Quick Trip

We decided a few weeks ago that it would be nice to take a quick trip this weekend, to get away with the kids and do something fun now that we're well into our new fall routine. On Friday morning we drove up toward Mt. Airy and got on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The day started a little foggy and rainy, so I wasn't sure we would be able to see any changing leaves or beautiful mountain views, but by the time we made it to our first destination, Mabry Mill, it was gorgeous outside. The leaves are just beginning to change - I'm sure next weekend will be stunning. But, since my favorite color is green, I really like the greenery studded with spots of gold and red. I used to go to Mabry Mill often when I was little - our family loved going to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Geof and I had been once when we were dating, but this was the first trip back with the kids. They had fun watching the old water powered gristmill, searching for salamanders in the stream, walking in the woods, and finding apples to snack on under an old apple tree. It was a really nice way to spend an early fall afternoon. I think they most enjoyed eating apples they found, and even EB tried out her new front teeth on a little green apple.

Pumpkin Patch

Well, it's the same old post that everyone else has, but we, too, went to the pumpkin patch today. A had a field trip with her preschool, and EB and I went along for the fun. 'Twas a very pleasant day - very sunny, not too hot, happy kids. Hay ride, corn mazes, picking corn and cotton, feeding goats, picking pumpkins, playing on hay bales, picnic lunch with friends. Whew - I'm tired! And of course, pages to document:

A New Tuesday Thing?

I'm wondering if we are starting a new thing for our family on Tuesday nights. I think we had a picnic at the park 2 Tuesdays ago, and tonight we decided to take a picnic to the airport observation park since the weather's so nice in the late evening. It was a little cooler than I had hoped, but we had a fun time. There weren't too many planes taking off tonight, so we created our own takeoffs. G got a workout launching the kids high into the air, and A turned out to be quite the twisting acrobat (can you see how she's twisted in the main picture?). There were a few tears over having to wear a coat (ahem, middle child). A was in the most pitiful state of tears when I put EB's coat on her, and as soon as I got it zipped, EB started the most hilarious fake crying, just like big sis. No sympathy here for the two drama queens in the house. The kids got to make fluffernutter sandwiches for dinner, a totally out of the ordinary dinner around here and a first time treat. Now they both want fluffernutters in their lunchboxes tomorrow... G and I feasted on Paula Deen's pimento cheese sandwiches. So yummy! And good for you, really - cream cheese and cheese and mayo MUST be good for you if they make it on TV!! And finally, I think we discovered that K has a very slightly loose tooth - so slight that it may be New Year's before it comes out. He said he was going to tell his teacher right away because she has papers to send home about it. Interesting! Here is my double layout:

Trying a little charm

Where do they learn this stuff?  Being the third kid, nothing EB does should surprise me, but I think I must have been in a fog when K was this age (A was just about due) and when A was this age (she cried constantly between 16 and 20 months), so I don't remember what they are learning around 1 1/2 years old.  EB is not quite there yet, but she sure thinks she is at least 4.  

I keep a stash of juice bags in boxes on the floor of my pantry.  EB discovered them as soon as school started, and she usually wanders into the pantry and emerges with a juice bag asking, "juice? juice?"  Sometimes I give her one, most times I don't.  (Aside - you'd think by now I would have moved the juice bags to a high shelf, would keep the pantry door closed, would keep then in the garage to stay cool, blah blah blah - I can only be but so organized...).  Anyway, this morning EB starts toddling into the pantry.  Knowing full well what she was after, I stopped her in her tracks saying, "what do you want to get, EB?"  She looked back at me, put on a big grin, smiled, waved and said "hi-eeeee," and then she came over and planted a big wet kiss on my mouth (now I'M worried about having her suspicious oral yeast infection...), and then went straight back into the pantry and got a juice bag.  She came out clutching it looking a little sheepish.  Oh, she can be quite the charmer, and this time she thought ahead about how to get me to give her that juice bag.  Did it work? Actually, no, since she had a big sippy cup full of milk sitting on the table, but I give her props for a nice try!

Addie's melt your heart words yesterday: after getting ready for bed, G picked her up and she cradled his face in her hands and said "Daddy, I love you mucher than much." :)

From the Mouth of a Kindergardener

1. "So do we have to pick out a new president because George Washington died?"

2. K: "Mom? What does puh-fwanuddy mean?" Me: "Where did you hear that?" K:"On the bus. No puh-fwanuddy is one of the rules, and each kid in each seat has to say one rule every day on the bus."