Zoo & Friends

Great weekend...It started on Friday when Nate & I met my mom in Cape to visit with Aunt Mil and Grandma Arlene. We played and had a picnic at Cape County Park, then went to Aunt Mil's to try out her new lift chair. Nate was very curious about the moving chair! Then on to Grandma Arlene's and finally to a furniture store to look for trundle beds. I badly want a trundle bed for Nate's room! Nate was a trooper and didn't even fall asleep in the car on the way home. It was a good "togetherness" day.

On Saturday, we met up with the Bakers who were in town for the day to go to the Zoo. Of course, our favorite place. It was nice to catch up with them and see the sights. We also had an awesome picnic in Forest Park. Pictures below.

Not sure what was so fascinating here, the chimps were off exhibit at the time and the zoo keepers were cleaning the habitat. But Nate had to see what was going on.


Nate, Myra, and Reid in front of the elephant fountain. The real baby elephant put on quite a show in his wading pool for us too.


Nate & Myra in front of the North entrance. The person that built this thing at the exit clearly did not have children. All you want to do is go home after walking around the zoo, but the children insist on climbing on top of it - and out of your reach, I might add. Always a fun struggle to exit the zoo.

And finally, Mr. Reid at lunch. I love this picture! He was eating a piece of bread and we looked over and he had some hanging out of his mouth - looked just like a walrus!

After a much needed nap, we headed over to Anna-Katherine's house for a BBQ. We had the best time and Nate was great. It was fabulous to see some old friends and make some new ones.

Today is back to construction projects at our house. Scott is painting the deck right now and with any luck will have that project completed today. Last week was one of those weeks that sometimes happen to homeowners - the roof leaked, the dryer quit, and we had an AC scare. Scott told me that if one more thing happens, the house is going on the market! We do love our 90 year old house, but I'm pretty sure this is the last time we will live in an "old" house! The only thing I'm currently worried about is the dryer - my OCD cannot handle too many days without doing laundry. I had to get a fix today and washed some clothes that could be hung to dry. Please, please let us get the dryer fixed soon!

Happy June!

There Was an Old Lady...

Who Swallowed a Fly...currently Nate's favorite book. They had an old lady puppet and apparently a tape that went with her last week at school and now he can't get enough. I did my best to capture it on tape.

Fashion Police

Sometimes I hope I'm not making Nate too high maintenance. I was thinking about this yesterday after a trip to the mall. I'm shocked that I would ever say this - considering I boycotted the grocery store for about 6 months not too long ago - but we really do have fun at the mall. He thinks Pottery Barn Kids is a toy store and I'm not telling him any different. They do have some cool toys, but it is also one of my favorite places. The "perfect store" plus they have their own clean restroom.

Whether we are shopping for him or me, he is quick to offer his judgement of the piece of clothing - whether it be cute, adorable, or so NOT cute. Wonder where he gets that?? Yesterday, I needed to try on some pants and he happily followed me into the dressing room and sat down in the chair. Then he looked up at me and said, "Mom, I will tell you if those pants are FOR YOU, or NOT FOR YOU." The honesty of a child. Thankfully they passed the test.

So I may not ever have a little girl, but Nate is shaping up to be a good fill in for the fashion police. Here he is yesterday in my shoes - thankfully Scott was out of town!

One of Those Days

Yesterday was one of those days, but as I reflected last night, I found the humor in the lessons I learned from the events. Nate & I started our day by taking Scott to the airport - he is attending the wedding of our dear friends, Dave & Tiffaney in Philadelphia this weekend. As we were preparing to leave the house, Nate and I were having a struggle about what shoes he was going to wear. Scott suggested that he wear NO shoes because we were just going to be dropping him off at the airport. To move things along, I agreed.

Halfway to the airport, Nate reports that he has to use the potty. Fab. I told him that he would just have to wait until we got home because there were no potties available at the moment. We arrived at the airport, drove right by the Southwest terminal, even though Scott was flying on Southwest. Turn around, back up, we finally arrive at the correct terminal. Kiss Kiss, Hug Hug, Nate has to use the potty. I get back in the car to find that my gas light is on, so I decide to stop at a Quik Trip by the airport - use your imagination as to the surroundings. I pump the gas and tell Nate that we are going inside to use the potty. Then I remember he has no shoes on, so I carry him inside only to find the Women's restroom is closed. Fab. Now he really has to use the potty. So I do as any good mom would and take him outside the Quik Trip and try to find the cleanest part of grass possible - he has no shoes on. Mission accomplished, I hope no one was too offended. Lesson learned: Wearing shoes is kind of like wearing clean underwear, you should never the house without them, you never know when you might really need them.

After the airport outing, we came home to get ready for our next big outing - Trader Joe's & Target. Trader Joe's was a breeze - if you are used to a 3 year old pushing the cart next to wall to wall wine bottles, which I happen to be. We get a balloon and head over to Target.

They are "improving" our Target and it is under major construction with half of the parking lot blocked off. So we trekked all the way across the parking lot, get in the store and are ready to get down to business when I discover I have left my coupons and list in the car. Trek back to the car and back to Target. Lesson learned: Keep the list and coupons in your purse because you know that will be going inside with you. Nate asks if he can bring his balloon inside Target. Sure - why not?

We are finally ready to start shopping and are getting the much needed bug spray, when I hear "OH NO MOM, THERE GOES MY BALLOON!" I look up just in time to see the blue Trader Joe's balloon hit the high ceiling. Fab. I explain to Nate that I'm not tall enough to reach it...major tears and screaming ensues. A little old lady comes up and explains to Nate that the wind blew the balloon up there and that it is not mom's fault - Nate gives her a "What are you talking about?" kind of look, wind clearly does not blow inside. Anyway, I fast tracked the shopping because my child is heartbroken over the balloon and the entire store knows about it. He is still crying at the checkout and the salesperson asks what is wrong. I explain about the balloon and she tells me that they have to get many a Trader Joe's balloon off their ceiling daily. Lesson learned: Do not take the Trader Joe's balloon inside Target.

We safely make it home with Nate still screaming, so as a consolation prize, I give him a new Bob the Builder DVD to watch - Amazon had them on mega sale a few months ago and I stocked up for rainy days. Even though it was not raining, this certainly qualified. Lesson reinforced: Always have consolation prizes on hand.

The rest of the day went much better and we enjoyed the sunshine, the wading pool, and much deserved chardonnay, for me of course. Nate was rockin out in his room last night, which made all the day's lessons worth it.

Settling Into Summer

At least I hope we are! We kicked off the hopeful start of summer at the zoo Friday afternoon. This is one of my favorite activities in the summer - Nate & I meet Scott at the zoo to check out some animals and happy hour, of course.

Nate, deep in thought, outside the Reptile House.

I was trying to get the baby camel sitting down underneath his mother. But the picture didn't really come out as planned.

On Saturday, I babysat for my cousin Evan's little girl, Elena, so that he and Olga could go to the Cardinals game. We had lots of fun and she loved my watch.

She makes some cute faces!

Garden

Scott & Nate have been working very hard on our garden. Hopefully we will have fresh vegatables this summer!

The corn patch is in between the hostas.

Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day this year...Nate & Scott cooked me a fabulous breakfast and surprised me with patio furniture for our deck. We spend so much time out there in the warm months and are trying to spruce up this extension of our house.

I laid out the clothes that I wanted Nate to wear on Mother's Day, but sadly they never made it on his body. He was too busy playing Nate the Builder.

May Weekend

This weekend has brought more yard work, our first 2009 trip to Grant's Farm, and spending time with our Peach friends. It could be warmer, but it hasn't rained since sometime on Friday, which with the buckets of rain we have had in the last week seems like an eternity!

Scott didn't have lab meeting on Friday, so we started our weekend with breakfast with Dad at Bread Company. It would have been a perfect day to go to Cooper Ella, but oh yeah...they closed weeks ago. Bummer. We made due with steel cut oatmeal (really?) and a power breakfast sandwich. Marketing is a wonderful thing.


During the times of the year that we get to have our windows open, this is Kitty P's favorite spot. She does look pretty glistening in the sunlight and I can't believe she will be 7 years old this year. What would we do without her?? Many of you are saying, well we wouldn't get hissed and spit at when we visit the Boyles, but we love her nonetheless!

Grant's Farm grand opening for us - Nate watching the goats. Again he shows that he is my child and will not go in and feed them. Goats have to be one of the nastiest animals on the planet. No telling what diseases you could get in the goat pen, Swine Flu aside...

Love it! Nate and Megan smiling at each other...

The kiddos by the AB beer truck. Nate and his trusty binoculars.

This morning in the backyard - actually I'm looking out the window and he is still up there - going on about 30 minutes. Maybe we have found a winner.

Happy May!