Spring Break Day 1

We are finally enjoying some beautiful spring weather as the boys begin their break.  I'm hoping that this week will be filled with lots of fun adventures for us. Since the weather was so lovely, we decided a zoo trip was a great way to start our week.  

Graeme donned his explorer coat, hat and bag and with map in hand, helped us make our way around the zoo.  We got there just after lunch and though very nice and warm, it was not too crowded.  Since there are certain exhibits we can NEVER miss, we parked and started our adventure on the African side of the zoo.  The giraffes and zebras were our first animals of the day.

Our next stop was the elephants.  There are two things we must always do when we go to the zoo.  Graeme must find the cot in the expedition tent and take a nap (this involves lots of fake snoring).  

We must also head over to the helicopter they have in the elephant tracking exhibit.  Today was one of the few times when we have gotten to this exhibit and there was no one else there.  The boys enjoyed climbing in the cockpit (and Graeme of course checked the map to make sure we knew where we should head next.    
The animals were very cooperative today.  They all were out and about and enjoying the sunshine and warmth.

We came up just after lunch for the gorillas.   It was fun to watch as this mom (Olympia) gave her son Apollo a ride on her back and then took him over to climb and play while she snacked.  Not so different from some of my afternoons with my boys.

The zoo is celebrating its 40th year and they have just opened a bug exhibit featuring some fun LARGE animatronic arthropods. The boys really enjoyed checking out all the different creatures and Graeme gave me some great "scary" pictures in front of the spider web and tarantula.  There were also some mounts and some live arthropods at the end (I just can't call them all bugs-it goes against my zoology background) that the boys enjoyed checking out.  Graeme took out his magnifying glass to check out the small critters.

Next we crossed over into the North America section of the zoo.  We enjoyed the bee garden.  Liam loved checking out the bees and their hive.  Over at the Sonora Desert exhibit, Graeme liked the cactus and pretended to be extremely scared of the snakes.  He was excited to see the ocelots (though he really wanted them to be jaguars).  

We didn't do much with the bears and bisons today, the boys were ready to get to the playground and do some climbing and sliding.  Liam really enjoyed himself and Graeme finally admitted that the day might be too hot for his jacket.  (I also realized that he had put his shirt on backward this morning-if you look closely you will see the slight v-neck to the shirt on his back :-)

After playing, we stopped for some applesauce and carrots.  Graeme also asked to take my picture so here is proof I took my boys to the zoo today!

After snack, it was time for the polar bear and the seals.  We enjoyed seeing a polar bear back on exhibit and watching the seals swim and play.  We also enjoyed the informational and interactive displays.  The "ice cave" was a fun adventure especially when we found a Graeme dinosaur lurking inside!

Over in the Cypress Swamp exhibit, Graeme had us tiptoe past the alligators so we wouldn't wake them up.  A bit further on there is a small pavilion where they have a couple of alligators, some turtles and snakes on exhibit,where one alligator was basking with its mouth open.  Graeme apologized for talking loud and waking up the alligator :-).  We also found a small swamp boat where the boys enjoyed a round of "Row, Row, Row your Boat".

Our day ended back on the Africa side as we made our way back to our car.  We had to stop and check on the red river hogs (or as Graeme calls them-the three little pigs) and we even saw a small snake on the edge of the path.  

Before that however, there were the lions who for once were up and wide awake.  There was some roaring, some walking around, and the male was feeling quite frisky.  We'll have to keep checking to see if there will be any little cubs joining the zoo family :-p.  

What a great start to our break!

Finally, the Home Tour

So even though the floors have been in for a few weeks now.  Thanks to rainy weather, continually runny noses and the general craziness of life I haven't quite put everything back together and still more cluttered than we are hoping to be.  I (and my house) will likely always be a work in progress.

Our entrance way (also realized best shot showing our beautiful new floor).  We moved the secretary desk from our room and have a wall shelf with pegs to hold coats and my bags.  We put the chair in the middle so it can be pulled around for the desk or more often used to sit on to put on shoes.  Now we have to go through our shoes and pass on the ones outgrown.

We moved the dining table behind the couch so that we wouldn't waste the space given over to the dining room and could still have our "play room."  It's been great, though the chairs rarely stay around the table as Graeme is utilizing them to "build" ships, houses for reenacting the three little pigs, bridges, trains or whatever else his imagination can come up with.  Lots of fun until we actually need to sit down to eat :-).

The only new thing added is the entertainment unit, which has been great.  With the cozy space between it and the couch, my boys and I have found a great dance floor to get the last of the energy out before bedtime each night (our favorite song right now is from the Lego Movie-Everything is Awesome and is the first song we start with every time)

Fun fact-we ended up putting the space heater where the horrid fireplace used to be.  We are finally getting heat from that space :-)

Glad to have places to sit again!  Still working a bit on the hutch holding our dishes.  Very pleased with top two shelves but still figuring out what to do with Easter decorations as both boys are finally old enough that can decorate during different seasons and holidays.  (Liam thinks he should hide plastic eggs throughout the house for Mike and I to find).

Our "play room" still has the yellow couch under the window looking out into the backyard (lots of fun watching the bird feeders).  The china cabinet now holds books (as does bookshelf next to it :-)-so happy to finally be able to have books out again without too much worry for little hands tearing them up).  Enjoy the view of fun rugs I found at Target, it is generally covered in Legos, Duplos, trains or Octonauts depending on what the boys are interested in.  We decided not to bring our big coffee table back in and leave this as a great open play space and we have loved it.

Another great use of our vaulted open flow space.  Mike took the shelves that used to be where we now have the TV and put them on the narrow wall by the kitchen so that I can finally have my cookbooks in a useful and handy spot.  Lacking cabinets, the dresser underneath holds our casserole dishes, bakers, and serving bowls.  

It has been a long project but so excited with how the remodel has ended up making such better use of our space.  The boys are now starting spring break so we will make use of the space next week as well as we hope to have some fun adventures to share!  We are ready for April and for spring to show up, NO FOOLING!

In Like a Lion

March, oh March, where are you going?  This month and 2014 has been pretty crazy in this Hale-raising house.

What's been keeping us so busy?

-DYI house renovations-mostly Mike (though I've pitched in where it felt useful :-) has taken our very poorly laid out (and carpeted) living and dining area and made it lovely.  He started by pulling out the nasty blue carpet and removing the useless gas fireplace half wall.  Then had to do some rewiring, patch up walls, and then paint them.  Then we put in the hardwood laminate through the space and then Mike finished last weekend with the shoe molding.  We started the project the day after Christmas but thanks to the next thing that has kept us busy, it finally finished up last weekend and now we are getting the house back together! (Will post a "tour" after we get the last few things back in-my handy hubby did a fantastic job)

-Our unfortunate source of craziness has been sickness.  Mike has been hit the worst with a bout of bronchitis and a bad case of yuck, but the boys and I have not escaped either.  The boys would miss school and then just when I felt they could be sent back,  the next crazy occurrence in our year would keep us home.

-Winter, winter, please don't come back.  It was fun to have some real winter weather, but 2 snows, several ice storms have been really harsh on this Southerner who just isn't prepared for that much cold.  And just as we think spring is coming in to stay, a bout of cold comes to bring the coats back out.  I'm ready for my flip flops to hang out a while and to have a real spring.  Winter take a break and summer heat hold of for a bit please! Really hoping that the phrase stays true this year and March goes out like a lamb!

-Children are always crazy and unexpected-that is to be expected!  Ready for the boys to be my regular daily craziness again :-).

10 Things That No Longer Surprise Me

As a parent, I am still learning that adult logic and child logic are worlds apart and that personal space is a true thing of the past.  In honor of my sweet progeny, here is a list of ten things happening often around the house that no longer surprise me, in no particular order . . .

1.  Discovering plastic cups (and a variety of other thankfully waterproof items added while I'm not looking) in the washing machine (this after hearing a mysterious thump, thump, thump after starting the wash).

2.  That the yellow stuff around the window screens isn't always pollen but is present all year long (sidewalk chalk is also fun to use on window screens).

3.  That laying down my head on a pillow generally sends off a signal for one of the boys to wake up. 

4.  That when we get sick, snow days will happen as soon as the kids get better and can go back to school. (Twice in under a month this happened!)

5.  That the only guarantee at the dinner table is a sudden need to go to the bathroom. 

6.  That the kids will play together well until you sit down and try to read for 5 minutes.  (Addendum: they will also be silent in the car UNTIL I put in an audiobook).

7.  That the house is really a race course. (Especially true during our floor renovations as the furniture is out in a storage box and there are no major obstacles to a good race or chase).

8.  That naps are now things to be dreaded.  If Liam falls asleep in the car and ends up taking a nap, he has no desire to go to bed until 10pm and will throw crazy fits at his 8:30 bedtime.

9.  That a made bed is mortally offensive to a 3 1/2 year old and must be destroyed!

10.  That though the boys love to be tucked in with multiple blankets and their stuffed animals, they are always on top of their covers (and in Graeme's case generally completely turned around) when we check on them later.

It is always an adventure and I'm looking forward to expecting more of the unexpected.  

"Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children."  (Sam Levenson)

The Highs and Lows of One Week in NC

Okay, so what are you thinking as you start reading this post?  Good things, bad things, crazy things? Well, it is simply going to be about the weather.  Last week we had a crazy snow storm of several inches of snow and ice, this week it is almost 70 degrees and the flowers are blooming and I've broken out the shorts.

Liam was so excited for more fluffy white stuff that he dragged us to his coat and hat.  When told he needed to add shoes to his outfit, he walked over to the shoe basket and threw them toward us to help him put them on.  (It was not quite as deep as this picture makes it seem, he and daddy built a snow "mountain" he climbed into)

Graeme finally got into the action with a grand snow ball attack.

Graeme-zilla takes on the snow "mountain"

This is the coating of ice our trees received one week ago today.

The pine needles were beautiful.

Ice covered rose hips, anyone?

And this is today, the crocus around our mailbox has bloomed.

Hope 

Not Prepared for This (And That's Okay)

Just when you think you are prepared for the world of parenting, there comes a day like today.

12:00 a.m.  My day started with my children waking each other up crying out (bad dreams, hungry, missing daddy?) from midnight to 2 a.m.  After snuggles and an applesauce for Liam, we eventually all managed some semblance of sleep until about 7 a.m.

8:30 a.m. Get ready for school and get out the door.  Though tired and the night unusual, at this point of the day I was still feeling somewhat on top of parenting-I even made the boys and I a hot breakfast before we had to leave. This part of the day was also normal crazy-we did get to school on time with everything we were supposed to bring (including m&m's for Graeme to share for M show and tell since that was all I could think of that began with M this morning-he was a hit)

9-noon I usually work a few hours on Friday, but was blessed with a day off which I used to go into the grocery store and just have a quiet few minutes.  (Especially needed with hubby out of town for 8 days)

12:30 p.m. After picking the boys up from their preschool at noon, we headed over to the second-run movie theater to meet up with some friends to watch a movie.  At this point of the story, I'm still feeling very much like I have a handle on parenting for the day.  The boys were well-behaved (though Graeme did narrate the entire plot of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2) and we love popcorn and watching movies on the big screen. Snuggles with Liam and fun with friends.

This day doesn't seem so bad?  It wasn't, we had a blast with everything we did.  But the next trip to the park showed me that I had let slide a few things on the prepared parent scale-extra clothes.

2:30 p.m. The boys both do such a great job with bathroom trips that I have gotten slack in carrying extra clothes, especially for Graeme.  Normally, I try to pre-empt and make the boys go to the bathroom at the beginning of an activity.  Well, today I didn't.  We got to the playground, and indeed within 5 minutes Graeme was needing to go urgently.  It was a new playground for us so precious moments were spent locating where to go.  We made it to the bathroom before a big accident but we needed new clothes.  I had NONE in the car for Graeme, but being the giant children that they are, Liam's clothes are close enough in size that I could use the one's in Liam's school bag and problem solved, right?

NO!

We get back to the playground, where I decide to be smart mom.  I take Liam to the potty.  About 5 minutes after we get back, he is having so much fun that he does not come get me so he can go back.  I see him and know what is about to happen but the maze of the cool, giant wooden castle playset (plus the distance to the bathroom) does not allow me to get to Liam in time.  Luckily, we were at the playground with a friend who still has a kid in diapers so we were able to borrow some wipes and get cleaned up.

After this eventful first 30 minutes, the boys played, I got to hang out with my friend as much as any mom can at the playground.

4:00 p.m. We had a blast until time to head out.  Being worn out from a very busy day, the boys both ended up falling asleep (Liam on the way home and Graeme once we got back).

So while I was not prepared for today, I'm glad to say we had a blast nonetheless and no major mountains were created from life's molehills (AND since they both napped, we will likely be partying late tonight to celebrate this fact)

A Museum Outing

After four days at home from our "blizzard" (okay, even I am exasperated by the southern caution taken with this past snow), we were ready for an out of the house adventure that did not involve Target or speech therapy.  I was not quite ready to tackle an all day trip to the zoo, so we decided to check out the Porsche by Design Exhibit at the NC Museum of Art.


I had discovered this automotive art exhibit at the end of December, but illness and other craziness prevented us from going before now.  Fortunately, the exhibit was extended until February 2 (so we squeaked in and made it out on its final weekend).  It was crowded (but not horrible) plus we were able to get our tickets at the museum and walk right in.

It has been a delight for me that my boys have always done well with cultural outings.  While they are still active and have very short attention spans, I have been able to take them to Rembrandt, Titanic and other special exhibits at various museums in the past.  However, our other adventures have generally taken place with a stroller.  So this time was my first adventure to a special exhibit at a museum without the boys in a stroller, but luckily I had Mike along for the "ride".


Though we didn't get to read much of the information and the audio tour was not an option, this exhibit was AWESOME for the boys (and mommy, too).  We enjoyed checking out the many cars on exhibit, including some from the 1930s, a multitude of race cars, and cars owned by celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Jay Leno and Janis Joplin.  (Can you guess which car posted was owned by Janis Joplin?)

Note for parents-Mike and I definitely could have spent at least  an hour exploring the exhibit and would have liked to check out the audio guide which I imagine was quite fascinating.  However, moving through and seeing every car with young kids we were out in approximately 30 minutes!

After the cars, we did head over and check out a few things in the main permanent exhibits side of the museum and even got in a few of the outdoor exhibits before it started raining.

It is small steps, but I love introducing the boys to a bit of culture and hope they end up loving to explore museums as much as their mom does.