A Typical Day
Yesterday, I took my boys to the zoo. It was such a pretty morning and we decided to take advantage of the not too hot weather. We got there by nine so that we could do the children’s zoo for free.

Oh, my, you know, I think that I’m having a typical day, one that would be just about normal for everyone — and then I try to describe it on my blog. That is when I realize that my life isn’t normal and it never will be.

Some snapshots:

In the goat pen – First off, I have to say that my boys love, LOVE goats. My oldest would like to brush goats and talk to goats all day long, if he could. When he was just a little one-year-old, he tried to get all the goats in a group hug. And, he hasn’t stopped trying since. Now he is more content to talk to one goat at a time. So, when most children are brushing the goats or running around, you’ll find my oldest sitting on the bench in the goat pen with a goat perched beside him. He has his hand draped over the goat’s neck and they are sitting there like they’re old chums.

Then, we went into the little building in the children’s zoo. In there, I had child-induced ADD while I tried to divide my attention between one son who was trying to hold a guinea pig, one son who was telling me about a new animal there, one son who was prowling around wanting to have a conversation with someone totally new and one son who was quizzing a docent on which animals are and aren’t candidates for veterinary surgery. Turns out, the don’t operate on tarantulas. Bummer.

Then we went to the Insectarium. This was relatively low key, until the oldest began quizzing the docent in the butterfly section about various things relating to butterflies. Such as, “Do you import these butterflies straight from Butterflyland?” And, my favorite, “Do you know how to speak Butterfly?” The docent said that he did not. So, my oldest showed him how to speak Butterfly. I know that you’re dying to know as well, so I’ll tell you that you basically flap your arms and mouth words — or this is what my oldest thinks. I love seeing people trying not to laugh at my son. Bless them for trying.

We left the zoo and dropped by the grocery store on the way home. It was a really low key visit — for us. If I had to pick a favorite moment, it would have to be when, while I was waiting for the girl at the deli to slice some ham, my oldest broke into the I’m In A Store and I’m Singing!!! song from the movie, Elf.

Actually, if you haven’t seen the movie Elf and you’ve never met my oldest son and are wondering what he is like — well, just rent the movie and you’ll basically have an idea. J is a lot like Buddy the elf.