Venturing out again

Today, we ventured out again. The State Fair changed their turn in dates for Home and Crafts to just today. So, we had to get Jesse's entry to the fair grounds. Getting to the fair grounds was easy. The problem came with going from the fair grounds to the zoo.

John wanted to take the girls to the zoo, since they have been cooped up for a few days and the zoo was going to be open. We were doing well until Huger and Gervais when we had to go right or left. John chose left. I don't know left. And that proved to be obvious. I think it took about twenty minutes to find our way to the zoo, which was three miles, tops, from where we turned. Oh, well. Lesson learned. Remember the old saying, "when you're lost, go right." We sort of forgot that one.

After arriving home, I went back to Porter and turned right. I was hoping to see why the road is closed. Is the road missing? Are there trees down? Honestly, I still don't know why. There is a barricade pretty far away from the second barricade (the plastic netting). There are actually two nets; there is some space between the two, but I just couldn't see what was going on. I did see some DOT workers (I hope they were DOT) and a DOT truck was behind me. So, I still don't know exactly what is going on, just that the road is closed.

"Goodbye" and "Hello"

I received the call from my Dad Friday at 3:30 regarding Wilburn's funeral. By 7pm, we were all (the four humans, two dogs, and the fish) on our way to Jacksonville, Florida. John said "we had to go". So we did.

Saying farewell to Wilburn is sad for me. I knew him and I didn't know him. There was always something about Wilburn. He was described, during the service, as gentle. I think of him more as a gentle giant. He was a tall man, kind and easy to talk to.

I have not seen this side of the family since John and I were married. Some longer than that. Others I have never met! Sunday, I met my cousin John (or Jon) and his wife, and my cousin Steven (or Stephen). It was nice to sit with everyone to get caught up a bit.

Steven (Stephen?) and Sandy

John and Margie

John and his bride.

We did get a chance to relax a bit Saturday, since the service was Sunday. John told the girls we'd take them to the Jacksonville Zoo. I have to admit I had mixed emotions about "having fun" while down for a funeral. But the family seemed okay with it.

The zoo there is beautiful. We saw so many animals we don't have at Riverbanks. They even have a water park for the kids, a goat farm where you can brush the goats, and a playground that looks like trees including a giant bird's nest for kids to crawl in.

 

Crazy weather!

Wednesday was absolutely beautiful! In the 80's! Wow! When I saw the weather was suppose to be nice on Wednesday, I asked a few friends if they wanted to meet at the zoo. Of course, they did! Who would want to stay inside on such a glorious day?! We spent most of the day at the zoo, then off to rehearsals after dinner.

Thursday, the girls were able to attend taekwondo because rehearsal was canceled. I think they enjoyed seeing everyone. I know the students were happy to have them back. During sparring, I heard Alex (Mr.) scream "ow". Jesse had kicked him in the chin. She had asked him several times not to kick so hard; I told him she didn't need a concussion this close to the play. I suppose he didn't listen. She took matters into her own hands...well, foot. ;)

Master Mike gave me a compliment last night. These are rare. lol  But he came in toward the end of the first class and watched as we were teaching. He said I hit all ten criteria to make a good teacher. He listed a few things. He rarely says such things to I was happy with the compliment.

Today was art class. They studied Andy Warhol. I learned quite a few things I didn't know myself. Jesse was called out for going to slow. lol  She is was coloring in her Coke bottles and being very particular. Her usual. She was told to finish coloring at home. Both girls got a little creative making their Campbell's soup can. I can't wait for John to see them. I think he'll like them.

Tomorrow is the reception for "Kids In Print". I am excited for both of them. I know how had they worked on their pictures. John is getting off of work early to come too. Luckily, it is close to his work.

"Baby cuteness day"

"Baby cuteness day" is the term Jesse came up with for our trip to the zoo today. Yep, the last day of our week out of school, we went on a short trip to the zoo. It started with the baby black-footed cats. They are too adorable! We saw the momma cat pick up one of the little ones and head down to the hiding place the zookeepers have created, just as the zookeeper came into the habitat. The zookeeper was changing out the enrichments (toys, places to hide in, or crawl on-keeps their minds working). It was cool to watch! She removed a couple of the toys completely and put out new balls (made of a grapevine looking material). She moved one thing (like a bucket, but with a hole on the side) to a new place, moved a stick to create a ramp from a hole in a log, and a new basket of cardboard, cut into small squares. The girls and I spent a few minutes watching and discussing. The girls were fascinated!

Of course, we had to see the baby Galapagos tortoises! They have grown so much since they were put on display. We constantly discuss the fact those tiny creatures will get up to almost 900 pounds and will outlive all of us (200 years). Totally amazing!! But I have to say they are the most adorable creatures to sit and watch, just fascinating!

There is also a young flamingo. He has grown now to be a between two and three feet tall, but he is still a ball of grey down feathers! We were not close enough to see if he has started to turn pink yet or not. He will, but right now he is very easy to spot!

Then there is the baby baboon. He is not so much a baby anymore, but still likes to play and investigate. We watched as he got a lesson in fighting from the head baboon. It was quite the scene. Chloe, especially, adores the baboon. We all think he is fun to watch. You just never know what he'll do.

So there you are a "baby kind of day" for the Morgan girls. We had a lot fun, even though we didn't stay long. Jesse was upset the rock wall didn't open while we were there (10:20 and still nothing); Chloe was looking for the baby penguin, but I don't think he is on display just yet. Or he was hiding in the back so we couldn't see him.

Monday we'll start back to our studies. It was a good week, even though projects were left undone. Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses.

Another zoo trip

Yep! We went to the zoo...again. John promised Jesse a couple of weeks ago he would take her back so they could do the new rope thing. And to try the new mini donuts. You see when we went two weeks ago it was Senior day for Ben Lippen (a local private school). We were told by someone the Seniors received coupon books and inside was one for the mini donuts. The Seniors devoured every donut in the zoo by 11am!

Monday we went back. However, Jesse decided she was not up for the rope thing just yet. I think she needs to sit with it for awhile. It is the height thing for all of us. Funny how it does not stop her from climbing the rock wall though.

Her favorite part is coming down. Wierdo!

Chloe loves the carousel. And of course she HAS to feed the giraffes.

It tickles!

We did have the mini donuts. We all agreed they were good, but so not worth five dollars. We also stayed away from the gardens this time. I didn't want to take a chance, with Jesse since she was not 100% yet.

Our day out did Jesse in!

We had such fun at the zoo, then of course, the bottom fell out. That night Jesse ran a low-grade fever that had passed by morning. However, Tuesday she had a runny nose and a cough. I tried the following day to take her to work at the library, but when we got there she was just tired.

By Wednesday afternoon, her eyes were gunky and pink. I feared pink eye. I took her to the doctor Thursday morning, no pink eye but two ear infections and a sinus infection. I blame the hill at the amphitheater they rolled down on Monday. She'll be on antibiotics for two weeks and Claritin until the end of April.

In case you were wondering, yes, this puts us four days behind in school. :(

I love spring. ;)

A day out

Monday was John's day off. As usual, by 10:30am he was bored. By 10:50am, we were all loaded into the car heading out to the zoo. We haven't been in awhile and knew there were some new additions to it that we wanted to see. We were no longer bored. ;)



It was sitting on Jesse's head.