Monday, March 31, 2008

Tigers, cloud leopards, and sun bears, oh my!

Yesterday, we actually did something as a family which didn't involve running errands to Fleet Farm or Target. And, get this, it actually went well!! Who'd thunk it?

Husband's best friend B was up with his daughter, C, who is about 6 months older than Son. They have played together before when we would go down to see B, and they get along pretty well. Son is pretty social, and was more than happy to have someone else other than me or BabyA to play with. C doesn't play with a whole lot of other kids, so it took her a while to warm up. For some reason she seems to be pretty leery of me, which I don't get. B is going through what can only be termed a hideous divorce, with lots of accusations and manipulations going on, and I wonder what C's mom said about me to her. For God's sake, she may not like Husband, but sheesh, she's seen me with her kid and mine before. She should be happy that I'm around.

Sorry, minor diatribe. ANYWAY, we all went to the Zoo yesterday. Son is now old enough to really enjoy it, and he really did. Our initial intention and motivation to go (even though it's only about 10 minutes away from our house) was the seasonal exhibit of farm animal babies. We also thought that it would be fun for C, and help with B's cause that he isn't the world's most awful father. However, by the time that we got to the area of the exhibit, it was nothing but a disturbed ant hill of people and strollers and screaming kids. Nope, not gonna do it. We walked pretty much the rest of the zoo, only missing the dolphins, which we can get to this summer when they do the shows and all of that. Son had a blast-the flamingos were a big hit, and so were the red pandas. But the tigers-oh my the tigers. We got to see two of the big males walking in their exhibit, and they got rather close-Son's eyes about fell out of his head. He also liked the camels and the moose. It was so much fun to get to watch him hold Husband's hand and get all excited about what was the next thing around the corner.

BabyA even got into it a little. When we went through the tropics exhibit, there were all sorts of plants and birds flying overhead that she could see from the stroller. She took little catnaps here and there, but overall, she didn't sleep much. She was happily looking around and flashing a grin or two at anyone that would look her way. Not a single grump out of her the entire three hours. She was great!

Overall, they both were so good that I'm encouraged to try another outing in the near future. I'm turning into, gah! a parent!! Seriously, it was almost, gee, relaxing. It was a really nice day out, overcast but in the upper 30s, and with all of the walking, a spring jacket was all that you needed. After the long winter that we've had, it was just nice to spend some time outside and enjoy it. Watching Son having fun, and Husband being right there with him was good too. Hmmm, what should the next outing be? Science museum, Children's Museum......I could get used to this.

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