A Very Full Day

On the night before Veterans Day, I put myself to sleep at a reasonable hour and dreamed about sleeping past 7 a.m. While some dreams come true, this one didn't. I couldn't sleep through the POUNDING headache that started at 5 a.m. By 5:30 a.m. I was up taking Excedrin.

Jon was on his morning run so an emergency shoulder rub wasn't in the cards. Instead I created the little October slideshow (I'm still not satisfied with how small it is).

It took all morning to pack a picnic lunch, a travel bag, get everyone ready, and then throw my hair in a ponytail. I put a roast in the crock pot, move dishes to the sink, trip over toys on the tile, and take one more deep breathe. I glance across the room at the four baskets full of laundry to be folded and back to the countertops that are cluttered with everything from school papers to craft supplies to Halloween candy wrappers. How is it that I've worked all morning and nothing is done? Then I turn my back on it all and regret that it will still be there to greet me when I return.

Like it or not, my kids were going to the zoo. We drove Jon's Camry so we were all cozy close. Jessica was crying within five minutes saying she was going to throw up.

I ignored their repeated inquiries "how much longer 'til we get there" and focused on driving. By then I was on dose two of Excedrin and the pounding was muffled in the background. We ate our lunch in the car (which is always the case) and that seemed to help everyone but Jessica who wanted candy instead of sandwich to help her tummy ache.

We bypassed the zoo and went to visit the Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park. We hadn't been there in years. I'm so glad we stopped by. The kids toured the trains and walked on the tracks (yeah for fun pictures to be coming soon). We bought tickets to ride the little train and smashed pennies for souvenirs. Jayson kept running away and James was a great help to watch over him.

Next we were off to the Los Angeles Zoo. We had to circle the parking lot to find a vacancy. Definitely a crowded day at the zoo. Our mouths salivated as we approached the glazed almonds. Should we get two small bags or one large? The trouble was that I had just cashed in $2 to pay for engraved pennies and they didn't accept cards. We stepped aside and then pulled all the coins out of all the pockets and were able to come up with $3.50 - one small bag of almonds. What a yummy treat!!!

We went directly to the bird show and barely found seats. Jayson loves birds and kept standing and pointing. The show was the same script as before blah blah blah. I always tear up when they release the rainbow colored macaws and play the Feather Theme from Forrest Gump. They are gorgeous birds.

Jayson wanted me to lift him up so he could see the animals. Jacob was darting this way and that to take all his animal photos. Jessica could have easily been lost since she likes to do things her way. James tried to help me keep track of everybody.

The boys wanted to go to the playground. I was hoping to avoid it with the crowd. Jacob calls me over to take his pictures on the animals. I took them last time we were at the zoo too. I think it's a little tradition he is starting.

An animated outburst came from the crowd surrounding the hippo pond. I heard splashing too. Of course we raced over to get in on the excitement. The hippopotamus was pooping. Splashing it's tail about. That was the thrill of the day. Great. "We saw the hippo poop all over in the pool!!!!" I'm glad we are creating memories together. I guess it could be the chimps while they are in heat. Then again Jessica was asking me what the pink thing hanging on the underside of the giraffe was. Another mom glanced at me with lifted brows just waiting to hear my reply.

On our fourth bathroom stop Jessica and Jayson joined me in the oversized stall. This gave me the chance to diaper, wipe, scrub out the stroller seat, and strip soaked apparel. When it was finally my turn to use the facilities, Jessica darted out of the door. I locked her out and took my seat. Jayson then crawled under the door to follow after her. When he realized that she had left the Women's Room completely, he headed back for mommy. HEADED being the correct term. He did not duck down low enough and instead rammed his forehead on the bottom of the door. OUCH!!!

There was chaos in the car ride home, but traffic wasn't too backed up. The DVD player ran out of battery power only ten minutes into the drive. Jayson eventually fell asleep for a cat nap.

It was dinner time when we returned home. I was thankful that there was something warm to put on the table. Jessica set the table without too much resistance and added her own personal flair. She filled up the hot pink ice bucket with water. She found a ladle to put inside. She placed her "soup" on the table. Jayson found her entree before I did so water was scooped out all over the dinner table, chair, and tile.