Day with Daddy

Sloan had President's Day off.  We can't really figure out why exactly seeing as he works for a company based in Australia.  But a day when Sloan has no work, Henry has no school, and it is temperate weather in February was just what the Doctor ordered for this house that has had its fair share of sickness in the past week.  We're done with the pukes, but Sloan and Henry have hacking coughs, Gracie is cutting teeth (which leaves her prone to bouts of teething induced bulimia from shoving her entire hand down her throat which basically means we've reintroduced the daytime passie, augh), and I, well,  I am dog tired from piles of laundry and being cooped up. 

First on our list:  KINDERMUSIK with Gracie.  At first, I was skeptical of the pricey class geared towards toddlers.  But it was a Christmas present from her Gigi and Papa.  Folks, I can not say this enough--WORTH EVERY PENNY.  We will be signing both kids up for camps this summer.  Why?  I can tell that it has helped with Gracie's vocabulary and listening skills.  And anything that helps a toddler follow directions is worth its weight in gold.  Second, there are take home materials that Henry has been enjoying as well--a CD, music sticks, and a sing along book.  Yesterday, the kids listened to the CD and danced, sang, and made music BY THEMSELVES for 30 minutes. 

This evening, Henry sang and read Gracie the Animal Serenade book three times.  He was pointing to the notes and pictures and trying to teach Gracie what a glissando is.  I wonder if I had put Henry in Kindermusik when he was Gracie's age if we would have had so many issues with his speech.  As it is now, neither of my children will shut up. 

After the four us went to music class, we headed off the the Richmond Metro Zoo.  We got our Annual Zoo passes.  We always get the more pricey ones so we can ride the carousel, sky ride, and safari train as many times as we like, but today they only charged us for the regular passes.  It wasn't an advertised special.  So I, being honest, told the woman she didn't charge us enough.  The lady, flustered because the line was winding through the gift shop, assured me that she had done it correctly.  So, for some weird reason, we saved close to $50.  And she gave us coupons for free giraffe food, sno cones, and bird food. 

This was not Gracie's first trip to the zoo, but it was her first trip to the zoo as a participant.  Last summer, she really was just a great mound of cuteness in the back of our piggyback stroller.  This time, she was up and about.  Or should I say, not about it.  She enjoyed the monkeys and the safari train.  She was NOT a fan of feeding the giraffe.  Henry kept trying to take her hand to pet the giraffe's nose.  She was screaming bloody murder and trying to wrestle out of my arms.  This is why there is not a picture.  Basically, she liked seeing the animals (she particularly liked barking at the prairie dogs), but was not a fan of the petting zoo parts of the zoo.  She also hates bats and camels. 

Me too.

Feed the Birds.  Toppins a budgie stick.

Riding the Sky Ride.

Which I hate.  I did it once and I just don't see the need to fly over zebras, rhinos, and lions.  Just seems unnatural.  It should also be noted that Henry was about to take off his shoes to get on as last summer I made him take off his Crocs to ride, fearful one of his shoes would plummet into a big pile of rhino poo never to be seen again.

A baby goat takes a sky ride of his own in the barnyard.

Henry thought this was hilarious.

So he decided to tell the goat he was funny and that despite hearing that Bieber has recently cut his hair, he's keeping his Beiber 'do.  (Yeah.  The kid hasn't had a real haircut since September.  But I kind of love that my kid has a Beiber 'do.)

Riding the carousel.  Gracie was not a fan.  Even when Daddy hopped on the Zebra with her.