Yesterday was downright pleasant.
Josh and I were BOTH OFF (which felt like a novelty, it’s been a while!). And they let us sleep in — I didn’t get up until 8:00 which for me is downright ridiculous. G&C quietly watched Free Willy until we felt like emerging. Many Saturdays, the kids have sports but the soccer season does not start until next weekend so I think everyone savored the ability to relax a bit.
When everyone was finally up, I suggested the zoo, and we packed up and went! We rented a family bike/ferry thing and road around the big loop through the Africa/Asia sections. While there was still a pretty impressive tantrum over a $40 bubble wand (G and no we did not give in), I have to say everything is more fun these days than it used to be. I have to say I love the ages the kids are right now (4 / almost 8 / 9.75).
Day was capped off by sushi + Pictionary. I slightly regret not working out but whatever, that bike ferry thing was tiring! I also started this book:
I don’t read a lot of sci fi but this one so far is very calm and lovely and compelling.
18 Comments
OMG, I cannot rest until you explain the zoo’s enclosure system more clearly! In that photo it looks like the lions are chillin behind a rinky dinky fence my 5yo could climb haha. Is there a hidden moat?
Sounds like a very nice day, especially with you both off work and able to be with the fam without the pull towards other obligations! Such a nice rest.
We were finally out of isolation after omicron hit our entire household (everyone was fine – for us, the disruption of quarantine was much worse that the illness). It was lovely to get out and see family we missed over the holidays.
Bahaha I had to go back and look. It totally does look like that!! Too funny. The idea of them just being kept behind a dinky wooden fence made me laugh out loud. I feel there is probably a hidden moat?? We’ll have to wait for Sarah to confirm. 😂
Huge moat 🙂 🙂
ha! I also went back to look at the rinky dinky fence – that’s too funny!
It does sound like a very lovely day. These are the types of days that I feel like are so hard for us to do, nowadays, as the kids are older and involved in lots of sports and activities right now. It’s fun going to off to swim meets and basketball games too (and I think we end up with plenty of “quality family time” through these activities), but I do sometimes get nostalgic for those free, open weekends to just go explore our own city or do fun family outings (like when the kids were little).
But then sometimes when we DO miraculously have a free weekend, I feel like I either a) need to catch up on a lot of household stuff or b) am just kind of tired of “going” and don’t actually feel like going out to the zoo, state park, whatever…which is kind of a sad attitude, though. I think for me that is the biggest trade off of having kids in a lot of activities, more so than the $ or anything else. Just the TIME it takes up…I’m glad you found a free day to go to the zoo! With your move to get ready for coming up, I bet you will be pretty busy in the upcoming days.
That sounds perfect! We actually tried to go to Zoo Miami on our last day in south florida before Christmas, but we sat in traffic for 45 minutes and then they were turning people away – at 11:00 AM! It was already full! That’s how we ended up at Flamingo Gardens, which was actually lovely! I’m glad you got a family day 🙂
oh yes as you know we LOVE flamingo gardens 🙂 both are great. zoo is much more ‘involved’ (longer drive, MUCH larger grounds, etc).
It’s great reading this and some of the other comments with people that have older kids. I’m currently at the 4 months, 4, and 6 stage so I’m imagining this may be me in 4 years. That is pretty uplifting as I sit here with a 4 year old who vomited in my hall at 6am and a very fussy 4 month old. Trying not to wish the days away, but yeah, sometimes I wish the days away. Lol
oh i FULLY get it!!!
I have to ask – do you ever get recognised by strangers from the blog/pod while you’re out and about? 🙂
That has happened to me very few times :). Not a regular thing!!! Not that famous lol.
It must be surreal! 🙂
I love Becky Chambers, but I haven’t read the Psalm for the Wild Built Yet. A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was one of my favorite 2021 reads though! I also just loved The Echo Wife, which feels like a good scifi book for someone who doesn’t normally read scifi!
Just curious if you’re going to do a 2022 books section? I think you mentioned not planning out your books as much this year but even a record or rough list you’re planning on would be a request from me if you’re considering it! (am thinking about my 2022 TBR myself and enjoy seeing what you read)
I just created a page this morning but I have not really updated it yet! Working on it though 🙂
What a great day…and you are right about your kids’ ages. It’s really the golden age of parenting. My oldest two are 17 and 15, and we really don’t do days like this very much anymore because they have their own plans most weekends. It’s the way life is, but it does make me wistful sometimes. Also, we live in Canada, and our province is insane with covid restrictions. I’m so jealous of Florida right now, or basically anyplace that isn’t still acting like covid has a 90% fatality rate.
Hi nice to hear about you enjoying the kids and days out at these ages. My older two are very similar in age to your older two but my younger one is only 20 months. I feel guilty but often think what amazing days out we’d have with the older two but struggle with the little one food/naps/etc! I wonder if we won’t find these things super enjoyable until the little one is 4 and then will the oldest be a bit pre teeny and not enjoy family days out! I suppose you just have to make the best of whatever ages they are (and I am super grateful for my kids). Just wondered if you had any thoughts.
I think you are probably onto something, and the good news is – it will get better! I don’t think the fact that you will have tweens/young will necessarily be a big negative.
For me, ages 1-2 are the absolute hardest. I know some people LOVE those ages! But I don’t think I will miss toddler parenting, or infant parenting, even though I have warm fuzzy feelings when I see pix of my kids at those ages.