Zoo Trip

Disclaimer: This adventure occurred before the broken wrists, but since I hadn't gotten around to blogging about it yet, I decided to go ahead and share it today.  Enjoy!

One day earlier this month (on a day when it supposed to be a bit cooler but actually reached nearly 100 degrees) our family ventured once again to Mesker Park Zoo.  We usually go a few times a year, but this particular visit was special because we were able to do some new and exciting things.  Up first?  Feeding the giraffes!  For $2 each, the kids were able to get up close and personal to these beautiful animals and feed them some romaine lettuce leaves.  It was a fun experience all around.

After feeding the giraffes (and gulping down some 7-Up from the nearby watering hole), we opted to spend some time on the lake via paddle boats.  Every time we visit, the kids requested this trip, but we were always hesitant about getting Hudson out on the water.  This time, we decided he was ready.  Little man was my riding partner in the duck boat, and Erik took Ava in the swan boat. 

Right away, Hudson and I skimmed the water and explored the perimeter of the lake, where we found a group of sunning turtles!  He listened so well and really enjoyed himself.  Of course, Erik and Ava weren't quite as lucky.  Either they had a defective boat, or else the weight difference between riders was too much, because they barely made it to the center of the lake before they opted to bob and enjoy right there in the middle.  I wanted to laugh, cause that swan was atippin' sideways in the water and barely moving (ha!), but I felt bad for Ava.  She took it well and said it was fun just to float around awhile, and I tried not to tease E too much about it.  ;)

Still, this was one of our favorite trips to the zoo!

Treasure Hunt

With Ava's broken wrists, it's been both interesting and challenging to find new ways to play.  Other than watching lots of movies and reading many books, we've tried to get creative as well.  Our biggest hit, so far, has been the treasure hunt that I created for both Ava and Hudson.  Since Pirates of the Caribbean was our favorite ride at Disney, we've been pretty pirate-crazy this summer, and the kids are still talking about this hunt.

Here's what I did:

 

(1) Picked eight places around the house to hide clues and wrote accompanying riddles for each one.  Ava can read, and she only needed a little help with the riddles.  Then she and Hudson would go where the riddle instructed to find the next clue.  This was their favorite part.

 

Sample (this clue sent them to the fridge for the next clue):

I am tall, silver, and quite cold.

Do you know the things I hold?

Sips & fruit & Cokes & meat.

All the things you like to eat!

 

(2) The final clue sent them to dig for the treasure, but with a twist.  They had a final task to complete together, using teamwork, before they received their treasure.  In this case, I wrapped a puzzle, and they had to put it together in order to earn their treasure.  (Ava hated this part, but Hudson thought it was cool.)

 

(3) Finally, they earned their treasure and unwrapped more fun play activities: Play-Doh, stickers, and some candy.  This kept them busy longer than the actual treasure hunt!

 

We really enjoyed this activity (I had as much fun making it as they did completing it), and hopefully it might help anyone else who needs some end-of-summer play ideas. 

 

Breaks in Routine

It was a crisp summer evening at the local park (and it also happened to be Friday the 13th) when our summer took a scary turn.  I haven't posted lately because we've been busy in the Smith household dealing with one very brave little girl, who has managed to keep smiling despite the double broken wrists she received that fateful day two weeks ago.

 

To keep it simple, Ava fell from the monkey bars at the park, with the rest of us just a few feet away.  Luckily, she caught herself with both hands.  Even though it has been challenging to deal with the aftermath, I am so very, very thankful that it wasn't any worse.  I know she was being watched over from above, because it was a long fall....and she was a lucky child.

 

I've been saying extra prayers since then, and have realized what a special daughter I have.  She has been so remarkably positive and happy, even though the end of her summer was not as she planned.  Her response?  She wanted to spend more time at home anyway, so now she has an excuse to play in the playroom!  Ha!

 

Right now, she has one cast and one splint (her left wrist was injured more severely than her right).  Next week, she will get the other wrist casted as well.  That will make life a bit easier, as both casts will be water proof.  Until then, we've been spending more time at home and finding creative ways to play.  More on that later!

 

In the meantime, I'm loving my little girl and thanking God for her more every day.

 



Swim Lessons

 

For the last two weeks, both kids have been enjoying swim lessons at the Huntingburg City Pool.  They were lucky to get lifeguards that work wonderfully well with each of them, and they are loving it!  Ava has been progressing since last summer, and she can swim across the pool, jump off the board alone, and swim underwater.  Since this was Hudson's first year with lessons, he's simply been getting used to the water and learning the basics, but he's done so nicely as well.  

Way to go, Ava & Hudson, my little swimmers! 



Silly Survey

Awhile back, around the kids' birthdays, I came across a fun survey for little ones.  Thus, I thought it would be nice to record their answers on each birthday to compare as they grow.  The following answers were provided on Ava's 6th birthday and Hudson's 3rd birthday.  Actually, I had forgotten about them until today, when I found them in my desk drawer.  Enjoy!

 

 

1. What is your favorite color?

Pink

Blue

 

2. What is your favorite toy?

Barbies

Legos

 

3. What is your favorite fruit?

Pineapple

Apple

 

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Max and Ruby

Max and Ruby

 

5. What is your favorite food?

Cake

Spaghetti

 

6. What is your favorite outfit?

Dresses

My yellow Mater shirt

 

7. What is your favorite game?

Candyland

Don't Break the Ice

 

8. What is your favorite snack?

Popsicles

Pretzels

 

9. What is your favorite animal?

Kitty cats

Cow

 

10. What is your favorite song?

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

 

11. What is your favorite book?

Barbie in The Diamond Castle

Mickey Mouse

 

12. Who is your best friend?

Hudson

Mommy

 

13. What is your favorite cereal?

Strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats

Honey Nut Cheerios

 

14. What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Drawing sidewalk chalk mermaids

Swinging

 

15. What is your favorite drink?

Chocolate milk

Chocolate milk

 

16. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

Halloween

 

17. What is your "lovey" that you sleep with at night?

My ponies sometimes

My puppy (a stuffed leopard from the zoo)

 

18. What is your favorite breakfast food?

Scrambled eggs

Toast

 

19. What is your favorite birthday meal?

Popcorn

Cake

 

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A Barbie store worker

Don't know yet....a baseball player

 

 

So cute that they had some of the same answers!

Love. My. Kids.



June Memories

Wow, it's hard to believe that June has already passed us.  Gah!  That means our summer break is nearly halfway over.  Still, as I look back over our calendar, photos, and memories, it's obvious we filled our June '12 with a lot of fun.  Since I also noticed that all my blog posts from this month were Disney-related from our trip of a lifetime (understandably so!), I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the simpler pleasures we enjoyed the past few weeks as well.

Here's to a busy, yet relaxing July as well!