Found a snake in the woods!

via Instagram http://ift.tt/1tMk0pj

Givin' You Some Culture

Dear Hen and Hazey, 
Daddy had a week off work to spend with us! Weeeeeeeee!  We decided to do some exploring in Indy.  We went to the zoo to see the new orangutangs living there.  We started the visit in the butterfly garden, you were anxious to show daddy your butterfly charming skills.

Hazel went straight for the fountain again to splash around.  With more active butterflies and more people it was a challenged to hold one but you were down for giving up and your persistence paid off.  
Then it was on to the orangutangs.  I would debate who was whom.  Hundreds of kids had greased up the windows before us and you added yours to the mess.  
It was fascinating to watch them and you were particularly gentle with your observations, despite other kids pounding on the window you found a spot to sit and smile at them.  The crowds were big and it was time to move on.  

A couple of friends met up with us for a little bit but the two of you were ready to look at more animals.  Hazel loved watching the penguins and snuggled up with daddy while you pet some sharks.  

You grazed about five and that was enough for you.  We decided to leave for some lunch and a quick run through the Indianapolis Art Museum.  

The inside proved to be a challenge for you, not because you were bored but rather you were so excited by what you were seeing you NEEDED to experience it up close and the guards had other feelings about that.  At one point in a big white room with a sculpture of big black orbs you crawled under it.  When the guard told you no touching you said, "I didn't touch anything! I crawled under it."  I just can't believe the artist wouldn't have enjoyed that response, and in fact you didn't even touch it with a hair nor a sleeve.  

We moved on to the next room with a spider web of speakers hanging from the ceiling and a big bench.  The artist had created a loop soundtrack of many voices whispering things they would say in someone's ear whom they love.  You laid on the bench a bit and thought that it was echoing what you said in slow mode.  I couldn't convince you otherwise so I let it go... so at this point trying to contain you was a dangerous mission and we went outside.  

While it took us a while to find the accessible path, once we did we had a great time looking at the outdoor sculptures.  

Henry, you were singing the word sculpture in Operetta style at the top of your lungs.

The favorite seemed to be the skeleton pieces.  You aptly flew from one piece to the next and Hazel stood apprehensively on one piece rigid and considering ways to get down.  

It was a long day at this point and we headed home, but not before getting some dairy queen.  I loved getting to spend the day with my kids and my husband.  I don't think there is often a minute I don't appreciate it all.  



Love, Mama

Surprises!

Dear Travelers, 
Our two weeks in Florida was plentiful with peeks of this and that, lots of animals.  With surprises at every turn, one of my favorite days was spent at Animal Kingdom.  Despite an oddly cold day we made it through as many places as we could.  We warmed up with Daddy's stocking stuffer hand warmers we had stowed in his backpack.  You cuddled yours Hazel and Henry you kept yours in your hip pocket looking for a little bit of toasty.  Daddy had them tucked around his hood.  

We started the animal tour on the safari jeep ride.  Super fun!  The two of you sat on the seat next to me peeking out, being the first to name out the animals, being sure to remind me to check the off in the Explorer booklet.  

The bloat of hippos and the congregation of alligators were exciting!

We were able to work our way through Africa, getting distracted in an area that featured a stream with brightly colored fish.  

After turning the corner we saw yet another stream cross section with what appeared to be just more of these fish.  Just as Mommy started to say, "Yep, more fish," a large thing floated in front of the window.  I said "Oh, Manatee! OH OH OH! No! A GIANT HIPPO!"  It floated across the window and just when you were about to walk away, the hippo turned and the GIANT FACE WAS RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR FACE!  We all flipped out!  It was beyond cool and so unexpected!

Even more unexpected was the thrill of riding a big roller coaster with you, Expedition Everest.  This sucker had you screaming the entire time from the front seat and begging and cheering for another ride when it ended!  I loved hearing you telling daddy about the yeti ripped apart tracks that you thought we would fly off, the backwards, the dark and the "exhilarations."  This meant we would be riding roller coasters at every opportunity.  
   A really amazing opportunity at Animal Kingdom is the Wilderness Explorer program.  We started our visit by getting a booklet that put us on a scavenger hunt to learn about the animals and places you see around the park.  It was so well laid out and had a funky gestures you learn at the start that you were sold on it right away and driven to find all the info you could.  

In particular you loved the gorillas and the people working that station.  Their enclosure was great, if you have to be an animal in an enclosure.  There is a lot of room for them to roam.  

You both loved watching them, touching the skulls and seeing how you measure up against a gorilla's size.

Finally, we made it to the enclosed conservation learning center and by the time we made it out it warmed up for about an hour.  We pet some goats and pigs.  

If this was all we had done the entire day it would have been enough.  Daddy had goats all around you (Hazel) and his chair rubbing their backs and eating his mug.  You were all giggles, while Henny, you were busy brushing some blissfully sleeping pigs.  

After washing hands and getting something to eat the cold made it impossible to stay.  We went to see the Nemo production in one last hope that it would warm up by the time it was over.  No such luck, but it was super neat and elaborate.  Hazel, you popped the bubbles falling down on us at the end with such joy, it made it worthwhile.  We headed back to the buses, went back to the hotel and tried to get warm and rest.  

This was my favorite day at the Disney parks by far and one place I would return to for the parts we didn't make it to; Dino World and Asia.  I loved learned and exploring with you both, my little Wilderness Explorers, Caw Caw.

Love, Mama

Never Fair Enough!

Dear Peep and Peach, 
I've really blown keeping up with our summer excitement.  I missed documenting our entire trip to Chicago!  Not even one picture.  What!  I'll get to that, but for now I want to cover the wonderful Bartholomew and Monroe County Fairs and the State Fair.  The Thompsons are all about the summer fair.  We started our fair adventures at the Bartholomew County Fair in Columbus.  We had to see JD ride his horses for 4H.  You can tell he adores you and showing you his horses and what he does.  When he saw you were a little apprehensive next to that big powerful horse he made the horse's mouth move and talk to you.  This relieved your tension and you giggled a bit.  After watching JD perform we took Nash and Grandma P and Bahboo and found some chicken and sweet corn dinners.

AMAZINGLY delicious!  Then we found our way through the snow cones and the ice cream cones (pineapple whip!) and the funnel cakes and it was clearly time for us to head home.  Great time had by all, even Bahboo and Grandma P, who claim they don't care for the fair, enjoyed themselves.  

A few weeks later in the afternoon we hit the Monroe County Fair with the twinks to check out the chickens and goats.  The grounds were pretty empty so when we got to climb the tractors and invade the small performance stage you guys took full advantage.  Etinne became the cab driver taking you off to your personal workshops, New York City and St. Louis.  Beep Beep, it was adorable!  He even picked up some seasoned cabby talk, with a wry lip and gruff voice.

A few nights later we decided to have dinner at the fair.  We had been promising you rides all week and were super excited to see what you'd choose to ride, until we saw the price.  Wristbands were 18 bucks each!  I had read on the website that you couldn't buy tickets on wristband nights. OOps.  So we distracted you from the rides by eating first.  Lemon Shake Up!  Sweet Corn!  Hamburger!  You were WAY into the sweet corn, as always... eating so quickly that the kernels were flying, you even took off your glasses to protect them from wayward juice pops.   

Hazel was also very interested in the corn but having no top teeth made it impossible for her to eat.  To solve both problems we had Henry eat the corn over your stroller tray and you gratefully ate the golden sweetness that fell your way.  You both seemed to love the arrangement.  

We LOVE to go through the barns and collect lots of pencils, free popsicles, and various other weird stuff.  Sometimes there are goofy activities you get to do but I was particularly surprised at the Monroe County Fair you jumped right into the eye exam station with gusto.  

Then the unavoidable happened, we had to break the news about the rides.  

We walked closer to the ticket booth.  And begins the real story of the fair season...  We looked at the booth signs together and said, "$18 dollars!  Wow, we aren't going to be able to afford getting two wristbands."  So we expect that we are going to have nuclear level disappointment because it is a horrible thing to do to a sweet boy like yourself to promise rides and pull them out from under you in a split second.  Daddy and I were feeling pretty bummed and pretty crummy.  I tried to help talk you down but allowed you to frenzy and explode for a minute.  Finally, you pulled it together.  Arms to your side, clinched in fists, we offered the alternative, WE COULD PLAY SOME GAMES!  You released your tension and sucked in deeply and said okay.  !  I was impressed!  after 3-5 minutes the whole debacle happened, was solved and moved on with.  Seriously!  So, we went to play your first game, Balloons and Darts.  We had a negative prediction for this game but you were pumped.  Happy to see you excited again, you threw your $1 dart and watched it sail steadily through the air to drop about two feet from the board into the grass.  You stood there for a minute, head slung back, arms to your body with your wrists flicking out to the side as if to say, "Is that all?"  Your face was a sad little grimace of complete and utter disillusionment.  

We pulled you away to move on to the skee ball.  This was going to do it for ya!  It started out good because you saw that the game was wheelchair accessible, something you've been paying particular attention to lately.  We threw a couple of rounds to no avail and decided to go to the other side of the midway to play your last game.... but what happened next was a miracle.  The gods were wanting you to ride scary sick making rides as much as you did... we passed another ticket booth that allowed you to buy individual tickets! What?!  I know!  The night couldn't get any better!  

We looked around and decided on rides and that was it!  We bought some tickets and you were leaping giant gallops across the tangled, cabled grasses toward the helicopters, face all a glow with the colored lights.  I could see what a big guy you were being up to that point because you could have been filled with helium the way you floated around with some tickets in your hand.  You gave Daddy a big hug and said thanks.

Your chatter backed up this new elation, "Oh my gosh! This is awesome!"  We were so happy, too!  You are a sucker for the fun houses and little roller coasters.  

 

 

We even ended up bumping into JoJo's sister and her little girl.  A perfect evening.  When the tickets ran out, you just said thanks so much and were the happiest little boy in the world.  We topped it off with some cotton candy and you were eager to see Hazel try some.  It kept sticking to her lips but she loved it, as did the concession stand ladies who stood and oooohed and aaaahed over her while she ate it.  

 

 

Daddy and I were so proud of you.  It was a meanie thing we had to do, but we ended up being able to do a couple of games, some rides and cotton candy for less than what it would have cost for two wristbands.  Thanks for being so understanding but I am really happy we were able to keep our promise without breaking the budget. We love seeing you joyful.

Love, Mama