Baby Animal Days

Aah, Spring Break. The last couple years or so I have spent this time hauling my kids up to Idaho to spend a week being pampered by my grandmother. It is always a nice time of relaxation and fun (and occasionally a little stress, just to keep in shape). We walk the greenbelt, eat yummy food, visit family. The kids get to spend time with all three of their great-grandmas and their great-grandpa and I usually get to hook up with two of my roomies from college for lunch and playtime with their kids. It's great! I was so sad this year when I realized that my Spring Break would not line up with their Spring Break, so our annual Idaho trip was cancelled. Happily, however, we were able to attend Baby Animal Days. The times we're in Idaho we miss the big production and just go to the "animals only" event. After the chaos of a Saturday full of everyone and their dog attending the BIG event, I am likely to keep going to the smaller "animals only." But, it was fun. I thought I might die after the first five minutes of standing in line, but I made it and I think I'm stronger now! ha ha. I would usually ditch Louis and the kids to sit on a bench while they stood in line and then hobble over in time to take pictures of them doing whatever adventure they had been waiting for. The main reason we went during the BIG event was to see the baby bears. The line was huge, but it moved amazingly fast. This was due to the fact that you stood around a pen and watched a lady hold the cub. No petting, no interaction, no talking, nothing. LAME. I was beyond disappointed. My cousin went earlier in the week and not only did she enjoy shorter lines, but they were allowed to pet the cub. Please don't tell my kids or I'll never hear the end of it! I wanted so badly to go earlier, but I had class and the kids voted on waiting to go with their dad, so Saturday it was. Here are the pictures of our adventure. I must say this has become one of my favorite Springtime traditions (despite my gripings this year) and a BIG thanks to Andrea who went with me and the kids for our first time!

Don't worry about this wooly mammoth. Charles assured me it wasn't real.

The very disappointing bear encounter.

The kids were enthralled with this bug exhibit. It was pretty cool. They have always been interested in bugs. Despite their interest, neither of them wanted to hold or touch the bugs. But Kaylee touched a snake, GROSS!

I was extremely surprised when Charles insisted on having his picture taken with the Easter Bunny this year. He is usually afraid. I was also surprised because my kids don't believe in the Easter bunny. Gasp, I know. I just had a hard time with that whole thing. They get Easter baskets, but they know I'm the one who fills them and they only get a little candy (unless grandma goes crazy) and then an item or two that is church-related.

This sheep shearing was pretty cool to watch, but I was getting a little bit queasy thinking he was going to cut the sheep open. Louis admitted the same thing.

This lady was very nice and told us all about washing the wool and spinning it. It was pretty cool. Also, I learned that lanolin is in sheep's wool. I didn't know that!

We were thrilled to see this gal holding a bunny on her lap since the kids didn't have the patience to wait in the line to hold a bunny. This was good enough for them.

We just happened to be near the candy cannon when it was about to go off. Bonus! It was mass chaos! Play a little Where's Waldo and see if you can spot the kids....

The longest lines were for the train (which we have ridden several times during Farmtastic Fall with absolutely no waiting.... I tried to convince Charles it wasn't worth it, but he didn't believe me.) and of course, the pony rides. Surprisingly I thought the pony line went faster, but that may be because I was sitting down while they waited and being throughouly entertained with the lost children booth!

All in all it was a good day. It was beautiful weather! A little cloudy, a little cool, and then it would keep warming up, so the jackets went on and off quite a bit. Louis and I both got some sun which was nice. It was a little discouraging as we were leaving both the kids were whining and complaining that the day was a waste and it was all I could do not to cry or yell at them. At that point I was so tired and my back was so sore that I wanted to just leave them there. They both fell asleep in the car and woke up in much better moods. The next day they reported that they had a lot of fun.

We came home and I finished making a cake for my brother's bday and then Louis took me to get dinner at Logan Burger while Donna and Steve watched the kids. Then over to their house for a rousing game of pinochle. This time Steve and I paired up against Donna and Louis and lady luck was on their side! They wasted us! We finished the night off watching Sherlock Holmes. We all went to bed very tired!!!