Summer Recap: Part 1
Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 07:36PM Little neglected blog, I've missed you! It hit me this morning that next week marks the first of many trips that are coming up this summer. And regardless of my recent bad blogging habits, I have high hopes for posting as I go. But in order to do that, I feel like I need to catch up (at least by hitting a few high points) with what's been going on over the past few weeks (months?).
For one thing Grammy came to visit. And oh, how we love her so much!
We went to the Bombay Bicycle Club, where they have the best burgers, quirky atmosphere, and cozy little outdoor space.
We ordered more cherries for her. But I have to admit, something about that just felt wrong. It's like gorging yourself on breath mints.
The zoo is two seconds up from Bombay. And let me preface this by saying that I Hate The Zoo. I hate the smells, the dirt, the heat, the slow walkers and people standing in the EXACT CENTER of the walkway, I hate the long lines to purchase $96 stuffed animals, the 101 questions about why the monkey's butt looks like that, the 102 questions about what that goat is doing on top of the other one. I hate how there is no tram or shuttle, or bar. And I basically hate that it's not the Discovery Channel. Because if I'm going to learn about nature, I want it to be from the comfort of my own home.
That being said, we had the BEST day. I think partly because it had just rained, and the animals were in the mood to say hello.
... or to eat your face off.
This one was posted over at Shutter Sisters a few weeks ago.
Two and two. 
The main reason why this was my all time favorite trip to the zoo was because I saw something come alive in my daughter that I'd never seen before.
When I say that Annie is my serious child, I don't mean that she's somber or no fun. She's just not as goofy as the rest of us. She's rarely outside of herself, and takes a contemplative approach to things. She's not one to be overcome with excitement. And I love that she's free to interact with the world in her own way.
I'd always known how much she loves animals. All kids do. But she's the child at our family reunion who, instead of playing with the other kids, sat for hours with the puppy who was leashed to the tree. She loves everything: snakes, roly-poly bugs, bunnies, lizards, frogs, you name it. But that day at the zoo, she was so happy, it was mesmerizing.
And it was the first time as a parent that I realized how gratifying it is to see your child become LIT UP by something that resonates within HER. Something that has nothing to do with me. As the non-animal adoring, zoo-hating person I've always been, this was ALL HER. And it was so beautiful.
Whatever they end up doing in life, my greatest wish is that it will make them feel like this.
On that note, I was listening to Ted while editing the photos for this post. Somewhat serendipitously (now that we're talking about kids finding their passions) I stumbled on this video by Cameron Herold about Raising your Children to Be Entrepreneurs. It really made me think about some of the ways you can train your kids to think differently. I highly recommend watching it.
And before signing off, I want to wish everyone a happy 4th of July! But don't forget about all the servicemen and women who have sacrificed, and are sacrificing every day in order for us to enjoy the freedoms that go along with that extra day off. :)
See you again soon! xo
Reader Comments (8)
HAPPY 4th!!!
happy 4th!
shanna
p.s. man-ssage=creepy but hilarious!