The Zoo

I got a last minute invite to go to the Brookfield Zoo with Carrie and the kids.
YES - of course! 
I got to spend the day with Carrie on her birthday.

The drive there was pretty smooth. Of Course I had to tell Carrie which way to go, and not to follow any vans or trucks with ladders on the top and, of course, she couldn't talk on the phone will she was moving. Stopped at a light was OK, but not driving. Kinda put a crimp on the birthday calls. She was a good sport about it.

I thought it wouldn't be crowded  because there weren't many cars in the parking lot, but OMG there were buses and tons and tons of school children.

The girls had to walk  - no stroller for them. Kendell likes to watch EVERYTHING! She doesn't miss a thing and walked into people, strollers, picnic tables, fences and rocks just because she was looking somewhere else. NO hand holding for her either. She surprised me a couple of times and ask me to hold her hand. I think she is warming up to me - or maybe it was because Grandma wasn't there. Probably because I held her the whole time in the monkey house.

Matthew was wanting to see everything and we would walk ahead of the others. "Lift me up, Aunt Karen!"  I, of course, had to oblige.  He did call me Grandma a few times, but I told him that was OK lots of people get us confused.
 It's been a long time since I had taken a little boy into the restrooms, but I made him stand up against the door so I could see his feet. I remember playing the potty game with Bryan - I would call out his name and he would answer back. Bryan, Mom, Bryan, Mom. maybe next time I will teach it to Matthew.

I am glad I brought my camera, because I got some pictures of the kids with their Momma. Carrie is such a good Mom, 3 kids going 3 directions and she never even flinched. She had packed lunch and snacks and water bottles and even their swimsuits for the splash park. I am glad that I could fill in and help when needed.

 Fun running through the water with all three.

 Finally got them all to sit for a ride at one time. We are heading over to the tigers and then the exit.

My back is sore from lifting and carrying and walking and picking up dropped things, but I had such a great time with Carrie. Thanks so much for inviting me.

On the way home the girls were singing Happy Birthday to Mommy. I thought that was so cute and Carrie said. "Just wait - They sing that to everybody."
Sure enough - next came Grandma, Daddy, Jon, Erica, then Papa and I even got a shout out.