Grandma Bear is sweet and cuddly, always helping to look after her grand-cubs. Because we were all too busy taking headcount instead of taking pictures, I decided to document a few highlights from our week. Had we taken pictures, these are what some of the captions would have said...
a week in advance:
Here are the kids asking every five minutes when grandma Bear is going to get here.
Here is Rhino asking if he gets to get on the airplane too- and this sad one is Rhino after I told him not this time.
Monday:
This is Mr. Zookeeeper and I trying to sleep in on his day off, but the kids were too excited.
Here's the whole family piling into the van to go get Grandma Bear from the airport and here's a picture of the kids' faces when they finally see her- Tiger couldn't yell loud enough and Puppy couldn't stop smiling.
Here's Mr. Zookeeper jumping with the kids at Airborne... and here's the disgruntled employee telling him that he can't stay in the foam pit that long. She insisted on helping Tiger get out more quickly, we had a good laugh watching her try and explain the rules to him every time he jumped back in and lay there... we probably should have stepped in but she was trying so hard to seem important that we couldn't stop giggling long enough to add our assistance; and remember, if we touch the foam too much- it will eventually fall apart... so we can jump in the foam pit but we must get out as quickly as possible and never, ever build a tower with it!
This is Tiger jumping without ever stopping and here's mom trying to keep up without passing out or tripping on the mats. Off to another potty break! (Jumping is very different after having four kids!)
There's Monkey jumping in her own little space and Grandma Bear looking on. There's Rhino in the background playing dodge-ball with himself- I think he won that round.
That's the UPS man driving away after dropping off five large boxes full of school supplies. This one shows the kids opening said boxes. (Note Grandma's face as they tear into the packages and remove all manner of filling)
Here's Mr. Zookeeper fixing mom's broken side mirror on the van, and on the ground is the piece he just broke off.
At the movies to see "Zookeeper"
Everyone enjoying the movie! Mom's not in the picture, not because she was taking it but because she had to get up four times for popcorn purchases and kids' potty breaks- (but I'm sure the movie was hilarious...)
Tuesday:
The kids splashing at Noah's Ark
Grandma and mom looking for someone Else's lost boy... notice the relieved look on mom's face as it's not her kid that went missing!
Tiger running ahead- he was excited. Rhino soaking his underpants under the sprinkler- that got him excited. Puppy giggling as she runs in circles tapping her toes in the water and Monkey looking around to figure out what in the heck is going on... oh, and there's Tiger jumping off of the sign that says, "no climbing". And this blurry one has mom's finger in the way as she ran to stop Tiger from taking off his swimsuit.
The kids getting mom and Grandma out of the mazes we got ourselves lost in and then us all exploring the bear caves. Great grab, Grandma- Tiger almost got away with that one!
Floating some boats down the river... with the kids assisting. Tiger couldn't reach from the shore so he just jumped in. Sorry to the other mom who gagged at seeing Tiger in the water that she wouldn't even put her fingers in and sorry to her little boy that learned the hard way that Tigers don't like to share.
Here's Puppy and Monkey loving the sand. Rhino and Tiger climbing. Here's the stage where we saw some awesome moves- Rhino- that is the most unique version of the robot I have ever seen!
Here's the maze that we lost Tiger in... he decided to head back to the stage and do some more dancing. This Mom and Grandma moving the herd to the next park.
Trying to figure out how to turn on the golf cart (I made Grandma drive and enjoyed the backseat)
Lunch by the waterfall. Grandma made me drive on the way back... she's always pushing me out of my comfort zone but- as she says, now I can take the cart out on my own and not have any more crazy walking adventures with broken wagons...
Hurrying to make up for too much time spent resting by the waterfall (had to get the cart back at a certain time)
The kids soaking their heads in the secret garden's little pool (they should really put up signs if they discourage that... so difficult as a parent to tell them no when my hand's not forced... decisions, decisions)
Here's the kids getting further and further into messes with the delivered boxes of school supplies... Oh look, they brought down all of the blankets to play with too.
Mom and Grandma escaping to a girls night out... Taco Salads!
Not much of a girl's night out- we looked through the garden center of Lowe's and then bought some nail polish... but I won't tell anyone about the king size snicker's bars we ate in the car!
12:30 am- mom and Grandma sitting in the living room talking- as if they didn't have enough time to talk in four days!
Wednesday:
Everyone sitting around when we should be loading up in the van... we were all so tired!
Trying to have fun jumping but it was too hot! Kids eating ice cream, soda and freeze pops because it's too hot to jump. (you know, you shouldn't have to pay to play and pay for refreshments because it's too hot to play... someone will be hearing from me!)
Us leaving the too hot jumping center- Monkey sound asleep after being in the car for only two minutes and the rest of them screaming that they still want to go swimming... there's mom with a confused look on her face trying to decide how to please everyone.
The kids getting wet at the splash pad. Everyone's smiling again.
Grandma driving away to get some lunch. Mom's running Monkey potty while pulling Puppy and Tiger along... Rhino's oblivious in the middle of a sprinkler- hopefully he won't notice he's alone for a few minutes.
Tiger trying to take off his swimsuit. Rhino sitting on a sprinkler. Puppy running in circles while sticking her toes in the water and Monkey standing on a rock ready to yell at anyone who splashes her- there's the scared face of the boy who splashed her (I really hope he doesn't need therapy...)
Eating some lunch. Tiger's eating only the middle of the french fries (he doesn't eat the ends) and the girls are eating mom's frosty (Dangerous ground, girls). Rhino finds us and eats everything that's left over, which quickly became a second lunch.
There's the kids and those boxes again...
Here's mom and dad heading to the temple while grandma babysits (LOVED IT!) Here's mom and dad getting a bite to eat and enjoying their own french fries without having to hide or share them with Tiger.
Mom and Grandma spending another night talking! Talking about memories, promises and improvements. A thin veil.
Ahh... everyone's sound asleep!
Thursday:
Grandma runs some errands while the Zoo gets some dishes and laundry done. (I'm pretty sure we've already scared Grandma with all of our messes but since it's the last day, we'll clean up a little... save the rest for when we can't play with her anymore).
The kids re-empty their boxes and scatter cut up paper throughout the rooms.
We all pack up to head to the real Zoo and find Monkey asleep in the middle of the stairs.
Tiger covered in Marker (literally), wearing his long pants and long sleeved shirt with his sheriff hat... the rest of us have on shirts and sunblock. He leans over Monkey and yells at her to get up.
She heard him and we're heading out.
Mom excited she got us there without getting lost!
Walking through the park and fossil exhibit. That's the poor man that Tiger thought was interesting... he even pulled on his clothes (not sure why he was so fascinated with this man). Giggling under our breath, we turned and ran out of the building.
Elephants, rhinos, monkeys and then a carousel ride. Here's a candid snapshot of the employee who saw Tiger and asked if he was dressed up as Freddy Krueger... (I told you the marker was everywhere).
A picture of Mom after washing the sunscreen out of her eyes- of course she runs into an old school friend after getting red eyes and sweating from walking up a hill but always good to see a friend!
Snack time and a rest. There's the table that we cleaned up by spilling our water. And there's the second one.
The reptile rooms. Rhino reminding us all that he knows everything there is to know about alligators. Here's Rhino yelling at Tiger because while the sign says it's a crocodile, he really wants to see a real life alligator so this one will be an alligator. (Maybe now he can move on in life)
Dinosaurs (special appearances at the zoo). Rhino knew every species before we even got to the plaque that made the rest of us feel a little less dumb.
Tigers, camels and giraffes. The kids loved seeing the giraffes at eye level while they were eating. And hey Grandma- there's the orangutan that you thought was so amazing... and there he is right after he regurgitated his lunch and you had a different kind of feeling for him.
Mom carrying Tiger. Apparently his sheriff attire was beginning to feel a little warm... no worries- I like to carry the backpack and a 50 lb Tiger while sweating myself! (I took off the backpack to ride the carousel and found I had major armpit sweat marks happening so I put it back on and didn't remove it again until we got to the van!)
Realizing what time it is and running to the train (we paid for it- we're riding it- so run faster kids!) Grandma's face when I told her we walked up a hill when we could have walked around the display... and then Grandma's face when she found out I walked her down the same hill, around a corner through a maze and over some tracks all to find out the entrance was a few steps away from the first hill we climbed by the display... oops!
Driving to meet Mr. Zookeeper for dinner and hurrying to get there and eat before Grandma Bear's flight leaves.
Mom driving, Grandma trying to read Mom's directions. There's the flashing light telling mom to slow down and stop going two miles over the speed limit (that's about how fast I speed). Oh, and there's the other one... but it was flashing because I was two miles under. I can't win!
There's us guessing which road to take and making our decision. Here's us realizing we chose the wrong one. It's OK- we've found a new way. Lost. Found and then Lost again...
Okay- here's us laughing now that we've found our way and realizing why Mr. Zookeeper bought me a GPS for my thirtieth birthday; I should really remember to bring that along...
Excitement in the front seat as we see the restaurant; disappointment as I miss the entrance. Here's our U-turn! There's our second U-Turn and parking.
Calling Mr. Zookeeeper-we got there first- HA! (He knows I'm a terrible with driving and directions so he usually leaves when I get there and says he's five minutes away... smart man, keeps him from wasting time waiting for all my U-Turns)
The kids eating at the all you can eat buffet; Tiger- French fries. Puppy- Mashed Potatoes. Monkey- ate too many fish crackers so she just played with her food and Rhino- corn dogs, pizza and french fries. Good to know that they will eat the same things regardless of how many choices I give them. Here's the adults' stressed looking faces after eating all we could- and here's us laughing about the idea of weighing ourselves before and after the feast.
Taking Grandma back to the airport; sad faces.
Here's Grandma running to catch her flight and here's Puppy throwing up all over Mr. Zookeeper's car... sorry you missed that one Grandma Bear.
There goes grandma Bear's airplane! See you next time!
What a week! What an adventure! and What a better way to have an encounter with a bear than a week's adventure with Grandma Bear! (Now I fear she may go into hibernation to recoup)
We love you- Thanks for all the memories (and talks)!
and bonus points for us; I think we actually wore the kids out! But take notice: If they retaliate on me- I'm sending them down to you....
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