Back to our regular scheduled program............

Today wraps up our Spring Break from school and the kids are having so much fun they don't want to get back to work. Isn't that how we all feel sometimes? Jessie said today she wished she had another week of vacation. We still did chores and work, but the week was much more laid back.

Yesterday at the zoo we were walking to the last few animals before going home when Logan said, "My legs are so tired they need to sit down and watch a movie." My master plan worked. The boys were pooped after walking around the zoo and we had an enjoyable time even though the zoo was, well a zoo. I knew I was asking for trouble going on a Friday, but we just didn't make it earlier in the week, and I promised the boys we would go. Grandma Evie came with us to help with Syd and ultimately to help fight the crowd. For those who have been to the Oakland Zoo, you know the top parking lot and overflow? It, along with all the lower parking lots, were completely filled. They even started parking cars in one of the access lanes at the back of the parking lot and all down the back exit. I have never seen the zoo so crowded. Thankfully, the crowd seemed to spread out well and we still had a nice trip.

Sydney LOVED being close to the animals. We might have a future veterinarian in this sweet little girl. She squeeled and bounced at the aviary, pointed in awe and said "wow" at the giraffes and elephants, and wanted to hug the goats. She loves dogs just as much, but we have a hard time finding dogs that love her back. Uncle Dan and Aunt Lauren's chocolate lab, Simon, is one of the only dogs that will let Sydney get close to him. Aunt Tori's little puppy Sasha also loves to play with Syd. Sasha will lick Syd's face while she giggles and hugs her closer. If or when we ever get a dog, which the kids ask about all the time, Sydney will be so excited.

Jessie was MIA from the zoo because she slept over at Great-Gram's house on Thursday night and wanted to spend the next day with Gram and her Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam sounds a little deceiving since he is only 3 years older than Jessie. Friday afternoon Jessie spent a few hours with Aunt Tori at City Beach so she could rock climb. Jess said she climbed to the top of the wall at least 6 times!

We also spent the last of Toby's Book Bucks from school and went to Kennedy Park in Hayward. It's a nice park and fun adventure that is a short drive, but far enough that the kids thought it was a really special trip. The Book Bucks went towards rides on the merry-go-round, a "real life pony ride," according to Logan, and entrance to the petting zoo. Again, Sydney wanted to hug all the goats she could and loved that they would eat out of her hand. She didn't flinch once when the local bully goat almost knocked her on her tush.

I would have loved to pack up the car to go on a mini-vacation with the fam, but it wasn't possible this year. We made the most of our Spring Break by playing a lot! Our day trips turned out to be the perfect break from the usual routine.