A Trip to the Zoo

Nannie took us for a trip to Zoo Atlanta today and the boys had a great time!  We saw flamingos, hogs, giraffes, zebras, gorillas, a huge lizard, orangutans, turtles, tons of exotic birds, and lots of snakes.  I'm not sure why, but the boys were looking forward to seeing the snakes the most.  That was all they talked about this morning.  Aiden loved looking at the informational plates to read how old and how long the animals were.  We got a few pics in between looking at the animals. 

Ty did not like this gorilla statue, we had to reassure him that it was not real.  After he dried his tears, I managed to get a pic, but he didn't want to get too close.

The actual gorillas were very entertaining.  We saw this one eating and some others playing; they were running and wrestling with each other.  Their size and speed were very impressive.

The boys enjoyed the petting zoo, where they were able to touch goats and sheep.  The animals were so accustomed to interaction with people and children, they were very nonchalant to everyone.

After we saw all the animals, the boys played on the playground.  They had a huge 4 seat see-saw that Aiden loved.  He could control the whole thing with other kids on it.  Then they went for a ride on the carousel, and they had a blast riding on it.  Aiden waved at us each time as he rode by.

It was a great experience for the boys and something I'm sure they'll remember for a long time.

Movie

Jeff took Aiden to see his first movie Dr Seuss' The Lorax in 3-D.

(written by Jeff)

Aiden didn't know what we were getting into when we stepped into the theatre, but his eyes lit up when he saw the candy, pop corn, and drinks. All I could think was how rediculous the prices were, but with this being Aiden's first movie experience we got a bag of popcorn and a large icy for just $16, what a deal! We sat down and Aiden immediately started slurping the drink loudly as the previews started. After the first preview, as Aiden digested the volume level of the speakers, the theatre got quiet and he loudly stated "Dadda, that's really loud." When the movie started, we had on our 3-D glasses and Aiden asked how the people came out of the screen. We had a blast!  On the ride home I looked at him in the rearview mirror and I could tell he was thinking hard. ''What are you thinking about buddy?" I asked. He said " How big were the holes on the screen?" What do you mean Aiden? "The holes that the people went back into." I started laughing. I love the mind of a 4 year old.

Aiden's first baseball game

Jeff took the boys to Athens while I was at work and Aiden got to experience his first baseball game!  Uncle Marcus, Payton and Dadda went too, while Aunt Shelley, Ty and the girls stayed at their house in Athens.  Georgia played Tennessee and won 10-5 at Foley Field.  Aiden liked watching the score board and hearing the music as the players went up to bat.  They ate hard peanuts and boiled peanuts, which Aiden called "yucky peanuts" (he preferred the hard ones).  He also ate skittles and powerade; Jeff said he was more interested in what he could eat than the game.  Aiden told me about seeing the tractor that smoothed the dirt in between innings.  They left early and went back to the house to play.  The boys love jumping on their trampoline.  Shelley took Ty and the girls out for a milkshake and to play on a playground.  I think both the boys had a lot of fun visiting their Aunt, Uncle & cousins! 

Museum & The Varsity

Today, Nana and Papa took us to Fernbank Museum and to The Varsity for lunch!  There were many great activities for the kids.  First we went to a Reptile show, where we saw turtles, lizards and two large snakes.  The man actually swung the snake into the audience and it hit Jeff and came very close to the rest of us.  The boys were fascinated by all the reptiles; Ty even touched the largest snake.

Then we walked around the museum and saw all the other exhibits.  The boys saw a live tortoise, the dinosaur skeleton, and were able to play lots of games.  There were buttons and numbers everywhere, which made Aiden very happy. They got on a scale that compared their weights with a panda- the boys were equivalent to a 6 month old Panda bear.  We saw a lighted waterfall made from smoke and caves and a bridge with a playground.  They had tons of fun exploring! 

We had worked up an appetite and ate our fill at The Varsity.  The boys ate chicken nuggets, fries and their orange smoothies, which they loved!  It was a beautiful day and a great experience for the boys.

Play Date

We headed out to the "Jumpy House" for a family playdate with the Dove's.  The Dad's were great to bring along as they got to jump, climb and slide with the kiddos.  The giant double slide was the big favorite for all the kids.  They must have gone up and down it a hundred times.

Sadie and Aiden are best buds; the kids all have a great time playing together.  It was great to wear them out, and enjoy the air conditioning as well!

Doc Update

We took both the boys to the pediatrician for their annual check ups today.  Jeff went with me because I knew I would need his help.  They did a height and weight check and Aiden got a blood pressure test, a hearing test and a short eye exam.  Aiden told the nurse the objects on a chart across the hall as she pointed at them.  He insisted the crescent moon was a phone and he was slow to identify some others so they recommend that we go to an eye doctor.  The doctor also did a BMI evaluation on Aiden and found that it was high for his age.  Ty look great and is up to par on his motor and verbal skills.  Here are their stats:

Aiden:
Weight: 42.9 lbs     91%
Height: 41 3/4 in    79%
BMI:  17.30            90%

Ty:
Weight: 33.1 lbs      93%
Height:  37 in          96%
Head Circ: 20 in      92%

They both received immunization shots.  Ty had 2 and Aiden had 4, they were all boosters of shots he had previously and Aiden won't have to get any more until he is 11.  That was such a relief!  Both the boys cried during their shots, I held Ty and Jeff held Aiden as they were given and we comforted them afterward.  We came home and laid down for naps- it was a tiring visit to the doctor.