It's Girls Week - Elena and Malea Visit - Days 3&4

Tuesday - Ugh -- we are starting out the day with Malea not feeling so well.  She has a fever and is not the least bit happy.  All she wants to do is have her blanket and sleep so I am letting her do just that.  Grandpa takes Elena down to the coffee shop for a hot chocolate and then to the store to pick up some groceries.  Elena spends some time on both levels of the coffee shop thoroughly enjoying her treat.  When they finish -- they are off to the store where Elena gets to make most of the selections and then they walk back home.  I hear a knock at the back door and see Mister with many bags in his hands and a granddaughter on his shoulders.  Apparently someone felt it was too far to walk.

Grandpa takes over with the listening and I am able to go out to the studio and finish the quilting on Bob's graduation quilt.  I am definitely running out of days on this one.

Once I am back in the house, Mister and Elena head outside to water the plants.  She fills containers from the rain barrel and then gives everything a drink.  It is now time for a hairdo.  This is becoming a tradition that Elena and Grandpa have.  Each time she visits, she does his hair and he sits oh so patiently while she works.  This time there were many moments of laughter as she tried different styles.  Malea wakes and crawls into Grandpa's lap as well.  Choice moment.

The rest of our day is spent playing quietly and everyone has an early bedtime as we are going to the zoo tomorrow morning.  Whew.

Wednesday - It is a nice day and we are off bright and early arriving at the zoo just as it is opening.  Our first stop is the penguins, per Elena's request.  We score as they are actually out and swimming -- almost never happens.

The next spot is with the mandrills where I know there is a baby.  Will we get to see him?  Looking, looking . . . I think mama has him with her.  Am i right?  Yep.  He is snuggled in with her and as we watch, she moves around quite a bit with him clinging to her belly.  So fun.  First two stops and we scored.  Well, actually as we were on our way to the penguins, we passed the lemurs and they were out as well.  We were even privy to a shouting match by them.

Onto the Savannah.  The giraffes must be fed.  It is here that we hit our first stumbling block.  They will not eat -- won't even come close to us.  After trying for about 10 minutes, we decide to check out some other things and then come back later.  There is a predator talk about to begin so we settle in to hear all about the cheetahs.  When the trainers finish, we walk through the gorilla area and come face to face with one.  The path winds around through various areas and we exit right near the new encounter stage where a Mama duck and her ducklings parade right past me.

There is a presentation is already in progress with a Ball Python (the same kind Cassie used to have) and Elena is not the least bit concerned with touching it.  Way to go girl.  Once the presentation ends, we decide to stay and wait for another.  Fifteen minutes later, the trainer returns and has an interesting specimen.  It is a Madagascar Cockroach.  Ick.  Again, Elena gives it a touch -- she is way braver than I this go round.  She also has a hedgehog to share and this one I do touch although somehow manage to miss a picture moment.  Time to move on.

Let's go see if the giraffe will eat before we leave this section of the zoo.  Oh wait -- must stop and get pictures taken on the elephants.  "I can't believe you almost forgot Gammy."

There is a school group near who would also like pictures, but Malea has laid claim to the baby elephant and does not wish to get off.  Period.  Once I get her down and point out some real elephants across the way, she heads that way, but is really not very happy with me about it.

As we walk back towards the giraffes, it looks like they have switched from the lettuce that we have to crackers.  The keeper switches them out and SUCCESS!

I asked where we should go next and Mister whispers that he would like to see the koalas.  Well alrighty then -- Elena is also interested in the kangaroos.  We arrive at the outback and not only is the koala awake and active, but so are the roos.  Awesome.

Neither of those events occur very often.  Next stop?  Elena wants to do the underground as her last request so off to the children's zoo we go.  While Elena and Mister head for the underground -- Malea is all over getting to the slide as quick as she can.

When Elena returns, she wants to go and see the farm animals and fish so even though Malea is not happy about leaving the  slide, we head that way.

The girls have fun with the goats and in no time have pet and loved all of them.  They are brushed and loved to death.  Mister tries to get as many pictures as possible but has a slight problem.  The goats are not at all happy with him sitting there and they keep head butting him while he tries to photograph the girls.

A quick stop with the fish and we are on our way.

The final stop --- the carousel.  Two good little girls have waited for this ride and are both excited to climb on.  What a difference in Malea from the last time she was here.  This time -- she loves it.

It is time to return home.  I am hungry and tired and don't think I am the only one.  We sing songs all the way home to keep people from falling asleep -- have some lunch -- and EVERYONE rests.  Woohoo -- fun morning.



It is so nice out today and I remember that I have a whole package of sidewalk chalk.  Mister makes some drinks and we settle in out on the back patio while the girls play on the driveway.  Drawings ensue and soon Mister is helping.  I am not sure just how Elena manages to cover her jeans with chalk, but she sure does a good job of it.

After a few minutes, Grandpa goes and finds a box in the garage.  After cutting windows and giving them a door --- creativity sets in.  In no time the girls are busy with their house.

It is a great way to play for the afternoon and soon it is time for dinner, baths, and bed.  Elena gets a full movie tonight and she is so stoked.  I, on the other hand, am ready for bed.  This nine o'clock bedtime could get habit forming.