We Have Hyrum & Zyra - Days 3&4

Aunt Cassie arrived early for a play day with her niece and nephew.  We are going to the Children's Aquarium today and everyone is looking forward to it.  When we arrive at Fair Park, the first stop seems to always be the fountain and today is no different.  Kids and water are magnets for each other.

The Children's Aquarium is a new stop for Aunt Cassie as well so this should be a fun morning.    Grandpa tries to get a picture for Mom first thing, but for some reason getting both of them to look in the same place at the same time without a silly face seems a daunting task today.  Oh well, we will go for action shots I guess.

As we enter the venue, two daycamp buses pull up at the same time making us walk a little faster and aim for the back of the building right away.  This is like deja vu with Elena and Malea a few weeks ago.

Once our hands are washed, we are ready to play with the sting rays.  Zyra starts laughing instantly when she sees them, but Hyrum is very hesitant and really does not wish to touch them.  We talk about the rays for awhile, letting both of them know that everything is perfectly safe.  They are not going to get hurt in any way.

Hyrum finds another location on the side of the tank and asks us all to move over there.  We join him hoping that it will help encourage him to try putting his hands in the water. After a few minutes of talking with him, he is ready to give it a go.  I am going to let the pictures tell the story here.  They are way better than my words.

There is also a shark tank nearby and we take the kids over to check it out.  Best comment from Hyrum:  "I don't want to touch them Gammy."  I smile and assure him that it is not even an option.  I think he is very relieved to hear it.

It doesn't take long though and they are running back to the stingrays.  It is feeding time and we watch as the rays race around gathering the food that the keepers put in the tank while Grandpa purchases some food for us to hand feed them.

As soon as we walk back over to the tank, it is obvious that the rays know we have food.  They are VERY friendly and are popping their heads out of the water to see what we are doing.  Again, I will let the pictures show the sequence of events.  Yes, you can smile.

Even Gammy has to give it a try.  This is such fun.  We try and purchase some more food, but the keepers are giving the rays a food break so we decide it is a good time to see the rest of the aquarium.

After looking at several large tanks, we come to the touching tank and both of the grands are so fascinated with the various touchable animals.  Zyra reaches right in for the lobster, but it takes a few minutes for big brother.  He does touch most things though and the sea urchin with it's sticks gets eyebrows raised from him.  Awesome.

As we still have a complete side that we have not seen, we are off to the rest of the tanks.  Hyrum spots the octopus and lays in the window giving him a better look at it.  This is a rare treat as it is seldom out and in view.  Lucky us.

Silly me, I think we are finished at the aquarium, but after restroom breaks, the begging starts to go back to the rays again.  Who am I to say no?  Off we go.

This time, Hyrum wants to hand feed as well.  Yay!  Once the food is purchased, he reaches out for his turn and in no time has help reaching under the rays to their mouths.  It is so fun to watch the delight on their faces and hear their giggles as they spend time here.  I think the place has been a hit.

Finally, we are able to leave.  We start towards the car and in absolutely no time they have run to the fountain (with a little prompting from Aunt Cassie).  Ah heck -- 90 degrees out -- who can blame them?

Water and kids = pure fun.

Aunt Cassie tries to scare Hyrum and I think it works, BUT a few minutes later she tries to show him something and he is happy to get even.

Now that everyone is completely soaked, it is time to head back to the house for dry clothes, lunch, and naps.  We have determine that everyone needs one.

While I get lunch ready, Grandpa needs to wind the clock and always needs help with that.

After lunch, I get Zyra down for her nap and go looking for Hyrum.  I find him asleep on the sofa in the living room and snap a quick picture.

Unfortunately that is the end of our pleasant day.  When Hyrum awakens, he tells me that his stomach hurts and we head to the bathroom.  Within seconds, he is so very sick.  Oh, I feel so bad for him.  The rest of the day just becomes a blur as we get him in and out of the restroom and finally settled down for the night.  Ugh --- who will be next?

Day 4

We have decided to take today pretty easy and let Hyrum recover.  Toys are brought out and we play quietly until I remember that the blackberries need to be picked.  Zyra and I go out and pick a couple of bowls full while Grandpa (who is now feeling queasy as well) and Hyrum rest inside.

Aren't our berries oh so pretty?  I am hoping to make some jam with the next picking.

After a quiet morning, we venture out for just a short time to go down to the grocery store for medicine and to the post office to mail a couple things.  Our lovely new store, Gecko Hardware, is in the same plaza and I want to show the kids something inside.  We just pop in for a minute to see the baby chicks.  Oh goodness they are cute.  Trouble is -- they grow up and I am not ready for chickens - yet.

Once we are back at the house, Zyra and Grandpa cook dinner on the the grill.  Hyrum is finally hungry and has asked for a hamburger.  Yes Sir, coming right up.  Though it has been a quiet day, I have enjoyed the kids and our time with them.  Even sick, they are a sheer delight.