A Week with Miss Elena and Miss Malea in Dallas - Days 5&6

A trip to the Dallas Zoo had been promised and since we are short a vehicle, Aunt Cassie comes through and drives over for the day to help out.  Yay!!!  Even with our best effort to get there early, we are about an hour behind and parking is nutso.  Grandpa drops us all off at the gate and resumes his search for a parking spot.  After leaving his ticket at the gate, we enter the grounds and Elena spots the carousel and requests a ride.  Why not?  We have to wait for Grandpa anyway.  She selects her pretty pony to ride and Auntie takes Malea as well.  Fun start to the day.

Once the ride is completed, it is time to see the animals.  First stop is the lemurs and although several of them are quietly sunning themselves, two others are rather unhappy with each other and are being very vocal about the whole thing causing us to stand and watch for quite awhile.  It is so amazing the amount of noise that they can make.  Wow.


Forward to the savanna.  I do so love this part of the park and each time we are here, I am blessed to see something new.  After a quick hop onto the baby elephants back, we enter the area and discover that the elephants are very active.  They have just been fed and so are moving around and eating and drinking.  This is the first time I have been able to watch an elephant drink -- live in front of me that is.  So fun and Elena was fascinated with it.

Malea, on the other hand, is more interested in what Grandpa is doing.  He is a much more interesting animal to watch.

Onto the giraffes -- EVERYONE's favorite attraction here.  Once a person has fed them, the addiction takes hold and it must be done on each and every visit here.  Well, at least that holds true for Aunt Cassie.  Even Malea gets a nibble on the cracker she is holding.  That big black tongue fascinates all.

I make the mistake of taking Elena into the cafe to see the lions laying up close by the window.  She looks at them for awhile and then declares how hungry she is.  Okay, pit stop time.  It is actually nice for all of us to sit and refresh a bit.  Salads, chicken sandwiches, milk --- we do the best we can under the circumstances.  Oh and french fries, obviously.





We've decided to take the tram ride and as we walk that direction, we come upon a new exhibit.  Mister and I have not even seen this and we are here all the time.  This new area is designed to teach about the various animals and the keepers bring a different one out each half hour to share with the kids.  Right now it is a porcupine and Elena gets as close as she can to watch and hear.  One the tram ride, we watch for as many animals as we can while taking a break from walking.


Once we are back on the ground again, we make a stop to see the koalas for Grandpa and then it is time for the birds in the Children's Zoo.  This is such a great exhibit.  Elena loves feeding the seeds on the sticks BUT -- the birds are not allowed to land on her and she wants absolutely nothing to do with feeding them worms.  Okay -- now that the rules are set, we have fun.

Aunt Cassie has worms hidden in her left hand and the birds know it, making her a very popular person and causing Elena to be delighted.  (In case you are wondering, Malea is cat-napping in the stroller and Grandpa is tending.)

It is time to go --- we are all tired and ready for long naps.  However, a last trip on the carousel is very necessary and this time the gorilla is chosen.

Once again, we are waiting for Grandpa to go and relocate the car.

I told you they were tired. Out within seconds.  She fell asleep while eating her Goldfish -- hand still in the bag.  That's tired.

Once we return to the house, Aunt Cassie spends a few "birthday" moments with Elena, bringing a smile to her face before departing back home.  Thank you so much for spending the day with us.  It was such fun.

After a snack, it is quiet time and the bugs game seems perfect.  She loves this game and yet at the same time absolutely freaks at the sight of any "real" bug.  Odd.  This is great learning time though and she moves through the pages until they start getting too difficult and then announces she is done.

"Let's go back outside and play with my ball please" is the request.  Okay -- sounds good.

Trying to catch little ones in motion for a good picture now and then is tough, but this next one is kinda cool.  That just says "happy" to me and what better thing can there be when the kids are here?

The back yard is starting to come alive and WE HAVE BLACKBERRIES!  Woohoo.  Now to just get them before the birds eat them all this year.  Time will tell.

Grandpa and his girls.  This has been a common sight around the house this week and I love it.  What great times and what a great day.  Time for dinner and bed - whew, this has been a busy day.

A morning is not complete without giggles and tickling.  At least that is how it works in my house.  It is with sheer delight that the little giggles penetrate my heart.

It is a day around the house.  Grandpa will get the car back later today and Aunt Cassie and Uncle Scott are babysitting tonight since we have play tickets.  Since we are staying home, what shall we do -- well, play games of course, but what else?  Oh, how about a paint project?  I go out back and find some pink and purple paint (are there any other colors?) and some letters for her to work with.  Add some glue sticks and let's see what she comes up with.  I put the letters in the right order for her, take these pictures,  and go to the back for a few minutes.  When I return, the letters have been glued down and spell ANEEL.  Oh well.

Grandpa gets out the Marbleworks for the first time this week and we have now caught her attention again.  She loves it and when Aunt Cassie arrives, she cannot wait to show her how it works.

We leave for the play and it is fun times for Auntie and Uncle as they have alone time with their nieces.  A win, win for everyone.

Cass had told me that when she moved down here she was hoping to have more time with her nieces and nephews as they game to stay with us.  Up until recently, it didn't happen.  Now that we have flights again, we are hoping to make several stays possible with all of them.  We love it and do not wish to give these times up even a little bit.  Let's just keep fingers crossed that flights keep working so that we can steal little ones now and then.

We go and see "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and although it is a good production, Mister spends way more time laughing at the people sitting around us.  There are two guys in front of us that are definitely into it --- chair dancing and all.  Way funny. While we are at the play, an incredible storm hits Dallas, keeping us inside the hall after the play has ended and delaying our trip home.  We arrive late to find everyone sound asleep.  After waking Scott and Cass, they start their trip home in the rain while we sit and worry.  Ah, parenting.

A Week with Miss Elena and Miss Malea in Dallas - Days 3&4

Sunday:  After another good nights rest (these girls sleep around 10-12 hours at a time) we are up and moving.  First up:  bath time.  Yep, she was caught drinking her bath water - ugh.  The cup was for pouring water over her head to wash her hair, but when I went to get the shampoo, voila!

While Malea is getting clean -- Grandpa and Elena are feeding the birds.  We have some bread that is past it's prime and can be crumbled on the driveway.  The feeders need to be filled as well and so after Elena's bath, they go out to finish the job.  Both girls have such a good time watching the birds and squirrels in the backyard -- just like I do.  It is soothing and comforting to just sit and watch the animals play and interact.

Once everyone is dressed and ready to go, our next stop is to walk down to White Rock Coffee for a fun little breakfast.  A smoothie and cinnamon roll seems to make all perfect in someone's little world.  She is given a perfect size drink and yet even still we take almost half of it with us when we leave . . . AND half of the roll as well.  She asks for a ride back to the house and Grandpa is happy to oblige.

Since it is Mother's Day, we have decided to stay home today and just relax.  Naturally, "Go Fish" is on the agenda multiple times throughout the day.  We have been working on the colors and learning the names that are written on the cards.  Elena is so good at this game AND lucky.  I never seem to win and I give it a good effort.  She seems to pick up the card she has asked for very often in addition to remembering exactly what I have asked for.

My sweetheart gives me a Singer 301A from 1950 for my birthday and I am soooo excited.  I love the vintage machines and this is the second one he has bought for me.  Once it is all cleaned up, it is going to be perfect for my quilting.  Cards, flowers, pictures, and gifts sure do make a girl feel special. I also get phone calls from all my wonderful children today.  It's a good day and getting better -- Cass and Scott are coming over and my wonderful Mister is cooking us what I am sure will be a fantastic meal.  Yay.

Oh, what is that?  The squirrels are after the bread.  Let's watch.

Since we are at home for today -- a project is in order.  What do I have?  Ah - how about a blinged out wristband?  We set everything up on the sofa and it doesn't take Elena long to design and create her masterpiece.

Her little fingers delicately place each stone and design where they are needed.  She is very meticulous and each one goes into place nicely.  I think she does a great job, how about you?  "Now what shall we do Gammy?"  I am off again for a new toy from the cabinet.  Sometimes I forget how little minds need constant stimulation.  Perhaps us old folks do too, but we just don't do it.  Hmmmn.

GEARS!!!  Always a good one.  After some technical engineering help from Grandpa, we soon have a "factory" going.  Oh how I love watching the wheels turn in their heads as they learn new concepts.  If I do this --- look what happens. Smile.  It's great.

As we are working . . . Guess who is here?  Uncle Scott and Aunt Cassie.  They are now the new toys in town.  Amazing how quickly we become obsolete.  Too funny.  We go outside for some fun with the new ball that Grandpa bought this morning.  After a few minutes, I put Malea down in the grass and laugh as her one foot refuses to lay down on the lawn.  If I push it down, she pops it right back up.  I'm not sure what her issue is, but it sure is funny.

Cass and Scott have brought me the cutest scarf holder.  I think it is perfect, don't you?  Of all the people to know that I needed one, it would be them.  Every time they spend the night, they deal with the hanger on the back of my door that holds my scarves . . . well, not any longer.  We visit, feed, and play with little ones for awhile before it is their bedtime.  Elena has discovered a magnetic toy with many face parts to create funny (or in her preference - pretty) faces.  Uncle Scott grabs several of the mustaches and puts them up to himself asking her if they are right.  Many giggles ensue.

Once the girls are down for the night, the four of us have a wonderful dinner and conversation.  What a nice night compliments of Mister.

Monday:  Today is photo shoot day and so as soon as breakfast is over, we are dressed and ready to go to the Arboretum.  As I am dressing, Elena has found my sandals and a part to the patio door.  What is she up to?

Soon, we are out the door and on the road.  As we arrive at the Arboretum, I mention that the car smells hot and Mister checks it out.  There is some fluid coming from under the car, but he is not overly concerned about it, so off we go to have some fun in the gardens.  I am sad that the new Children's Garden has postponed it's opening until fall as I really thought the kids would have fun there.  Oh well.  We will have a good time anyway.  Right?

As we are walking in, we discover that Elena is not really in the most cooperative mood and Malea has become irritable as well.  Dang, perhaps this won't work out after all, but let's give it a try.  Ah, that's better.  Good first start.

After a short time, we discover that just trying to catch the two of them is a better plan than asking them to do things.  The rest of the shots are just that -- catching moments together in the park.  I love them and am just going to post them without words.

LOVE LOVE LOVE This one.

I love the one above as well.  It seems as though Malea is wondering what the heck is so funny.  We catch her quite often like that -- watching Elena with curious looks on her face.

Elena and I are watching several squirrels race each other around the tree trunks.  One stops to look at us, screeches, and continues his merry chase.

Time to go.  As we get to the car, Mister says, "that's not good" and I look down to see the pavement beneath the car totally soaked.  Wonderful.  We load everyone up, stop at a nearby grocery store to get some water, and limp the car home.  Ugh, what now?

Malea goes down for a nap and Elena plays quietly while we try and figure out what to do with the car.

Mister decides to take the car to the shop and is gone for a couple of hours.  When he returns, Malea is awake and so I take the girls to the school to play for awhile and give him some space to work through his frustrations.

Before we go though, Elena takes him some cookies and milk to feel better with.  So cute.

The girls both have fun playing for awhile at the school and I play amateur photographer.

After she has been a monkey for awhile, she just lays down on the  ramp and rests.  What a sweetheart.

Malea just wants to do absolutely everything that her big sister does.  It is funny to watch and I am sure she will be running to keep up in no time.

It is time to head back.  This day has been full and the girls are ready for dinner and quiet time before bed.  The days just seem to go so quickly with them here.  Why is that?  (Oh, the giant carrot is for teething -- she LOVES to bite on it)

Well, we don't have a car until tomorrow afternoon.  As we are muddling what to do, Cassie calls and is providing transportation to the zoo tomorrow.  Yay.