So Much for the Zoo . . .
Posted on December 18, 2007 - Filed Under Kids |
Warning: This post contains too many photos. If you are sick of seeing pictures of my kids . . . click away now!
We celebrated Dorian´s birthday yesterday. I stayed up until 2 am the night before trying to turn a sheet cake into a firetruck, which was a lot harder than it looked in the video! Apparently, I succeeded since Dorian instantly recognized it as one.
Following a breakfast of cake (family tradition on my side!), the idea was to go to the zoo, a place he´d never been. Everyone was very excited, Dorian wanted to see the lions and monkeys and he sang “Zoo, zoo, zoo!” all the way to the capital.
So, after a very long car ride through smog and heavy Christmas traffic we arrived at the zoo. And saw a sign. The sign said, “Open Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays.”
Great. I felt awful. Who shows up to the zoo for their kid´s birthday without checking if it´s open or not that day? I was really worried that Dorian would be upset, but he just kept singing the zoo song for a while then he got distracted and forgot about it. I hope.
Since we were going to the Christmas fair anyway, we headed straight there and arrived around 2 pm, after getting lost and driving in circles in the hot sun (we were in the back of a pickup. :P). Turns out you have to pay Q10 ($1.50) to get in. To shop. Which makes no sense to me, but anyway, everyone was happy to get out of the hot truck and hit the shade of the trees!
As you can see, the trees were a huge hit. I think I´ll invite them to every birthday party from now on. Thank goodness we brought the stroller, since Dante was quite happy in it.
We did some shopping in the fair, it was like a trade show, with people shuffling to spray you with perfume or shove stuff in your face. It was fun for the first half hour, then it got a bit old. Dorian just wanted to run around outside, but he was getting really tired, so we switched kids and he got the stroller.
When he woke up, we met up with the rest of Irving´s family, scattered about the fairgrounds and that´s when Dorian and Zanelle saw this:
and this:
Apparently, watching people freak out on a wild ride is excellent entertainment.
And the entertainment factor wasn´t just for kids, Irving, his brother Melvin and sister Diana were also intrigued.
Then it was time to go. Dorian and Zanelle tried to make an escape:
But when it failed, tears ensued.
Though not for long. We were really close to the airport, so massive airliners were passing overhead and Dorian was very impressed.
Dante enjoyed a little love from his Tio Melvin.
Then we dressed Dorian in his new outfit that we bought at the fair, along with a hat from Canada (my grandmother sent it) and headed home. His day was made when three firetrucks and an ambulance screamed past us. Bad for someone, but a certain little two year old who is obsessed with firetrucks was ever so impressed!
On the way, we bought his gift, a tool set so he can stop using a real hammer on my tile floor. He got to open that when we arrived, along with the apron I made for him out of a Hawaiian shirt found in the thrift market. Now he can bake in style!
All in all, it turned out to be a good day. Dorian had fun and went to bed happy and exhausted. 
And if you read all the way down here, CONGRATS.
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4 Responses to “So Much for the Zoo . . .”
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Wow, Genesis, even without the zoo- it seems like a fun filled day. The pictures are great (I love them- and seeing more of your family. Hopefully you got more of you, as the kids will want you in their pictures too (for the future remembrances)!)
YOur cake came out cute, you really pour yourself out for your boys- I love that
blessings and can’t wait for your actual (non-Monday) trip to the zoo.
*Our Guatemalan adoption is back on hold (no referrals and the program is officially shut down until some time in January… ;-( The Guatemalan gov’t and the U.S. embassy have shut everything down until they can implement a better system. I’m not sure how long God will have us wait…??
I didn’t make the wreath, but usually I do…it got to cold here to fuss with wreath materials.
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted
Wow, what a day… Glad that you were able to turn a misfortune (closed zoo) into a bonus (the trees and fair)though!
And that new camera is working a treat, what a great set of photos to capture the day…
We will get around to finishing posting about new Zealand and then do Bali, I promise!!! We got some great photos of the Monkeys in Bali, so you will have to show the boys!
Once again, Happy Birthday to the little man…
Happy Birthday to little Dorian! The toy truck is only missing the “meee mooo meee moo” sound. Haha. Sounds like a fun birthday…it’s nice to see how people go all out for their kid’s birthdays. Makes me want to have kids ASAP. Haha!
The tool set is really cool. It looks like the real deal! :O Toymakers nowadays really make good imitation huh?
Hey! I came by here yesterday and read your post, but I didn’t have time to comment. I’m glad the day turned out well in spite of the closed zoo.
Your cake is fantastic! You should submit it to Nick Jr magazine or Family Fun Magazine. I think if Nick Jr uses your photos or ideas, they send you $100. Who couldn’t use that?!
You got some great pictures, too. I love the one of Dante with Melvin (both of whom are cuties btw) and the one of Dorian by the tree. I’m glad he had so much fun on his birthday! And I’m also proud of you for not letting the closed zoo spoil your day.