Dress-Up Days and Zoo Adventure

For the past week, Amelia's school hosted a coin challenge. They asked each student to bring in different coins each day and if you did, you could dress-up according to the theme of the day (Patriotic, Pirate, Wacky Tacky and Super Hero Day). 

This was all done so that the teachers can buy more books for their classrooms at the book fair. Without asking, Amelia emptied her entire jar labeled donations (her monthly allowance is divided up in to Spend, Save and Donate) and proudly brought in her loose change, approximately $5 total, every day. I love that my little girl knows when to give graciously and for good causes. This goes hand-in-hand with the two boxes full of toys, school supplies and hygiene items we packed this week for the annual Operation Christmas Child. 

On Friday, Amelia's school invited all the parents for their annual Thanksgiving lunch. And my little girl was so excited because her Daddy was coming too! Despite the fact that the cafeteria was crowded, noisy and it felt a bit like being 10 years old again, eating food of a tray and sitting in those small chairs, we enjoyed our lunch with our favorite school girl.

While I enjoyed a Saturday afternoon crafting with other mommies, Derrick watched the kids at home. So to give him a break on Sunday, a new friend of mine, Bettina, and I took the kids to the Nashville Zoo. The weather was perfect (sunny but cool) and because of Veteran Appreciation Day there were extra activities such as free carousel rides, free Lorikeet feeding as well as bounce houses for the kids. 

Stop at the petting zoo is a must:

The kids enjoyed looking at all the Amphibians, Fish, Birds, and Reptiles in the Unseen New World exhibit (a tropical house):

We also visited the flamingos, giraffes, zebras, and kangaroos. One can walk thru the kangaroo exhibit and see them up close and if you are lucky, they come up to you to be pet. 

Of course, Elliot and Amelia wanted to ride the choo choo train.

Petting the tortoises:

And feeding the Lorikeet with nectar:

Climbing up the bounce houses and a ride on the carousel was so much fun!

 

Before heading back home, we enjoyed a relaxing picnic lunch in the sun and afterwards the kids explored the amazing jungle gym playground. 

What a fun day it was! And since we have an annual membership, we will have many more zoo trips coming up. 

My weekend ended by cuddling with my favorite girl. She crawled up in to my lap and laid there like a baby. It may have only lasted 10 minutes but I savored every single one of those minutes as it hardly ever happens anymore that my kids curl up on my lap. Babies don't keep, that's for sure.