Zoo Day

No alarm this morning. Sherri did not have to go to work and we planned on sleeping in. Sure enough I slept in until 6:00 am…got up made coffee and slipped behind the computer to post before my little house guest woke up. Now you do remember that Sherri and Paris Hilton stayed at the motel last night so I did not have to worry about waking them up. My little buddy had got up during the night and wanted to sleep in the recliner which as a good grandparent I allowed and he laid sleeping behind me while I typed away.

If the slumber fairy allows it I will finish my post before he gets up. I did get the entire journal entry done less the pictures before the phone rang. It was Sherri wondering what time our day would begin. We planned on eating over at the motel breakfast bar that morning and she wanted me to know when it opened and when it closed. I told her that Kris “Was” sleeping but now the phone ringing had woke him up and that as soon as I could get him dressed we would be on the way to pick them up.

Kris and I both got dressed and made our way to the motel for breakfast. We went straight to the room to pick up the girls and then down to eat some waffles and whatever. After breakfast we went back to the room to gather up the girls stuff and back down to check out. During all this I picked up some brochures on the area attractions so that we could plan a day for the kids enjoyment. Sherri got checked out OK and we went back to the trailer to unload their bags and while there we decided to head to Monroe LA to see the Zoo.

Everyone got loaded into the truck and Sherri set the Garmin for the Monroe Zoo and we were off. It is about 22 miles to Monroe from the Park…we had to stop off at the Super-One to get some cash and then we hit Interstate 20 east. In no time we were navigating through Monroe towards the Zoo…one wrong turn correction later we were in the parking lot and unloading the kids. We got our tickets to include the boat tour of the zoo and we were off. We got there before the temps got too bad and the boat ride turned out to be the best part of the whole day. As soon as we got off the boat and started our walk around the temps climbed and we began to feel it. It was not too long into our site seeing adventure that we decided to vacate the zoo and find some place cool to eat at.

Sherri has worked in Monroe before and knew of a Chili’s near by so we made out way there down the Interstate. We ordered and had a wonderful lunch….as wonderful as one can be with a very active 3 year old boy bouncing around. Now at the restaurant all he wanted to see was the little toy airplane hanging from the ceiling in the next room over. Like a good grandparent I promised him if he would act nice I would take him in there to see it. Well he didn’t and I did. OH well what can I say?

Upon completion of our lunch it was time to head back to Ruston and the park for some down time. By this time it was close to 3:00 pm and Sherri and I were about spent. Not only on our strength but our pocket book too. Our budget never included this kind of entertainment or eating out. Friday will not get here fast enough for either of us.

Have you ever noticed when grandparents start wearing down due to the kids they get cranky. Not necessarily with the kids but with each other. Why is that? I wonder how many long-time marriages have been terminated by keeping grandchildren?

We made it home and the kids played inside the rest of the day. They watched cartoons…whoopee! while Sherri played on the computer and I tried to nap. Yes I had my eyes closed but not much sleeping was done.

That evening the storms moved in and we lost satellite signal so we decided to call it a night. By that time both the kids had just about used up all their child powers….which like the Energizer Bunny keeps going and going…and they pasted out before we could really get them to bed.

Sleep tight little ones and I will see you….

Somewhere in Time.