Two at the Zoo

I've had a Somber Post brewing for about a week and a half now, and I can't seem to get it right. Needs to be done, though. Watch this space.

Right now, watch the space below.

For TODAY, we are HAPPY and PROUD. For lo, two years ago today I was dozing in front of the latest episode of Lost - not something that I generally did, but entirely excusable considering that I had given birth about eight hours prior. That's right, folks; today is Action Hero's second birthday. He is now Two, with no sign of Terrible yet. To celebrate, the zoo in this here neck of the woods held Family Free Day!

Well, that's not exactly right. Proud as I am, I am also aware that the free-admission day was not actually in honor of my younger son's birthday. Several times each winter, and generally once in early spring, some corporate sponsor holds Family Free Day at the zoo, whereupon lots of people go and spend money on everything but zoo admission (generally $8 to $12). I thought they knocked it out of the park last year when Free Day fell on the Sunday before Boy Wonder's birthday, but we took having it fall on Action Hero's actual birthday as a sign that we were meant to take the kids to the zoo. Any weather-oriented deities also outdid themselves, as temparatures reached a sunny 60+ degrees, with a light breeze.

And it was a fine day for all concerned. We arrived early, before Free Day was in full force and everyone in this county plus the four neighboring ones got there. Upon entry, we were greeted by an array of "Everything $4.00" bins, filled to the brim with stuffed animals and other assorted zoo souveniers. The gift shop crew must have been totally patting themselves on the back for having that idea, but we liked it too. Soon, Boy Wonder and Action Hero each had his very own stuffed tiger (well, Action Hero had a "kiger" for a while, but I think he got the "t" sound at some point), as well as a shiny stuffed crab, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A TAIL, in case anyone was wondering, and a shiny stuffed lobster, which does. I think the crab and lobster are pretty neat, actually, but the kigers carried the day, each one riding in the lap of its proud owner. (And now, each one currently clutched in the arms of its sleeping owner.)

Souveniers out of the way, we then went about the usual zoo business of animal-gazing, and had a nice time. Peacocks, which Action Hero displayed a great interest in, abounded, and he said, "Doggie! Woof woof!" to a charming little red panda creature. He was also delighted by various monkeys, and was mesmerized by a black bear that had climbed onto its wooden play structure. ("Bear aclimbin?" Yes. "Bear ajumping?" No, probably not.) Boy Wonder seemed to greatly enjoy the elephants and hippos, and spent quite a while watching the African fish in the maquarium (sic), but overall I think his favorite parts of the day were 1) eating popcorn and 2) riding the zoo train, which was the last thing we did before deciding that we were all pretty tired and cranky.

So naturally, we went to a restaurant for a late lunch, whereupon the boys ate like stevedores (whoo for fresh air!) and Action Hero was presented with a complimentary dish of ayecreen. Excuse me, ice cream. There was also singing, but quietly and just at our table; a crew of singing waiters would have freaked him out. Then we went home and keeled over from exhaustion. (Not really. We watched a lot of Scooby-Doo DVDs, and bedtime came early tonight.)

So, hooray for Action Hero, my small and smiley two-year-old! May he have scores more happy birthdays (though they may not all involve stuffed kigers).