I took Amy and Evan to Chester Zoo today. On paper it had all the ingredients for a disaster: two kids outnumbering one already pretty incompetent adult, a disturbed nights sleep for everyone the night before, a lack of funds for toys and ice creams, and, to top it off, a forecast for heavy showers (which for once, unfortunately, was accurate).
But despite the odds we had an absolutely fantastic time.
I really don’t say it enough, but my children are wonderful company. We spent the whole day talking, giggling, and enjoying being together. It really doesn’t get much better than that. A lot of parents dread the school holidays, but I’m enjoying every second of it. The team is back together and I’m loving it.
Saying that, we are only two weeks into the holidays. I should really keep my mouth shut about how great it is until Amy goes back at the beginning of September just in case I jinx things.
We haven’t been to the zoo in a while. About 18 months in fact. Last time we went I took this picture in the monkey house and it quickly became one of my favorites:
Today I found myself standing in the same place that shot was taken and I thought it would be really cool to replicate it for posterity in order to show the passage of time.
However Evan isn’t quite as pliable as he was back then. This is about as close as I could get:
Hardly symmetrical I’m sure you’ll agree.
Related posts:
Look at that little lion roar.
We went to Twycross the final week of term, it was awesome, as have these holidays been thus far, bar terrible back pain of course, but at least that has made your holidays better.
.-= SingleParentDad´s last blog ..Pictures Tell It Much Better =-.
@SingleParentDad, I think you’ll find that’s no lion, it’s a motor car brumming along.
Call yourself a father?
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
Ahhhh, those are lovely pics. It amazes me how much they mature in a year. Amy look so young there. Not that she looks forty or anything now, but just you know, older.
I can’t wait to get out of blumming isolation and do stuff with my two again. We’ve done fun stuff indoors but you can only do so much. I’ve just booked tickets for The Big Chill with Nic and her little boy and some of her friends. I can’t wait. I love the summer too. :D
.-= Jo Beaufoix´s last blog ..Two is good =-.
@Jo Beaufoix, Kerry and I were talking about going to a festival with the kids. Not until Evan’s a little older though. i’d like him to be at least able to recite our mobile numbers.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
the agression seems gone.
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Some movies I saw of late =-.
@Arjan, not gone. Only hiding
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
Although I’ve only ever seen pictures of any of you online, I have to say, I was struck by how much Evan resembled you in the first picture. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to your snarling and snapping.
Also, I second Jo’s observation about how much older they both look.
And I’m glad to hear that you really enjoy spending time with your kids. It reminds me of that line in Lost in Translation where Bill Murray tells ScoJo that it’s awesome as a parent to realize that your kids have become really delightful little people. Or something.
.-= Erin´s last blog ..The dresser’s gold trim made the whole thing even classier =-.
@Erin, I’ve never seen Lost in Translation. I know i should, but i have Babylon 5 episodes to watch
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
Oh for God’s sake. I just went and read the post you linked to, and it’s taking all my willpower not to collapse into a blathering heap on the ground. At work.
.-= Erin´s last blog ..The dresser’s gold trim made the whole thing even classier =-.
@Erin, you think that’s bad – you should have seen me writing it!
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
God those are lovely pics.
I agree with you very much about the loving being together thing – that was one of the reasons I wanted to set up http://www.havealovelytime.com because I was sick of family travel sections telling me the information I needed was to keep my kids busy while I did something else!
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Win a family weekend away, with a day at Alton Towers thrown in =-.
@Linda, yes. What with school and the like i don’t get to spend enough time with my children as it is without packing them off to a play camp thing
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
There’s something about taking kids to the Zoo. I know we always have so much fun when we take my g/f’s little one to see the animals.
.-= Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Arizona Republic Interview =-.
@Kevin Spencer, I didn’t know your g/f had a kid. do they live with you?
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
@Dan, yep we all live together. Me, my g/f, my g/f’s six year old daughter, and our two dogs.
.-= Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Call The Cops =-.
The monkey’s were probably just as entertained.
.-= SeattleDad´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: "Daddy, I Do Big Eyes" =-.
@SeattleDad, very true. My bottom was probably redder than theirs too.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Welcoming Team Gnu =-.
I remember Chester Zoo from (ulp) 30 years ago. As our last school trip together, my fifth year class all decided to go to the zoo. And it was actually a pretty good day, I think. How on earth do you manage to maintain all this harmony?
.-= dadwhowrites´s last blog .. =-.
Oh well, second shot is much better that the 1st one, though they like similar ;)
.-= lelik´s last blog ..Pregnancy Weeks 13-16, Month #4 (Pregnancy Health Guru) =-.