Peg

I love that Elliot is curious about and fascinated by nature. I have so many fond memories of learning about plants and animals from my dad. He was an Eagle scout and he knew a lot. I don't know as much as he did, but I love to learn especially along side Elliot. Our most recent lesson is currently living in our breakfast room.

This weekend we caught a praying mantis. Elliot named it Peg-Leg-a-Mantis. We spent a lot of time googling what Peg would like to eat, what kind of habitat he (Elliot assures me Peg is a boy) would like to live in, etc. We created a nice little home for Peg and have been catching crickets for him to eat. In two days he has eaten three crickets. Elliot is fascinated by every move Peg makes.

Behind the Scenes at the Zoo

I don't think I have shared that I have a new job. I have been the grants manager for one of the Marriott family's Foundations since November. Last week the kids learned that Mommy has the coolest job. The National Zoo is one of our grantees and they gave our staff and families a behind the scenes tour as part of a site visit. We got to: see the inside of the Elephant house and the new house which is almost done (I got to touch an elephant) and the kids saw the elephants take a bath; feed and touch giant turtles; watch an octopus feeding and touch some other ocean critters; and have a private viewing of the zoo's new baby cheetahs. Last but not least the grown-ups got to go inside the lion den and meet the lion trainers

Our hosts at the Zoo were great and even had gift bags filled with zoo goodies for the kids at the end of the tour.

checking out the elephants' toys

watching the elephants take a bath

Mommy meets an elephant 

the giant turtles - Bea kept calling them dinosaurs. 

she was a little afraid

Elliot wasn't afraid and was first in line to feed them

Bea clinging to Mommy

BIG cats!

Bea found some very refreshing misters to play in

Happy wet girl 

Baby Cheetah cubs - cute and fast!

Camp Mimsey and Gramps

This is the second summer that Elliot went to Williamsburg by himself for a week to visit Mimsey and Gramps. Elliot went down with Daddy the second to last weekend in July and I picked him up the following Sunday. Mimsey and Gramps had all kinds of activities planned for our little man and wore him out every day.

Elliot's Camp Itinerary

July 21 - Golf Cart Ride, lunch at the club with Gramps, bike ride with Mimsey
July 22- Ice Age 3 Movie, fed the fish, helped Gramps pick mushrooms, bike ride with Mimsey
July 23 - Trip to the Virginia Living museum to see animatronic dinosaurs, trip to Goodwill where he bought a transformer, board games with Mimsey
July 24 - Long hike with Gramps to look for treasure, swimming, story hour at the library, helped wash cars, lunch at McDonalds
July 25 - Trip to transportation museum, lunch at James River Mill Landing
July 26 - baked cookies with Mimsey, went to playground, watched the Polar Express in Mimsey's media room (it was VERY hot outside), swimming, eagle watching with Gramps
July 27 - Swimming, Mussels at the club, Chipmunks movie at the club with Kay and her grandson Logan at the club.
July 28, Swimming then trip home with Mommy

Mom-Mom Turns 92

In June (yes, I am bit behind with the blogging) my fraternal grandmother, Mom-Mom turned 92. We joined my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Hank, and my cousin David and his family for a little celebration at the nursing home. Mom-Mom doesn't know who I am anymore, let alone who my kids are, but she seems to enjoy being surrounded by her great grandchildren. The kids gave her hugs and drew her pictures, Elliot drew her a treasure map, and had a great time playing with their second cousins.