A Staycation Trip to the Zoo

Since Disney and other grand vacations are out of our price range we have to keep our fun local and not too expensive. Last week I mentioned all the fishing we've been doing but we wanted to also plan a fun day trip for the kids. A few years back  Travis' mom, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin and I headed to the Niabi Zoo with my two kids. I was big and pregnant with JF and it was one of the hottest days of summer but it was so. much. fun. When the opportunity came for my family to receive some free tickets to return this summer I jumped at the chance because I knew we would enjoy the day. While the Niabi Zoo gave us the tickets for zoo entry, my mother-in-law and I purchased tickets for all other rides and the stroller rental, and I am 100% telling you the truth: it was a great day.

We started the day by feeding the kids a big breakfast and then having them pack up snack bags to eat on the way home. We knew that with our food allergies we would buy drinks at the zoo but not food, but the extra little fun of coloring a brown paper bag was exciting to them. (Which sorta boggles my mind, but it's a win for me so I'm taking it!)

The Niabi Zoo isn't a huge zoo but there was plenty to do and see. Like the giant mist-maker that delighted my kids.

And the train that circles the park. It's a great way to get your bearings and cool off a bit. JF and JP looooove trains so we had to stop and wave every time it went by. The boys also delighted in crossing the tracks occasionally and all the kids loved the ride.

But, yeah, there was a lot of this throughout the day:

Various Junior Zookeepers and other employees were stationed around the park to answer questions and talk about the animals. Everyone was super friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. And when we were on our own L was the official keeper of the map. 

A family favorite was the pond - filled with ducks, geese, giant goldfish, and a couple of swans.

The pony rides were another hit. JP literally had to be pulled off his pony - he did not want it to end. 

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We also loved the larakeets. Well, JF freaked out when one landed on his shoulder from behind and Resa was a little leery. But L loved feeding them nectar and my mother-in-law was like a magnet and loved every minute of it.

The carousel was how we ended the day and then it was back to the van for our hour drive home. The kids ate their snack bags, chatted about the day, and eventually a couple even fell asleep. Later, when I asked the kids what they liked best their answers were:
L - feeding the birds
JF - the train!!!!
Resa - the thing that went around and around and up and down (the carousel)
Jofis - the horsey ride!

My favorite part, though, was that that the grounds were lovely. It was clean, well cared for, and beautifully landscaped. I was really, really impressed with it - it was like walking through a garden.

The zoo has actually grown some since the last time I was there six years ago, and I was pleasantly surprised by the improvements. If you live within a couple hours of the Quad Cities I encourage you to take a little day trip to visit. You can learn more about the Niabi Zoo at their website, on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  

A Summer Schedule and What We've Been Up To

I don't know about your kid, but mine can look at a clock and tell me exactly what they would be doing at school at that exact time. They can tell me what they do right before that time and what they will do right after that time. Within the schedule there are plenty of opportunities for surprises and choices and flexibility but there is still the structure that can guide the day. And I don't know about your kid, but mine love that. 

Now I don't know about in your house, but in mine if I don't have anything to do I end up doing nothing. Kids get fed popcorn for lunch... at 1:30. Dishes never get done. Copious amounts of fruit snacks are eaten. And around 3pm I realize we've been watching hours of horrible Ninjago episodies in our stinky pj's and I have no idea what's for dinner. 

For some people that would be a dream day but usually those days, especially too many of them, leave me falling behind and stressing out. I didn't want to spend my summer like that and I also knew that my kids, especially two of them, would need to keep up with handwriting, reading, and basic math concepts or they would struggle in the Fall. Enter: the Daily Schedule. It hangs on our fridge and guides our days.

I knew writing out the schedule would mean the kids and I would both have something to reference and keep us all on track. What I didn't know is the amount of authority it would carry in our home. You want to watch TV? Sorry, it's not TV time. You can go outside and play. And they go outside and play! BOOM! Just like that!

The keys to making this work in our home has been the following rules:
- The kitchen is closed at 8:30.
- Fresh fruit or veggies are the only snacks allowed between scheduled meals / snack time.
- iPad and computer games can only be played during TV time or Free time and only for a limited amount of time (10 minutes).
- Shoes must be left by the front door.
- Play outside first and for as long as possible. 

We don't do school every day and we've missed some reading but my kids are still reading more and getting more books read to them this summer than they have had in a very long time. All six kids are here all day long and still my house is relatively tidy and they are brushing their teeth twice a day. All because a piece of paper on the fridge tells them to! It's amazing!

Anyways, obviously I am a little in love with my schedule, but now I'll share some pictures of what else we've been doing this summer. We've been trying to do fun things for a low cost - like most of America, methinks - and so far, so good.

We introduced the kids to The Sandlot. There was a lot more language than we remembered and once JF said, "Oh shit!" and it wasn't because of me I knew I needed to remove it from the Netflix options. But we ate nachos, popcorn, and hotdogs (baseball food) for dinner and had s'mores at just the right time in the movie. ;) The kids loved it. 

Travis and I attended a Diocesan Institute day that was totally free! My mother-in-law babysat the five older kids and Travis and I had breakfast, lunch, and dinner in between a beautiful holy hour, lessons on Lectio Divina, Mass, and really great presentations by Dan Burke and Peter Howard. Baby Tee got some good tummy time in, too.

Travis introduced the kids to fishing. L ended up spending some of her birthday money on buying herself a pole and the kids like to practice casting in the backyard.

Most of our fishing has been done at a local lake. L and B can bait their hooks, cast, set the hook, reel in, and take the fish off the hook all by themselves. I'm pretty impressed since about all I can do is cast and reel.

I have had on and off success with my daily Bible reading and prayer time. My Scripture memorizing has pretty much fallen off the wayside, which is both bad and good. Doing one a week was too much - I wasn't retaining - and I've noticed that letting the passages come to me has been more impactful.

In the last few weeks JF has gone to the ER twice because of allergic reactions to food and when I was overcome with fear I thought back to my memory verse from a few weeks back: Do not be afraid; just have faith. Mark 6:36

Travis started the summer with sciatica pain so severe he was on all kinds of pain meds, sleeping most of the day, laying on the floor, crawling from room to room. Friends and neighbors helped us through that time, mowing the yard and bringing a couple meals and it was so appreciated. Now he is better and working on a couple of projects for family members. We're doing the summer reading program at the library, along with Lego Club, swim lessons, grilling out, eating popcicles, and tending our small garden. So far, ladies and gentlemen, so good.