The Bronx Zoo

Oh my goodness today was hot! Just a preview of the summer to come I guess. I don't mind the temperature, but the humidity is what gets to me. I think I'll lose 10 pounds this summer just from the heat alone. I guess that's not such a bad thing...

We visited the Bronx Zoo today and I was impressed. It is such a beautiful zoo, and quite large. We were the first ones at the gates waiting for opening time, and had the zoo to ourselves for about 5 minutes before the school groups showed up.

Here is Ava, the lover of maps (especially zoo maps) and wanting to lead us all around. Wonder where she got that from?

One of our first stops was the famous bug carousel, which is a piece of art in itself. There were more bugs than I could name, and the kids couldn't wait to pick their bug of choice and go for a ride.





Yes, this is a dung beetle, and yes, we chose to ride a different bug. I really didn't want to go there and explain a dung beetle to a 2 year old....he might get ideas.



OK, now these next couple images just get me. Ava LOVES to hold Tyson's hand and is constantly asking him if he wants to hold hands. He usually agrees, and it makes her day. Just look at how she is looking at him! She is so proud to be a big sister. I love it.




Our last stop of the day was the giraffe house to visit the baby giraffe. Why is a 150 pound baby so darn cute??!!

The Bronx Zoo is definitely going to see us again. I think it will take five trips just to see everything!

Dr. Tyson

Today was Tyson's 2-year checkup. We usually take the Fisher Price doctor kit as a way to get amped up for the doctor to come in! Tyson listened to his heart and even gave himself a couple shots.

The appointment went well, despite a shot and some blood work. He barely cried, and was nice enough to say thank you to the nurses that "tickled" him with those needles.

The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play.

As Tyson brought me this book to read, I realized this is just how we felt today!! After everyone being sick the last few days, we've felt a little house-bound. Fortunately I have my own Thing 1 (Ava) and Thing 2 (Tyson) to keep me entertained.

So after bundling the kids up to go out in the fresh snow, I locked them in in van with the engine on. Oh my. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has ever done this. I don't know why the doors locked on me when I got out, but they did. I was going for the ice scraper in the trunk and then quickly realized I was locked out. Oops. All I could say was "don't panic, don't panic". I knocked on the window to see if Ava could get out of her buckle. Of course not.

Ok, the extra key was in the house. My house keys are in the ignition of the van. OK, don't panic. It's only 30 degrees outside. I think I had the heat on inside. The kids are of course oblivious and are waving to me from the inside while eating their fruity snacks. So I knock on Dana's door, and luckily she and her co-worker Carol were working from home. Carol came outside with me and then I had a thought.....I think Wade didn't lock the front door when he left for work. If I could get in the front porch door, I could get into the house to get my spare van key. Success!!!!!!

So off to Michael's for some new coloring books. We walked away with a few $1 clearance coloring books, the whopping 72 box of coloring pencils and a painting book. The kids were super excited, althought Tyson quickly lost interest after one painting, and turned to an episode of Little Einsteins. You can see him below....."Raise your arms, as high as you can...and yell 'blastoff'!"

It felt so good to get out today....

Sick Days...

So we're still around, but under the weather. The last few days, I've cleaned puke off of more things than I care to remember!!! I'll spare you the details.

See you when we're up and running again...

Sickness, Shopping, and A Whole Lotta Nothing

So Tyson was sick most of the night, I did a MAJOR grocery run today, and we did a whole lot of nothing.

Tyson is feeling better after throwing up 1/2 the night, we had a delicious minestrone soup for dinner, and we're still doing a whole lot of nothing.

It has been SO great having Kris here. The kids have had such a good time with their Uncle Kris again. Here they are Skype-ing their cousins (Kris's nephews and neice) in South Dakota.

Have a good night everyone. I'm off to bed after I get my Hollywood fix at the Golden Globes.

Evil Chocolate Cake

I don't think I've ever been a believer in food being evil, but I honestly think this chocolate cake is evil. It made me eat a piece at 10am this morning, and then some more after lunch. So mean.

The cake came to me via my neighbors, and it came to them via a guest at their house-warming party on Saturday night. I don't know who brought it to them, but I must say I'm glad I don't live in Brooklyn because I would be frequenting the Betty Bakery more often than I should.

For those of you in Brooklyn, good luck resisting. May you have better willpower than me.





It's been a pretty quiet morning at the Haufschild house (other than sneaking bites of the evil cake when the kids aren't looking). I've talked to a potential preschool for Ava for the fall, and I finally transferred my Curves membership to NY. I'm going to need it after today's lack of willpower...

We also stopped by a kid's gym and a kid's enrichment place. One thing is for sure here in NY...there is no lack of activities and classes to enroll your child in. The only problem is that you have to pay for it. $300 for a gym class!!!!!

I'm reminded of something a good friend in Denver told me. Things (you fill in the blank) are good, but are they always the best? God, help me muddle through and pick what is best for my kids and family. Ephesians 5:15 "Be careful, then, in how you live --- not as unwise but as wise."