Zoo Day

Today I took Jude to the Oklahoma City Zoo. On Wednesdays in August, they offer original admissions pricing (75 cents!) as well as discounted pricing for concessions. I hadn't been to the zoo in years, and it was fun to rediscover a place of good memories for me as a child. This plaque (above) was hidden in the bushes by the pachyderm house; apparently the OKC Zoo was the first and oldest zoo in the southwestern US.
Within the past 15 years or so, the Zoo has really been upgraded with the addition of the Cat Forest and the Great EscApe. I had not yet seen the newly-added Oklahoma Trail, which is a very long and winding exhibit that features the different indigenous animals of Oklahoma. It's extremely well-done. I particularly enjoyed the "Creatures of the Night" exhibit inside the red barn. There were all kinds of bats and owls and things. So neat!


Here's one of the beautiful Asian-inspired displays of the Cat Forest. (above) Jude was really excited about seeing the new Snow Leopard cubs (below).

I thought that the swan paddleboats were so beautiful! There are even a couple of black swan paddleboats. If it had only been a wee bit cooler, I think it would've been fun. Oh well, the little man sacked out and probably wouldn't have been that into it anyway. Another time!

Peacocks run wild throughout the zoo.

The Mold-A-Ramas are one of my favorite things in the OKC Zoo. This one is near the Aquaticus exhibit. For $2, you put your  money in and watch it mold your own individual plastic statuette. It's neat -- the hot plastic runs through the little tubes, and then it drops down into the holding bin where it cools off. I have a giraffe and a lion from a past trip; they're now in Jude's room. They're just so vintage and fun. I'm glad that the Zoo has kept these around. In a way, it's kind of sad to see some of the neat old things from my childhood are gone, like the lion-with-open-jaws water fountains. As a matter of fact, one of my parents' neighbors has one of them (presumably rescued from the zoo?) in their backyard!
Finally, Jude and I finished out the day by having lunch w/ my mom at Chick-Fil-A (below) and shopping at Target, where I scored this amazing mirror (above).

Fantastic Fourth

Patriotic Cousins! Note Jude clutching the flag.

I hope this weekend found everybody enjoying friends, family, freedom, and lots of fireworks. Add food to that, too, and that's a pretty potent combination. Simon and I both commented to each other that we thought this was quite possibly the best Fourth of July ever. It was particularly nice that it fell on a Friday so we could enjoy a three-day weekend. Three cheers for that!

Our long weekend began Thursday night with a campout of sorts. For whatever reason, Jude decided to be particularly fussy and woke up numerous times Thursday night. At some point after midnight, I had nearly decided it must be the inevitable first tooth, since he was so so so sad, and wouldn't let me feel around in his mouth. This teething business is fishy - every time he's uncharacteristically unhappy or a fuss-face, we attribute it to teeth. And as of yet, there are zero teeth. So, Jude and I camped out in the spare bedroom where we got very little sleep. However, he was Mr. Perky at 8 a.m., which bode well for us since we were going to meet my sister and nephews at 9 a.m. for their local neighborhood parade.

The parade was a huge success and so much fun. The neighborhood puts it on every year because families wanted something to go do on the 4th of July: the kids decorate their bikes, there's a parade of cool old cars, and there's one dude who brings out his gigantic snake (think the snake that Britney Spears shimmied around with) that all the kids pat as it slithers around in the grass. Jude was thrilled with all of it. He just kicked his feet and squealed. 

The snake! I love the colors of his skin - the yellow and gray is so chic right now! :)

Kennedy for President: Best for Oklahoma

Rachel and Jude in front of the firetruck.

Great vintage cars. Wouldn't it be fun to buzz around town in one of these?

Really, everything is just so much more fun with kids. Maybe it's just that I really liked being a kid and still like doing kid things, so now it's just a great excuse to be a participant again! My nephews also have a new trampoline, so we enjoyed jumping on the trampoline. Simon can do four flips in a row. I really need to get a picture of that, because it is something to see -- all six feet four inches of him flipping in the air!

The afternoon was spent lounging at my parents' house, who are out of town on an Alaskan cruise. We slathered on the sunscreen and baked all. day. long. There is no better way to spend a summer day than in the pool.  We also ate more junk than I care to admit. So much for my resolution of taking good care of myself by eating good things and exercising. :-\

Ugh, speaking of the pool, Jude thoroughly christened it. I was holding him, he was gleefully frolicking, and all of a sudden, there was, um, debris floating in the pool, despite his swim diaper. We all squealed, promptly removed Jude from the pool, and stripped him down in the grass, where we then hosed him down(!) to get all the poo(!) off of him. Sounds harsh, but he thought it was great fun and the water wasn't too cold. 

Maui Babe Suntan lotion and Biotherm sunscreen. 

We unearthed the Maui Babe browning lotion from somewhere in our bathroom. Despite the fact that we bought it on our honeymoon in Maui nearly three years ago, we think it's still good! Either way, we are all sunburn-free, and slightly glowing from our tans. 

We enjoyed dinner at Simon's parents' house, and then packed up in the car to go look at fireworks. Fireworks are always my favorite part (once again, it must be my inner child or something). Is there anything better than listening to the oohs and aahs of the little kids as they stare up into the sky? Jude was sound asleep, but quickly woke up, and was slack-jawed as he stared at the firecrackers bursting. I'm kicking myself that I let the battery get down on the camera, because I think I could've gotten some really great night shots. It was just all so magical, all of us there, and I do mean all of us, which is great. I think the last time I saw fireworks with my entire family was when I was 7 or 8, in Colorado Springs. It just felt like we really celebrated this year. It was just so great, everyone sitting out on a blanket, and cheering. It would have only been made complete by the presence of my parents, but I'm glad that they're enjoying a great vacation.

Saturday, Simon worked really hard to get all of the stuff that had been sitting in the garage appropriated to its final resting spot. I'm glad he felt the urge to do this as I have been seriously unmotivated to even touch anything in the garage. 

We enjoyed a yummy lunch at the Iguana Cafe, a cool new spot in downtown OKC. Once again, we consumed a ridiculous amount of food, and then hurried out to Mom and Dad's for more sunning and swimming. Check out that 7-layer dip that came out in an Oklahoma-shaped platter. Delicioso!

Jude and Simon, eating their hands, being silly.

Lotsa Ladies

Late last week, I received an email from one of the girls in our lifegroup at church about a special event at the Myriad Botanical Gardens/Crystal Bridge in downtown Oklahoma City. Every year, they host Bug Out, described on their website here:

Help the Crystal Bridge take a bite out of its pesky pest population with this annual ladybug release, part of our Integrated Pest Management Program. Thousands of these polka-dotted hungry helpers will chow down on pests that are bugging our plants. Great for the entire family and an excellent educational opportunity! Crafts, games and other bug-related activities are part of the fun. The release kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and ladybugs are only available while they last. Regular admission rates apply.

How fun does that sound? And who doesn't love ladybugs? So at 9:30 this morning, Jude and I, along with some of our lifegroup friends, and a whole bunch of other kids and their keepers, converged on the Crystal Bridge. Even Jude got some ladybugs to pass out. 

Jude rode in the Baby Bjorn, and was totally delighted. He was kicking his feet and waving his arms. Lovin' it. He was all about watching all the other kids who were running around like nuts. And when we went to look at the snakes and various frogs, was he looking at them? No - he was checking out the other kids. 

Here's our cup of ladybugs. Unfortunately, some had already, um, well, died. One of them found a home on Jude. He thought it was pretty neat when they were crawling all over my hand as I tried to get them out of that tiny cup. And I kid you not, there were ladybugs crawling up my jeans. I've felt creepy crawly all day long.

Apparently a bunch of kids all converged on this one leaf with their ladybugs. One girl in particular was boo-hooing because she had to let her ladybugs go. Sad.

We were there for probably an hour, and then it was time to go. It is soooo humid and sticky in there. I guess it has to be for all those beautiful plants to thrive year-round. By the time we left, I was red-faced and thoroughly sweaty. Toting around a near-15 pound baby in the humidity left me needing a big iced tea and some A/C blasting in the car. Jude sacked out the minute I put him in his carseat.

An Artsy Family Outing

Every year, Simon and I look forward to the Arts Festival. It's not that the art is really all that great, but the weather is usually fantastic, and the food is always a highlight. Nine years ago, we were seniors in high school (1999!) and had just started hanging out together. I don't know how we decided to go to the Arts Festival, but it became our tradition, even when I came home from Pepperdine the next year. I think we've only missed it once in the past nine years. Last year, I was (barely) pregnant with Jude, but all I could think about was how fun it would be to bring him to this. Granted, we didn't stay long last year as I was nauseated, and the food was not sounding so hot. Anyway, it was with great anticipation that we headed downtown tonight. 

At first, Jude was sad because it was rush hour (and you know how he hates traffic) and he was hungry. So I drove with one hand behind me, giving him a bottle. So safe, right? My arm was numb by the time we met Simon and put Jude in the stroller. haha
There's always a great variety of food. Inevitably, we end up at the Gopuram Taste of India booth and chow down on yummy chicken tikka masala and naan. The wind was whipping like crazy  tonight, and I was just sure that I would end up with a lapful of masala. 
Finally we just wandered and hung out in the beautiful green park around the Crystal Bridge. It was the perfect lighting outside - the sun was starting to set, and it was just gorgeous. So of course I wanted to shoot photos of my two favorite subjects. :)

I love my boys.

Chilling in his stroller, checking out the scene.

Downtown OKC

Momma and Jude Bean (distracted)

Jude had never experienced grass until tonight. We regret to inform him that our grass is neither quite so lush nor quite so green. Sorry, darling.

We also enjoyed the annual Festival of the Arts dessert classic: Strawberries Newport. Jude made friends with some little girls and enjoyed listening to the live music. All in all, such a delightful night. We drove home with the sunroof open and came home to a happy Mazie.