Zoo Boo 2013

I wanted to do the last little item on my fall agenda by taking G to Zoo Boo.  Our zoo has some cute little activities, and the kiddos dress in costumes.  Despite the fact that the a** clowns at Chasing Fireflies are taking close to 2 weeks to deliver Genevieve's peacock costume, I was determined to attend.  

I had to break the news to G that her bird costume had not arrived.

She listened intently.

She had a look of utter disappointment when I told her she would have to wear Caroline's old Colts cheerleading outfit.

I refuse to accept anyone not agreeing wholeheartedly that this child looks exactly like me.  I know that it is mostly the mouth breathing, but still.

I pumped her up about her cheerleading skills.

The trees at the zoo were so pretty.  So were the metered parking spaces near the animals.

Look, G.

The zoo has these exotic ducks of the Mallard variety.

Look closely now.  Those geese are imported all of the way from Canada!

We were also able to see a variety of canines during our zoo trip.

Wow!  Mom and Dad, the zoo is so great.

The zoo even has margaritas!

So we continue to prove our status as total amateurs.  Everyone knows you go to Zoo Boo at like 2:00 on a Friday and not on the last day it is offered, which also happens to be on a beautiful afternoon.  It was Pumpkin Patch Hell Part II. Oh yes, we drove right past the line of cars that stretched into oblivion and cackled as we gazed at the jammed parking lot.  We didn't bat an eyelash as we drove down to the canal and told G that we were at the aviary at the zoo as I pointed out ducks and geese.  Then we enjoyed the snack stand,  better known as  our favorite margarita joint.  Having a clueless 13 month old who laughs and claps at everything makes total parental failures tolerable.  

A lot of Pictures of My Kid

I have been on fall break for the past 2 weeks.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I'm loving this balanced calendar business!  We have really been living it up, and I've done most of what I wanted to do over break.  I made a list to accomplish.

Task # 1 was to stuff my toddler into this hilarious Juicy tracksuit. It was a gift from a dear pal that keeps me laughing.

It really accentuates her booty.

I took Genevieve to the Children's Museum for the first time, which was also on our fall list.  She loved the water table.

She was also handy with the blocks.

She kept climbing in this little wind tunnel thing and sitting right by the entrances.  She was frustrating to several children who were trying to get in.  

She clanged on this table quite a few times.  We played pretty intensely for close to two hours.  I was all like, "it's time to go, baby."  

And she was all like, "noooooooooooooo!!!"

This picture is my new favorite.  

I calmed her by explaining that we would meet Uncle Robby at the Flying Cupcake (also on my list).

We drove all the way down to Trafalgar last Sunday to go to this marvelous pumpkin patch, another list item.  As we are amateurs, we quickly discovered that everyone in Southern Indiana was at the same place.  I nearly had a panic attack.  There were roughly one kajillion adults and kids wearing Colts jerseys and schlepping pumpkins around.  We lasted approximately 20 minutes, which was the time it took to wind around in our car and get the hell out of there.  We then hit up the Trafalgar Dairy Queen and stopped at a small patch on the way back.  

All of that for a dumb picture of my kid with a pumpkin, which of course T had her straddle.  Not the pose I was looking for.

Nor was this.

The Juicy suit taught her to stick out her rear, I guess.  

We also parked it up.  G loves a swing.

I love patterned pants.  Too bad those velour paisleys don't come in my size.

I got bored one afternoon, so I created some Halloween costumes for my lady.  She wore her Mexican sombrero to be the leader of a mariachi band.

Then we switched gears to be Elton John.

I haven't laughed that hard in a long while.  

She stumbled around as I sang Tiny Dancer, which brings me to the next item on the list.  Teach G to walk.  As if I could actually teach her.  Anyway, she's got it now.  She's making hot laps around the house as of two days ago.  She looks like a drunk sailor, but she's successful.

I also vowed to take out the jogging stroller.  I took a selfie prior to departing.

I bundled her up and off we went.

30 minutes later I was nearly dead.  Pushing 24 lbs and not swinging my arms when I run affects me a tad.

A tad= more than I can describe.

I also managed to get a massage, attend a yoga class (which has been seriously absent from my life), and go see a movie. 

I have also taken a daily nap with G and I read a book!  "The Keeper of Lost Causes" is amazing.  I could not put it down.  I read it in 2 days.  If you like "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo" series, you can't miss this book.  And that concludes my Betsy book club recommendation!  We hope to attend Zoo Boo this weekend, as that rounds out my list.  

St. Mary's Alpacas and Horses

On Monday YaYa drove us out to St. Mary's of the Woods College to have our own little petting zoo session.  The girls were so friendly and allowed us to come into the stables and also to attempt to pet the alpacas.  I was in heaven.

I love alpacas, as I have mentioned before.

G was delighted.

P.S.

She's wearing an alpaca sweater.

The horses were beautiful and quite agreeable.  One didn't even seem to mind when my toddler stuck her finger in his eye.

My Brunhilda baby is so gentle.  We're working on gentle touches.  

The horse was most interested in possibly eating G's shoes for lunch.

I did pretty well, considering horses do scare me.

I'm better on the ground around them.

As long as I'm not standing behind one, of course.

Perhaps G will get interested in dressage, where she can wear a fancy hat and white pants and look like those little statues that people put in their yards.  

It seems fancy, so I'm intrigued.

Keeneland and Kentucky Fun

I'm back.  I blame my long break on a dysfunctional computer cord.  I couldn't get my computer to charge, therefore I could not download any pictures.  I am home visiting my parents for the night, and it is truly like entering an Apple store.  My dad had plenty of cords so that I could get my little puter up and cooking again.

On Friday Robeghan joined us on a road trip to Lexington.

We had some cocktails on the patio with Pat and Eddie after G went to sleep.

Trinity and Genevieve had fun on Saturday morning.  

Pat helped her practice her walking.  She is incredibly close to strutting on her own.  

We then got all dudded up to go to the racetrack and see the ponies in action.

My drink of choice was Mandy's Mare, a lovely concoction of orangy goodness made with Absolute Mandarin.  

The sun was shining and the horses were fast.

The dresses and boots were out in full force.  I laughed at how I had worried for a brief second that my dress was a tad short.  I cannot put into words the attire that I saw.  College girls barely cover up their lady parts these days.  

It was obscene.

And I'm old.

Eddie was the big winner with a $50 win on one race.

On Sunday morning we did what most people do.  We skipped mass and took our baby to a distillery to taste bourbon.

T and I have now been to Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, George Dickel, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey.  We also have toured Bacardi in Puerto Rico and Coors in Colorado.  We added Buffalo Trace to our list this past weekend.  We likey the booze.

We finked out on the tour and created our own tour.  Li'l Lady wasn't interested in hearing how the mash distills with an aroma as rugged as the Kentucky hills.  Those tour videos are so melodramatic.

Instead, we posed her with mums and bourbon barrels.

You only get to taste after the tour.  Unless you have a friendly mama (me) and a cute baby (Genevieve).  The precious Buffalo Tracer gave us a private tasting.  

Robby, T and Meghan listened with great intensity.

Bourbon!

As my friend Marinda aka Melanie Carmichael from Sweet Home Alabama said, "You have a baby.  In a bar."  

I did.  And she loved it.  Especially after we rubbed a little bourbon on her gums to help with her teething.

I kid.