What a day!

We planned a wonderful day at the zoo a week before time to go. At that time, there weren't forecasts of severe thunderstorms. However, by the middle of the week, there were! We decided to go to the zoo anyway, and just play it by ear, since we had already told the kids where/what we were going to do.

We made it to Columbia around 11:30 am and it was pouring rain. Too heavy to even try to make it to the first available indoor exhibit at the zoo. So, we headed on over to home. Well, they say it is just like home. Cracker Barrel is one of the kids' favorite places to eat. Alora got to pick and I figured that that would be the winner. We got there right at the lunch time rush, so we had a bit of a wait. It was really nice to just sit out on the porch and rock in the chairs, since the air was nice and cool. We had a wonderful lunch, added a little TY beanie babies pink dog named Fanciful to our family (or more appropriately, Alora's family of animals and dolls) and headed back to the zoo in the drizzling rain. We had a pretty good time. We spent most of our time in the indoor exhibits, since it was pretty much raining non-stop. The kids had a great time looking at the gorillas, who were laying and looking longingly out the windows and doors at the rainy afternoon. I think they were thinking along the same lines that I was, that few hours of some sun and no rain would be nice, but they had to wait until the next day along with me.

I love taking Aralyn to see the penguins! She will jump (well bounce up and down) and laugh and scream and giggle and wave her arms as they swim by and it is so CUTE! Alora and Aidan love to jump on the rocks that are there in the exhibit area, and look in the cave that has one of those bubble windows like on a playground, only this one looks down under the water where the penguins swim. I also took the girls to see the lorikeets. Alora was very excited, but didn't want them on her, once they landed to drink from her cup of nectar. I was able to take the cup from her and move the birds to my own hand (and head) and Aralyn was fascinated! She wouldn't reach out to touch them, but she couldn't take her eyes off of them. She did get a little upset when one landed on her head...I guess her hair isn't thick enough to make it all that comfortable for there to be birds' claws on her head.

After the zoo we headed over to the hotel that my parents were staying at and got ready to go swimming. They kids had such a good time. Aidan loves to try out new things in the water and the girls are little fish! Alora would jump off the sides to any one who would catch her and she had the best time. Aralyn loved swimming too and would even jump in like her sister. She was even learning to close her eyes before she took the plunge! She was getting so frustrated because we wouldn't just let go of her in the water. She would push away from us and try to "get down".

We ate at the best restaurant that I have been to in a while (well, family friendly, at any rate, cause I just recently went to the Melting Pot with a girlfriend of mine and the food, especially the dessert does top just about anything!) Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill was just the best. My father picked it, cause he was in the mood for some barbeque. On a Saturday night, there was no wait for our party of 7. We were seated promptly and the service was great! I was so pleased. The atmosphere was great! There are televisions scattered around and all on different channels. Most of them were sports or cartoons. They have little boxes that they can bring to your table with a speaker on them so that you can tune it to the number television that you prefer and listen to the channel that you are watching. The kids got to listen and watch some Boomerang cartoons! The food was great, very appealing, very good, and very reasonable prices. None of us got their ribs, which were supposed to be their specialty, so we will have to go back to see how they are. Our waiter was great, we even got a picture of him and Aidan.

We did the birthday cake there; Our waiter came and sang with us and then we all had cake! Aralyn even stole my fork and ate my piece of cake while I was helping to serve some other pieces! She loved it!

The kids had a long day, but a fun one! It was great to spend some birthday time with my parents and do something all together.