Zoo days are here again

The weather has been unbelievable as of late. On Tuesday, with temperatures reaching near 60, Calvin and I spent our day at the Detroit Zoo. This is the best time of the year for the zoo—if you don't mind the occasional mating dance, the animals are the most active in the spring before the heat has set in but after the cold has passed, and the zoo is uncrowded yet warm enough to enjoy. I think this is the first time that Calvin and I have gone to the zoo as just the two of us, and I think it might become our favorite new weekday activity. At least until the schools get out, that is.

The otter was sleeping. I think I have about a dozen other pictures just like this.

The female tiger was busy. Jon and I remember the year she was born—the year we first joined the ranks of zoo membership, six years ago.

The peacock joined us for our picnic lunch, even though we didn't share.

And we took the time to stop in the butterfly house on our way out of the park. We don't usually hit any of the indoor attractions, but now that we have our own butterfly garden at home Calvin thought we might get some pointers from the zoo's butterfly garden, so we stopped. So beautiful.

Project 365, days 63-70

First baby animals at the library, then learning to make sap at the County Farm Park in Ann Arbor; We found a miniature house, watched and listened to the Sandhill Cranes return to their nesting ground, which is practically in our back yard, and sought out every deep puddle for new rain boots, all on our spring time travles; and the warm weather coaxed out the sand box and the sidewalk chalk. Ahhh, spring.

These boots were made for splashing

This morning we had one purpose in mind when we journeyed to the nearby resale shop, and that one purpose was splashing boots, or, as most of know them, rain boots. I was half expecting a trip like this one from last year, but knew it was virtually impossible—nothing could be quite that cool twice. True enough, it wasn't quite as cool as last year's trip, but we did find boots. The upside? They only had one pair in his size, and Calvin fell in love with them. The downside? They were new, not resale. I wavered momentarily—do I actually buy something brand new at full price when there are so many good resale clothing options out there that are kinder to both the pocketbook and the environment?—but the images floating through my head of a wildly grinning little boy splashing through gigantic puddles with brightly colored chameleon boots on his feet won out.

I was not disappointed.

I comfort myself with the knowledge that I haven't bought him brand new clothing (other than his daily wear shoes) in over two years. Not to mention that this afternoon's joy was worth every penny of the higher price tag (as fun as a carnival but cheaper actually), even if he was to never wear those boots again, which I think highly unlikely.

Signs of spring

I keep having to remind myself that really it isn't spring yet. Whenever I begin to get lulled by the beautiful sunshine and the fifty degree weather I have to remind myself of March 21st two years ago when we signed for this house in the middle of a snow storm and ended up stuck in Ann Arbor and staying with my parents. It was fun, but definitely a Michigan style spring. I am expecting at least one more of those episodes yet this year.

But still there are signs of spring all around us. At the library last Friday we were treated to a special "farm animals" story time, followed by a chance to touch and feed a variety of baby farm animals. What could possibly say spring more than bottle feeding a baby goat?

Maybe tiny peeping baby ducks?

How about maple syrup? On Saturday morning after swim class Jon took Calvin to a  special Parks and Rec presentation on maple syrup. Yummy. Calvin got a chance to crank the tap into the tree and also to taste some freshly made syrup.

Definitely signs of spring everywhere, even if we are in for at least one more snow.

Project 365, days 57-63

Towards the end of February it was still two-dog weather, mittens considered a necessity for sledding and snowman building, but tulips for the kitchen and sunshine through the whole first week of March make it feel like spring really is right around the corner. We know better, though, and aren't getting our hopes up. Also this past week, Calvin's first encounter with Mr. Rogers and the paper tree craft that resulted, puzzle capabilities that far exceeded my expectations, and that plastic thing, which is a dumbed down version of a rain stick.