Eddie's Birthday

Well, the little shrimp finally turned 3. Liam was none too happy to not be the only 3 year old anymore. Of course he didn't care once it came to cake. Can you see what kind of candle we had to use? We know how to class it up big time.



Today we went to Binder Park Zoo. Not specifically because it was Eddie's birthday, but more like because it's August and we are running out of time to do all the things we had planned on before school starts, so we'd better get started doing our Michigan tourism trips. We packed a lunch and ate in the picnic area before we went in to the zoo. It was cheaper for us to buy the family membership than to pay for each kid separately.



This is the swan that Steve was teasing. What a great example for the kids, right?



I know that tortoises are not man-eating, but it was kind of creeping me out with the kids running right up to it and petting it. The tortoise kept on grazing and slowly walking around as kids were touching it's shell or legs. Owen was trying to get it to follow him.

Overall the kids did OK. They will have to toughen up if they will survive Disney (no plans yet, just empty promises at this point). We only lost one kid (Liam) for a minute or two. We rented a double stroller that no one would stay in and it was cumbersome to manuever through crowds. Eddie never would have made it if he had to walk to whole time but every time we slowed down in the least, he'd jump right out and weasel his way through the crowds to see what was on the other side of the fence. His legs are sooooo short compared to everyone else's. It started raining on the way out and we couldn't find a replacement stroller (can't take the rented ones on the tram), so we walked. Other than the giraffes and zebras, it wasn't too much better than the local zoo but we'll probably make another trip before it closes for the season since we bought the membership.

While feeding the giraffes was great, the kids liked the "adventure" walk through part of Africa (we could walk through the woods for free at Nani's) and the zebra tram ride (you know, because they never travel in motorized vehicles) best. They were able to walk back to the van in the rain, so THIS is now the best day ever. We stopped for McDonald's on the way home. I don't know if we can ever top this day.