SMALL HANDS
The story behind this picture.
We had our two, two year old granddaughters for a sleepover in December. Rather than just hang around the house and play with the same old toys we decided to make a memory with them. I love this part of being a grandma. They hardly ever remember the stuff we give them, but they always remember the places we have gone and the memories behind the adventure. Our two oldest grand kids remind us all the time of places we have been with them.
Since it was December we decided to go to the zoo and see all the lights. We thought the girls would get a kick out of all the sculptures all lit up. Of course we were not the only people that had thought of this on a beautiful, but cold, Seattle night. Anytime it’s not raining here means it’s time to get out of the house. So off we went, snacks and stroller in tow and two chatty cousins in the back seat. I think it’s hilarious to hear toddlers arguing. “No it’s not!” “Yes it is” and it’s usually about something in a cartoon character they both know. Nobody wants to give in.
We get there in good time, but there is a major traffic jam around the zoo and we are funneled off to the overflow parking, Yay! Tons of people and school buses to shuttle us to the actual zoo. We opted to not take the stroller as it would be a huge pain to put in the bus. (Once it took me about 20 minutes in the IKEA parking lot to collapse the thing, though someone who wanted our parking spot got out and showed me how to do it.) Anyway, the girls are pretty good walkers and we can carry them for a minute if needed, this seemed easier.
They are thrilled with the bus. They are amazed there is no car seat and they get to sit on our laps. To them this is all the matters and well, the zoo lights were kind of boring. They were good sports and humored their grandmas by walking most of the way around.
Oh yeah, the picture, so only a few of the indoor exhibits were open. One of them being the aquarium. We all stood watching the sharks and fish for a while. I am sure the occupants were just as amazed because activity at night in the zoo is probably nonexistent except in December. This is where I snapped the picture. Two cousins, six months difference in age, enjoying the view and watching the fish.
We had to get back to the car and again the school bus. This time the oldest asked if she could stand rather than sit on my lap, so I put her between my legs and let her stand. She wobbled a little when the bus went over bumps, but wasn’t bothered by any of it.
They continue to talk about the night they went with us to ride the school bus, maybe next time I will just rent a school bus and pack a lunch!
