May 21, 2004

• Field Tripping

  
  

  Today, Tucker's class took a field trip to the Louisville Zoo.  It's a really cool zoo, made the AAA top ten list in an article they recently published on zoos with exceptional exhibits.  Many of you are familiar with the story of Louisville native Dian Fossey whose story was told in the film "Gorillas in the Mist".  After her murder, her hometown took up the torch of conservation and anti-poaching activity.  Fundraisers sponsored by the Louisville Zoo go to support the efforts of the Dian Fossey foundation, and they have recently opened a new exhibit, the Gorilla Forest which is just as cool as it sounds like it might be.   

  
  

  Tucker's favorite exhibit is the penguins, and since today was 90 degrees with humidity nearing soaking wet, I was all for spending as much time watching the frigid flightless fowl as he wanted.  I felt a little guilty at the multiple hugs and "You are the Greatest Momi EVER!" remarks he gave me for waiting patiently with him to see them hopping up and down the steps while he shrieked with laughter.  I know that I have in the past rushed him through things that he preferred to take a little more slowly, but the gratitude he showed me today made me determined to take things a little more at his pace whenever I can. 

  
  

  In fact, today was just a very good day between Momi and son.  When I walked into his classroom this morning, a little girl approached me and said, "You must be Tucker's Mom." 

  
  

  "Yes, how did you know?"

  
  

  "He told me you were really pretty." 

  
  

  

  
  

  When we got back to the bus, Tucker asked his teacher if he had to sit in the same seat as on the trip down.  She told him that he could switch, so he chose to sit with me.  We were delayed leaving the zoo because another parent had taken his child and left without telling anyone.  Some people ...

  
  

  Anyway, during the twenty minutes of frantic phone calls trying to locate the missing child and parent, Tucker curled up in my lap and talked to me.  I asked him what was his favorite part of the trip.  He thought about it for a minute and then said, "I liked having you all to myself."  Shortly after we pulled out for the ride back to his school, he fell asleep, still in my lap, still with his arm holding around my waist.  Another little boy across the aisle (actually THE little boy that has been Tucker's nemesis all year) said, "Someone really needs to take a picture of you two."  I would have asked someone for just that, except when I grabbed my camera this morning, I failed to grab the memory stick.  It's still in the computer from where I posted the photo of the stuff I HAVE to take with me to the desert island.  ((And a note to Barry - I didn't mention my Bible specifically, I am taking it in my suitcase and in the tray with the essential computer software, I have a disk that contains 12 versions plus reference books. - Just in case. ))

  
  

  But lest you think that Tucker has been stolen away by aliens, I should tell you about his rain storm.  He has this pack of balloons he's been playing with.  He filled one with those "beans" that are the stuffing from a beanie baby that sprung a leak.  When he blew up the balloon, he was able to shake it and make a rain sound.  Then he released his grip of the mouth of the balloon.  That thing shot beans all over three rooms.  While I was still gasping from the deluge, he said, "Wow!  I made HAIL" and he was starting to reload for a second try ...

  
  

  Have a great weekend! 

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 6:17 pm
  • 14 Comments