Did a bird explode, or is this some kind of pollen in the air??

   Apparently, everyone else in Atlanta had the same idea we did today.  The Zoo was packed.  It was spring break for the Atlanta area, and I had warned Sandra that the place would be beyond crowded, but we decided to give it a shot anyway.  We figured, what did we have to lose?  We have season passes.  If it was a horrible experience, we could leave, and come again on another day.  So off my crew goes out the door, like a herd of turtles, with a picnic lunch in hand, and my double jogger in the trunk.  I knew parking would be a nightmare, and sure enough, the kids and I wound up parking on the street a few blocks away from the entrance to the zoo.  I am already sweating by the time I reach the front gates where I needed to stop and renew my yearly pass.  I walk up to the desk, and the nice lady tries to "upsell" me to the family pass where I can add on my nanny.  I politely decline with a giggle, and explain, "that won't be necessary. I am the maid, the nanny, and the cook.  All for the price of one."  Off we go to meet our friends at the flamingos.  After meeting up with our cohorts, we are off for animal adventures.

    The first animal we come to...a giant Peep, passing out candy :)  This place was hot bed of sugar today.  Free Peeps every where you turned.  It was like heaven...until you remember what that much sugar does to hot, fussy toddlers.   We hit the play ground first this time.  Not usually my plan of attack, but it seemed like a good idea today.  The zoo was so busy, you could barely get up to the exhibits to see the animals.  As we are walking to the playground, we are passing through a sea of feathery fluff floating in the air.  I ask Sandra what it could possibly be, and she says "I don't know, maybe some kind of pollen??" Me "Either that, or a bird may have exploded..."  With that, we both start laughing, and proceed to snort in some of the strange substance.  We set the children free into the playground, and begin the game of trying to keep up with your child at least visually.  I dressed Colin in orange and Molly in purple, just so that I could see them.  If only four other mothers had not had the same idea...Everything is going smoothly until Molly decides not to let another little girl have a turn on something.  I tell her no, and make her wait her turn.  Molly head butts my crotch in anger...I get down on her level, so that she can see and hear me(actually, it's so I can whisper threats, and no one gives me dirty looks) and tell her "Molly, no!"  She proceeds to head butt me in the "lady parts" again, and then, here's the real kicker, she actually bit me on the crotch.  I let out a high pitched "yipe" to keep from cursing loudly on the play ground.  Four bored mothers surfing on their i-phones look up in horror.  Me "She certainly did NOT just bite me..." and I put my daughter in a time out...after I popped her hand.  Shock...pure shock.  She has bitten her brother before, but this is a first.  And the unfortunate location is simply because that is at her height.  But wow. I walk over, and tell Sandra what just happened.  Her response "well that is going in the blog."  No kidding :)

   Outside of the unfortunate biting incident, the possible bird explosion, and the mass quantities of sugar, the zoo trip was pretty entertaining.  The kids had fun, played for a few hours in the heat, and Colin and Lila shared a first kiss :)  Brian may never let Colin come over to play with Jack again...but it is such a cute picture.  They are so sweet together, and Colin told Mike that "Lila is his girl" tonight when he saw this pic on my facebook page.

     We finished the day with an awesome play date on the square sharing pizza with our friends and climbing all over the train play ground.  The grand finale, ice cream :)  This was sugar filled day, but I guess that is what spring break is about.  Now if only the sugar high will wear off, so that mommy can have a glass of wine while the kids sleep.  All of that fun is enough to wear a mommy out...