"Where da zebra go?"

Our second mini trip was to the NC Zoo in Asheboro.  We had been telling Carli for over a week that we were going to see the animals.  Joe had been reading stories with African animals in them and going over various animal noises.  Finally the day had arrived.

After packing a picnic lunch and snacks, we headed out. Carli fell asleep before we even got there.  Once inside, we began the trek around Africa.  First up, the giraffes, ostriches, and zebras.  We saw the giraffes and ostriches, but the zebras were no where to be seen.  Carli was disappointed and asked, "Where da zebra go?"

looking for the zebras

Next up, the lion's den...both the "mama" lion and the "daddy" lion were out sunbathing.  Carli thought the lion laying with his belly in the air was funny.  She even roared like a lion, which did get his attention, briefly.  Then he went back to his nap. But again, "Where da zebra go?"

The chimpanzees were the next animal to see.  Carli loved watching the almost two year old chimp play.  She was running around the habitat, climbing all over the other chimps, rock, and the branches.  Reminded me of another two year old!  But again, "Where da zebra go?"

watching the chimps play

The gorilla was a HUGE animal.  It even came right up to the glass and sat down in front of us.  It was an incredible sight to see.

After a quick stop for a map check and a cool snack, we headed to see the baboons (a word Carli loved saying over and over again!).  The red butt on the leader made her giggle.

Could she be looking for the missing zebras?

up high to see the baboons

The rhinoceros had gone under cover, so it was off to the elephants.  The elephants at our zoo are not gray as in all our books, but red.  There were a bunch and Carli liked watching them.  Then we went in to a little elephant park to take a break while Carli climbed on the statues.  But still we heard, "Where da zebra go?"

Carli and Daddy on a rhino egg model

Since the circle around the zoo was complete, Joe took Carli back around to the zebra exhibit hoping they had shown up. THEY HAD!  Carli finally got to see her zebras.  It even came up pretty close for us to see.

FINALLY a zebra!

As we were leaving, we stopped into the gift shop to get her a stuffed zebra.  She named it "Mommy Zebra".   We thought Carli would sleep most of the way home, but she never did! She just played and played with the new zebra.  Since our trip, Mommy Zebra has slept with Carli nightly and gone around the house.  Sometimes it goes even before Elmo.  We had a good time.

looks a little pooped!

The Butterfly Farm

This year instead of a vacation, we decided to take Carli on various day trips.  One of those trips was the Butterfly Farm in High Point.  Carli has always seemed to enjoy butterflies, so we thought she might like to go.  It was a wonderful, but hot, time!

 Carli as a caterpillar

First we sat in a group to listen to the director tell the stages of a Monarch butterfly.  She had the cutest props and used several of the kids in the crowd to to tell about Monarchs.  She talked not only of the stages, but of the food they eat and how they defend themselves.  Carli did pretty good for a bit and then got a little board.

When the story was over, we had to wait our turn to go into the habitat.  While we waited, there were several toys out for the kids to play with.  The mister was also on.  This was Carli's favorite part.  She played in there so long, she looked like she had taken a bath!  But at least she was cool.

Playing in the mister

 Finally it was our turn to go into the habitat.  Carli was so excited.  We had talked several times about not touching the butterflies, but letting them come to her.  We were given cotton swabs with sugar water on them to hold out to the butterflies.  We helped Carli to get one on her swab.  She held it carefully, watching it.  She even set it down and gave it a kiss. She even noticed the butterflies has polka dots all over their bodies! She was a happy little girl when we left!

various stages of a chrysalis

watching it eat carefully (can you see the long tongue)

kissing her butterfly goodbye

Big Girl Bed

Earlier this week, Carli fell out of her bed because she couldn't reach a book that she had dropped.  I was on the porch talking to a friend, and heard her crying.  When I went to her room, I found her standing at the door, crying that "I fell out of my bed and hit my head."  Joe and decided that it was time to move her to her big girl bed.

Joe got off work early on Thursday because of the heat.  I was ready to do this.  So Joe climbed into the attic to get the conversion kit for the bed.  Carli couldn't stop talking about her big girl bed.  

After reading the directions, it looked pretty simple...a lot easier than putting the crib together!  But then, we didn't have a toddler who wanted to help...

I can help screw in the screws.

Finally, Austin came by and took her to Walmart with him.  This made it so much easier!  After getting the front part together, we realized that we didn't have the springboard on the lowest setting.  That is the hardest part of putting the crib together!  Whoever designed it, didn't leave you much wiggle room to turn the screwdrivers.  We had to turn over the crib to get to the bottom.  Joe and I took turns getting under it to twist the nuts on the bolts.

Finally we got the bottom low enough, only to realize that we had put the posts on backwards.  We had to take them apart and turn them around.  UGH!  Finally after a little more than an hour, we had it together.  When Carli and Austin returned, the first thing she wanted was to see her big girl bed.  It didn't take her long to realize she could easily climb in and out.

checking out her new bed

When it came time for bed, we were worried abut how it would go.  Carli did pretty good.  She was in and had her Cookie Monster book to read until she was sleepy.  She goes to sleep with a book or two every night.  She got kisses from mommy and daddy and was told not to get out of her bed.  After a minute or two, she began to cry because the book had "fallen" out and she couldn't reach it.  She didn't get out of the bed.  After five or six trips into her room to retrieve the fallen book, I told Carli not to call out for us again.  That did the trick.  She read for a few more minutes before she fell asleep.  All total...about 45 minutes.  Not bad for her first time in her big girl bed.  Can't wait to see how it continues...

All tucked in with Night-Night 

Happy Fourth of July!

July Fourth was lots of fun!



It started on the 3rd with cupcake making.  I put all the ingredients into separate bowls and let Carli pour them in.  She did a great job.  Then she watched them as they baked.

watching the cupcakes bake

 

On the Fourth, Grandma & Pawpaw came over for hamburgers.  Austin brought his girlfriend, Carissa, over too. Grandma read Clifford to Carli and everyone enjoyed red, white, and blue cupcakes.

After dinner, we met friends to watch the fireworks.  The kids played until it got dark.  When the fireworks started, Carli was a little scared at first but then settled down the watch.  It was fun snuggling with her to watch them. Carli called them "fire-booms." Then she decided to sit with Leah and Eden to watch them.  When they were over, Carli was asleep almost as soon as we put her into her carseat.

Ring Around the Rosy 

"Ka-boom"