Friends and Fun

The girls and I do very, very little with others outside of our small family of four.  When we take them to social gatherings/events where we visit with other people they do so well...  But the day(s) after can be so hard.  It is so difficult (impossible!) to explain it to others in a way that makes it understandable and respects the privacy of our girls and our family.   So, I usually don't take them anywhere except for places like the grocery, target, library and zoo where my attention won't be on any other person - just them.   Everyone is always so kind and accommodating when we do go places - it can be a struggle to keep declining invitations to things we enjoy and from people we love. It's hard and I miss having friends and being around our extended families.  The last thing we want to do is to hurt those that love and support us, but right now our daughters REALLY need us to put them first.

THANKFULLY I do have a friend locally who has "been there, done that" so I don't have to explain our boundaries with our children due to attachment or worry about offending her as I do my best to parent and love my girls.  I can even go to her for advice! : ).  Our families enjoy each other's company and understand all of the things that come with having a child through adoption that can't be put into words.  Plus, I can invite myself over to her house covered in sweat, someone else's boogers, no makeup, dirty hair and two precious girls that haven't had a nap and she's totally ok with that. : )

So, for all of our fantastic, supportive friends and family that feel shut out, left out or forgotten, please don't!  When you read this post, or any other, know that every outing with C and FL is carefully planned, especially when it involves people outside of myself and Sam.   Know that we can't wait for the day when our girls aren't affected by normal, everyday events.   And know that we can't wait for the day to have you join us and experience these two precious little people that have changed our world for the better!

We've been going to the zoo regularly for a while, but this trip was extra special because we had friends joining us!

Our girls are close in age, so that makes it super fun!  They also have a son who is so kind to the girls and a joy to be around.

Here's our zoo crew with the white tiger!

It is hard taking pictures of a child, let alone my two and our four! ; )

Love these three girls - looking forward to seeing their friendship grow over the years!

They couldn't be any cuter!

There's a new alligator exhibit at the zoo.  It's notng compared to the white alligators at the zoo/aquarium where I grew up, but it's fun!

They are not in the least bit afraid of sitting next to a gator!

Here's the zoo crew trying to pose like alligators!

They're so funny!

Of course, when you're three years old, no exotic or endangered animal compares to the zoo train ride!

That's what my girls really like about the zoo!  I have to confess, one time when we went, I told them the train wasn't working that day...  Thing # 264 that I said I'd previously said I'd never do as a parent!

And Thing # 265 that I never thought I would do as a parent was yell, "Go catch that peacock!" to both of my children as they chased after it...

If you know me at all you know that I love animals...

And I've always been bothered by parents who would just let their kids be unkind to an animal and not teach gentleness and respect...

And here I am, in a zoo full of special animals telling my three year olds to, "GET 'EM!!!!" over and over...

I really didn't think the peacock would let them get that close, and the zoo does let them run around wherever they want...

And I didn't think that my girls would really listen to me, or actually be brave enough to try...

But they both succeeded!

And I didn't think I'd holler, "GOOD JOB!!!" and tell the other child to keep trying...

And I really didn't think I'd tell her to do it again so I could get a picture...

And I really, really, really didn't think she'd grab it with two hands and almost yank it off of the fence...

Not that that happened, or anything...

Yep, I'm one of those parents now.

Needless to say, the peacock ranks pretty far up there with the train, according to the girls!