Family Values

It’s June already, how did this happen?  Is  anyone else overwhelmed with how fast this year is going?

I’m changing things up for summer. There will be guest posts, featured authors, and shorter condensed posts. As part of the TTC Virtual Blog tour, you will be introduced to writers and authors like my first guest, Joe McCoubrey.  Most of my posts are going to be shorter, similar to my former column.  I had to condense my thoughts into a 500 word article, and I think that a shorter format over the summer would be best.  Plus, y’all got other things to do than read tomes on the internet!

I’m amazed at how fast my kids are growing, and  I’m certain all you moms out there can relate.  It seems like just a short time ago they were babies, and now my oldest is going to be a senior in high school.  Only one more year to teach, impart life skills, and spend quality time with before she’s off to college.  My youngest will be a sophomore, so there’s only three more years there.  How did this happen?

I would do anything for my kids.  The old adage ‘hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn’ is multiplied when that woman becomes a mother.  Actually,  I think it’s more like exponentially multiplied as in the case of the young man who treated my beautiful daughter poorly, and broke her heart.  (I know who you are Trevor, and there’s no place on this earth you can hide!)  Some people do NOT get second chances!

Family is very important to me.  I mentioned before the boot camp plan for our summer.  We’ve all gotten a little soft over the winter, and it’s going to be beneficial for our health and fitness. It also allows us time together.  On the flip side of that, my ‘Party Princess’ side demands FUN.  We are going to do fun stuff over the summer as well.  I want to build good memories, so they don’t remember me as some horrible task master.  (Trust me, I can be.) I have many day trips planned over the next 90 days.  It won’t be every week, but at least three a month. In that light, I will highlight some of the areas where we are going to visit. Which also allows you to see some potential attractions to the area if you decide to travel to the St. Louis area. (Missouri tourist board should be giving me a cut of the revenue, don’t you think?)

Today, June 1st I am taking my girls to the St. Louis Zoo. St. Louis Zoo is one of the few in the nation that is still free. Don’t for a minute think the day is free just because there is no entrance fee!  There are certain family traditions that have to be honored.  The purchase of frozen cokes is mandatory.  This is like a coke slushy, and they are the bomb! (Coca Cola, not the other kind!)

http://www.flickr.com//photos/37574420@N08/sets/72157616953739426/show/

Pictures in front of the main lake are mandatory!  I have many, from when my girls were in a double stroller, spanning the years.  We haven’t been in two years, so this one is crucial!  My daughter has a collection of zoo maps for every visit.  It’s interesting to see how they’ve changed over the years.  There’s also the mandatory picture by the bronzed statue of Phil the Gorilla.  Google it!  He’s legendary!  When I was a child, Phil was a main attraction at the St. Louis Zoo!  I was terrified of the silver back that threw his poo, and YES he did!  There were open bar cages then, it wasn’t pretty.

So, here are a few fun facts about the zoo. Do something fun for yourself and/or your family over the summer.  Care to share what you consider fun?

Zoo Fun Facts

• The City of St. Louis purchased the 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage for $3,500.
• In 1917, 299,100 people visited the Zoo. In 2009, the Zoo broke an all-time record with 3,101,830 visitors.
• Phil the gorilla’s fame was such that he was once featured in Life magazine as “an up and coming gorilla”.
• School children donated their pennies to purchase Miss Jim the elephant in 1916.
• Marlin Perkins, host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom television show, was director of the Saint Louis Zoo from 1962-1970.
• Siegfried the walrus was one of the Zoo’s most popular animals in the 1960s, particularly because he would let visitors tickle his chin.
• Raja was the first elephant born at the Zoo in 1992. (By the way Raja just became a father.)

See more fun facts in the new book Animals Always – 100 Years at the Saint Louis Zoo.

The 90 Day Challenge begins today! (OK, I’ve gotten a bit of jump on it myself.)

Write On my friends, write On!