"Casting" Call

The Zoo will be starting another school year with a Heathen in a cast.  Heathen #1 managed to break his right arm on the third day of kindergarten.  Apparently, Heathen #2 decided it was his turn!

Yesterday, while at the park, he managed to fall off the monkey bars at the playground and fall on his right arm. 

We were about thirty minutes from home so we ended up going to a different hospital than we normally frequent.  Once there, the arm was promptly declared broken and splinted. 

For the first time ever, Heathen #2 was given something for pain that was more than just Children's Tylenol.  He was much more comfortable after the medication kicked in - he was also quite goofy!

We'll head to the orthopedist's on Monday for the actual cast.  What a way to start 5th grade and Middle School!

Heathen #2 - splinted and with pain
medication working!

  

Marched to Death

 Band Camp started this week.  Starting on the field by 8 am and finishing around 4 pm, Heathen #1 has been coming home exhausted.  Today, I took him to his Grandma's because the other two Heathens were swimming.  After realizing that Heathen #1 had been quiet for a few minutes, I looked over at him - only to discover this:

He looks SO comfortable!

I have a feeling Heathen #1 will be going to bed early again tonight.

The Zeus Arrives

While we were driving in Richland, my mother called me.  She informed me that a little dog had followed my father home from the mailbox and that I should come get him and keep him.

Although the Zoo already has two canine members, I made the turn off the highway and headed for my mother's house about 20 miles away.  This is what I found:

 

Although I was mentally planning to simply transport the poor dog to the SPCA, after seeing him, there was no way he wasn't going to be a Zoo member.  He was overly thin and you could tell he had been stray for a while.  But he desperately wanted to be loved.  My mother said she was "gifting" him to the Asst. Zookeeper so that he had to keep the dog.

We took him home and began the discussion of what his name should be.  After introducing the Asst. Zookeeper to his "gift," he said that such a small dog should have a big name.  His suggestions were Gigantor or Zeus.  Zeus was immediately chosen and seemed to be a perfect fit.

Turns out Zeus is a snuggler and a cuddler!  And he loves belly rubs.  He also loves to eat Twizzlers or anything else that you will let him, although he begs silently.  Although he is by no means overweight, his ribs no longer are showing.  He has managed to find his place in the order of things here at the Zoo and it is hard to imagine life here without him.

Welcome to the Zoo, Zeus!

Proof of Ability

Guess what Heathen #1 learned to do today!!!!  And, proudly, he was a quick learner!  He took all the cushions off both the couch and the loveseat and cleaned EVERYTHING!  I was so excited, I sneaked back into the living room while he was working because I felt I needed to document this part of his childhood.

This way, when his future wife complains that he never cleans, I have proof that I did teach him to clean.  It will be proof that she just doesn't know how to manage him!

Well done, Heathen! 

Anniversary = Lake + Fireworks!

July 7th was my wedding anniversary - the Asst. Zookeeper and I completed another year without driving each other insane and generally enjoyed ourselves in the process.

We've never made a huge deal out of our anniversary.  No huge plans - just a normal day with an extra hug somewhere in the middle.  And yesterday started out no differently.

We dropped Heathen #1 off at Living Waters in Schellsburg, PA and then we headed to Yellow Creek State Park to do some boating.  We had perfect weather!

While swimming in the lake in one of the coves, the Asst. Zookeeper was bitten by a fish!  When I originally heard him swear while sitting in the water, I assumed that he stubbed his toe on a rock.  I was wrong!

The fish actually bite him hard enough
to draw BLOOD!

Although I look like I'm in the water next to the sailboat,
I'm actually sitting in a kayak!  It was perfect "lake" weather!
For those who don't know, pigtails are a required fashion
statement for a day on the lake.

After spending several hours at the lake with the boats, we headed home to change clothes and head out for the next adventure.

Just before we left for the lake, the Asst. Zookeeper received a phone call from one of the guys that works at Madison Mine with him.  Hutsky's family was celebrating the 4th of July that evening with a pig roast and fireworks and we were invited - hurray!

When I was told it was a family event, I was thinking approximately 20 people and some small fire crackers.  I was SOOOOOOOO wrong.  We pulled into where the picnic was to find well over 100 people and a professional fireworks display.  Here's the field after the men had it ready for the show.

The fireworks show was phenomenal!  We were so close that we were showered with the ash from the explosions.  There was almost no delay between the explosion overhead and the sound - it was amazing.  The fireworks at the mall couldn't hold a candle to the show we saw at the pig roast!

Fireworks are one of my most favorite things - always have been.  This show has only been topped by what I've seen at Niagara Falls and in Washington, D.C. 

For an anniversary with no plans for anything when I rolled out of bed, we had an amazing day!

Confirmation Sunday

On May 27th, 2012, Heathen #1 reached another milestone.  He became a confirmed member of the church.  The Asst. Zookeeper and I were so proud of him.  Half of the people in church that morning were there from our family and friends - all to support him!

Heathen #2 served as acolyte for the
service.  Here he is lighting the
Christ candle.  He did a fantastic job.

We are all the way on the left of the photo with Heathen #1
standing between us.  I wore flat shoes so that he could be
visibly taller than me!

 

During the service.  Heathen #1 was confirmed with two other
new members, Rachael and Tom.

Heathen #1 with Pastor Brian Armen

 Following the service, we had a picnic celebration at the Zoo!  Approximately 80 family and friends joined us for lunch.  We had a beautiful afternoon. 

Dum Dums and Duct Tape

Last year at some point, Heathen #2 discovered the Duct Tape Festival in Avon, OH.  And he immediately wanted to go (BIG surprise!).  So we started making plans for the 2012 festival.

During some of the "fact finding" that was assigned to Heathen #2, he also discovered the the Spangler Candy Factory is also located in Ohio.  And he wanted to add this to the trip.  After checking out the locations on a map, I informed the Heathens that the Spangler Candy Factory was too far out of the way to be added to the trip - and then I ordered them Dum Dum t-shirts for a surprise for when we got to the factory!

On Thursday, June 14th, just after lunch, the Heathens and I loaded up Louie (our Suburban) and headed for Ohio! The Heathens watched movies in the back as I drove across the state.  Our hotel ended up being a huge conference center with an awesome indoor pool - the Heathens were thrilled!

By the time the Heathens woke up on Friday morning, they still did not know we were heading for the Spangler Candy Factory - I actually managed to keep my own secret!  I presented them all with their yellow Dum Dum t-shirts and put on my own as well.  The youngest two Heathens were thrilled!  The oldest was disturbed that he had to wear a matching t-shirt.

When the Heathens saw the sign on the building, a cheer
went up in the back of  Louie!

The youngest two were running for
the door and then stopped because
they wanted their photo taken.  The
oldest couldn't get inside fast enough!

So proud of their hairnets and waiting for the tour to begin!

Perfectly disgusted with the rest of the family, Heathen #1
was impatient for the whole experience to be OVER.

After the tour and back outside.  Heathen #3 is proudly
holding up his new Dum Dum flip-flops.

 There were no photos permitted while on the tour.  But the factory smelled so good!  We watched them make Dum Dum lollipops and lots of other candies.  The Heathens are now the proud owners of lots of candy-based trivia!  We would definitely go back!

Then it was back in the car and back onto the road to head for the Duct Tape Festival!  After another two hours on the road, we were one of the first people to arrive at the festival after it opened.  It officially started at 4 p.m. and we were in the gates by 4:05!

Horton was amazing!

Inside this tent, kids could use FREE Duct Tape to make
anything their heart desired.  I took this photo around 4:30.
By 5:00, this tent was packed!

This was Heathen #2's favorite sculpture!

The best part of the festival was the parade on Saturday morning.  It lasted well over an hour.  The floats and outfits were fantastic!

Heathen #2 received this shirt for Christmas.  Here, he
is impatiently waiting for the parade to begin.

Every one's favorite mascot!

The elephant is Duct Tape.  The man in front is a real!

A Duct Tape court in Duct Tape dresses!



This elephant had movable legs!



This kids were from a theatre group.

This 4-H group had approximately 40 ponies - all with their
own costumes.  All of the handlers had Duct Tape vests and hats!

Towards the end of the parade, I could hear a cheer working its way up the street.  This was the cause of the cheer.  His shirt was just a plain white t-shirt that he had added a picture to, using Duct Tape!

The front view!

And the back view!

 The Heathens had a great time!  We hadn't left the festival yet to head home before the Heathens were asking to go back the following year!