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!

Family Evening & A Victoria Secret Gift Bag

This past weekend, we had some family over to celebrate the older two Heathens' birthdays.  Heathen #2 turned 10 and Heathen #1 turned 14.  Heathen #3 is disgusted that he has to wait until July for his birthday...

My mother-in-law made the cakes - bless her heart, she knows of my on-going battle with the oven.

Heathen #2

Heathen #1

The Heathens have an Aunt Jen that is always good for tormenting them.  This time, she put Heathen #1's present in a Victoria Secret bag.  And I wanted a photo of him with that bag.  He didn't like that idea.  Unfortunately for Heathen #1, the Asst. Zookeeper and his two uncles LOVED it.  Here's the proof!

Prepping for the photo!

Photo ACHIEVED!!!!

Ironman!

This summer at Scout Camp, Heathen #1 had a phenominal week!  He came home exhausted but very happy with himself.

This year was the first time he's been old enough to compete in the Ironman competition - the age requirement is 14.  For being one of the youngest competitors, he did really well - he finished in 4th place!

The competition starts with a swim across the width of the lake - approximately 3/4 of a mile.  The swim is followed by a one-mile run.  The last segment is a one-mile canoe paddle to the finish line.

The way the course is laid out, parents can watch the swim across the lake.  Then the run takes the scouts out of sight into the woods.  Then everyone just stands around watching the edge of the lake waiting for the canoes to come into sight.  It is a VERY long 20-30 minutes until the canoes start to arrive!

Heathen #1 did a phenomenal job!  He came out of the swim in 2nd place.  He's never been much of a runner, which is the segment of the competition where he dropped behind a bit.  But he held his own in the paddling.

Considering that he was competing again 17- and 18-year-olds, he did a GREAT job.  I was so proud of him!

Well done, Heathen.

Invasion Of The Baby Flying Squirrel

Last night was... interesting, although I don't know that the Asst. Zookeeper would agree with me.  We went to bed as normal.  Nothing out of the ordinary happening at the Zoo.  Some time in the wee hours of the morning, Duchess and Bantley (the furry Zoo members) went absolutely crazy - running around the first floor of the house barking and growling.  Scared us out of a sound sleep!

As always, the Asst. Zookeeper took it in stride.  He groggily announced that there must be a field mouse in the house and that the dogs would catch it.

I found this to be an upsetting thought - my dogs munching on field mouse for a midnight snack.  While I was sitting in bed, and the Asst. Zookeeper had already rolled over, the dogs started another round of insane barking and came BARGING into the bedroom.  One dog charged around the bed while the second dog opted to charge OVER the bed and the unlucky occupants - those occupants being me and the sleeping Asst. Zookeeper.

After I shrieked my surprise at being over-run by dogs, I jumped out of bed and closed the bedroom door in an attempt to keep whatever the dogs were chasing trapped in the bedroom.  However, I forgot about the small gap under the bedroom door - which was just big enough for the critter's escape route. 

The dogs both charged OVER the bed in their attempt to block the critter's escape and failed to notice that the bedroom door was now CLOSED.  Did you know that when two dogs run head-first into a closed solid wood door in a room with hardwood floors that it sounds like a gunshot?

After opening the door and releasing the hounds into the house to search for their critter, they headed straight for the bathroom across the hall from our room.  They stood and growled at the bathtub and the fur on their backs started to ruffle.  Ready to see a field mouse, I braved a look into the tub - only to find this:

Isn't he cute?  I just want to LOVE him
to pieces!

It was a baby flying squirrel!  And he was ADORABLE!!!  I'm so glad my dogs felt the need to protect the Zoo from such a vicious, dangerous animal - but feel no need to bark when stranger come to the front door.

Although this little guy was loveable looking, I could see small claws as it was attempting to escape the bathtub.  While I wanted to do nothing else but pick him up and cuddle him, I could just hear the Asst. Zookeeper in my head, "It is a WILD animal.  You DON'T hug WILD animals."

But this meant I had to get the poor squirrel outside so that it didn't turn into a squirrel-snack.  So, I headed back into the bedroom to re-wake the Asst. Zookeeper (for the third time that night) and ask him to capture the squirrel without hurting him.

He woke up quite easily - which was surprising.  I made my squirrel-rescue request.  His response?  "If I catch the squirrel for you, can I please go back to sleep?"  Then he just looked at my really hopeful face.  "Get me a pot and a lid."  And off I ran for the kitchen cupboards!

I came back towards the bathroom with a colander and a lid - because that was what was still in the draining rack from the dinner dishes - to find the Asst. Zookeeper standing in the bathroom in his birthday suit and looking at the squirrel in his bathtub.  Did I mention that on warmer nights, the Asst. Zookeeper sleeps in the nude?  Maybe I should have mentioned that - makes a difference to the images of the dogs charging OVER the bed.

Anyway!  I handed him the colander and the lid and the Asst. Zookeeper promptly scooped the squirrel out of the bathtub.  He held it in front of him and proceeded to walk through the house to the back door to release the captive squirrel.

I don't know what possessed me - other than the fact that I was short on sleep at this point - but as the Asst. Zookeeper went to release the squirrel, I yelled, "Stop!  Don't let him go!  What if he's too little to be out by himself?"

At which point, the Asst. Zookeeper turned to look at me with "The Look."  This look says (in the Asst. Zookeeper's voice), "WHY did I marry you again?"

He then turned and set the colander on the porch with the lid still on it.  He looked at me and stated, "I don't care what you do with it.  I'm going to bed."  And he proceeded to walk back to his bed, still naked.

After a middle of the night internet search, I decided the squirrel was old enough to survive on his own out in the world.  I released him and headed back to my own bed, guilt free.

Good night, baby squirrel!

Yup. It's perfect.

On Tuesday of this week, I was having a long day.  Nothing had gone wrong, it was just a busy day and I was really tired by the time the Heathens came home on the bus.  When they arrived home, Heathen #1 came over to give me a hug as I was washing dishes in the kitchen.  He asked what was wrong and I explained that I was just tired.

He gave me a hug and then announced that he was going to put up my bird feeder in front of my kitchen window where I actually wanted it.

Here's the back story:

When we moved into the new Zoo, there was a dilapidated bird feeder on a pole outside the kitchen window.  As the weather warmed up, birds were flocking to it.  I decided that I wanted to replace it with a new one since I could see the feeder and the birds as I washed dishes.

We purchased a new bird feeder.  When I attempted to put it on the same pole, I ran into trouble.  The pole has a plate across the top and the new bird feeder was made with a spike in the bottom to be inserted into a pole.  So I placed the new feeder out in the yard in a tree stump, but I couldn't see it from my window.

Back to current day:
After fussing with the pole to remove the last of the old feeder, Heathen #1 brought over the new feeder.  He removed the spike from the bottom and placed it on the pole.  But he didn't have a way to attach it.  Here was his solution:

Can you see how he attached it?

BUNGEE CORDS!!!

When he stepped back and I realized what he had done, I laughed hysterically.  He came back into the kitchen with a huge grin on his face.  Walking over to me, he gave me a big hug and said, "Now your bird feeder is where you wanted it."  I practically cried.

When the Asst. Zookeeper came home a hour or so later, I was so proud to show him my new bird feeder.  He chuckled as he looked out my kitchen window.  He said, "Let me guess.  We're leaving it that way."

And I said, "Yup.  It's perfect."