Our Veteran's Day Weekend: Video Games, The Zoo, And The Desert Museum

This last weekend was Veterans' Day; Lorelai had the day off school, and Nathan the day off work. Fun three-day family weekend!! With one small snag: Nate insisted on staying home all day Friday so he could wait for his newest, long-awaited computer game to arrive in the mail...

Elder Scrolls:Skyrim!!!

Ahem. It's all he's been able to talk about for weeks, and I love my husband, but I hope the tsunami of nerdiness that's engulfed him will soon settle into mild swells of nerdiness once he's gotten some of the gameplay out of his system. Suffice it to say, I didn't see or hear much from him on Friday...

However, lest you think we were stuck at home all weekend, think again!! Sick of waiting for Skyrim, the girls and I headed up to Tucson and spent the morning at the Reid Park Zoo, where we've been members since Lorelai was a baby. We had fun, as always, especially so since we went with a friend. Afterwards, we had lunch at the nearby Chick-Fil-A, one of the greatest fast-food chains on planet Earth. Not only is the food very tasty, and not only is the play-place enclosed by soundproof glass (ah, silence), but the employees actually come to your table, pick up your drink, and refill it for you! Just like at a sit-down restaurant!

Oh, also, Celeste threw a hissy fit because I told her we weren't buying an ice cream cone, and the sweet cashier lady took pity on her (and Lorelai, and Aurora), and gave them all mini-cones for FREE! Remember, kids, if you whine long enough, you'll get what you want...thanks, Chick-Fil-A, for teaching my children this dubious life lesson! (but I love you anyway)

Later, Lorelai asked me what the name of the cashier was who gave them the ice cream. Celeste piped up, "I know! Her name was Mrs. Spanish!" You, see, because she was Hispanic...ugh. I admit to laughing out loud. I'm just grateful she said it in the privacy of our car!!

Saturday morning we finally pulled Nate away from the computer and headed to one of our favorite places in Tucson...the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Not a "museum" in the strictest sense, it's a unique place that immerses visitors into the "desert experience" in this part of the world. There are lots of animals, extensive gardens & walking paths, and several educational signs & markers. It's about 60% zoo, 30% botanic gardens, and 10% museum. We love it!

Here are some of the pictures, which really speak for themselves as to the beauty (and fun!) of the place...

One of the many beautiful hummingbirds in the Hummingbird Terrace

Many awesome cacti were on display

Our family really enjoyed this barn owl...

 

...as you can see.

Lorelai enjoyed pretending to be a tortoise...

...and we all enjoyed the bighorn sheep!

This was a "labyrinth garden"; the stones marked out a circular, winding path to the center, which Daddy & the kids gladly followed.

Here's a lovely view from the cactus garden

There's a spot for kids to excavate "fossils," and Lorelai gladly "dug in"...

...as did Celeste!

This pretty little flower had a pretty little green bug inside it

Typical Aurora...clowning around at a work site

I'm just enjoying the beautiful view...

...while Aurora got her foot stuck in the fence. Oops.

This is how Lorelai would look with fruit bat ears

As always we had a great time visiting the Desert Museum. We plan on purchasing a membership there when our kids get a little bit older and can walk all the trails without getting tired out. For now, though, it's a great way to spend a holiday weekend!