The first winter we were parents of two, Ian's company closed the offices for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Wanting to take advantage of precious bonus "Daddydays," as the kids called weekends and any day Ian didn't head to the office, we explored our (at the time new to us) city and surrounding area.
We didn't realize at the time that we were setting a loose tradition that would continue for the next eleven years. As it turns out, while bundling was (and still is) required, the animals of North America are much more active and there are no crowds to fight if you want to stand and watch the sea lions and harbor seals for an extended period of time. Our big two did then...
...and all six still do now!
I'd say over the years we've visited the NC Zoo at least 30 times. And yet when we were looking for something to do as a family for a rare bonus "Daddyday" (in this case MLK Day) the zoo was suggested by the older set. Maybe as they are getting older nostalgia is a comforting thing to them as well as to me?
Despite the cold (finally some winter weather here in NC!) we bundled up and decided to make an afternoon of it. We left much later than we had intended, but it turned out to be a good thing this time...the African animals were cozied up in their indoor enclosures because of the frigid air. With only half the zoo to see, we were offered half price admission and enjoyed the afternoon hours in the sunshine.
Combined with our weekly Friday 'pizza and a movie night,' along with family game night (Spontaneous chosen by the girls, Apples to Apples by the boys and a brownies with ice cream break in the middle) on Sunday, we had somewhat of a M8 hibernation weekend.
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