The Indianapolis Zoo

The Orangutans have arrived at the Indianapolis Zoo!  

All year Nick and Sam's elementary school has been learning about primates and raising money for the new exhibit at the zoo.  Eagle Elementary was the first school to receive an invitation to tour the exhibit last month before it opened to the public this past weekend.  Their school raised $3000!  "Pennies for Primates" was a huge success!  I was lucky enough to be a parent chaperon for Nick's class!

An up close view!

We were attempting to get a class photo with the exhibit in the background, but this orangutan wanted to be in the photo too!

Last week Ben and I got a members 'sneak peak' of the orangutans.  It was so much fun to watch them, Ben was very interested, until he noticed the spray park at the zoo was open!  He could see through the new, high tech exhibit with all of the windows and had a perfect view of the splash pad!  

He is 5.

We were at the zoo just before the Indianapolis 500, and just in time for the Zoopolis 500 race of the tortoises!  The greatest spectacle in Tortoise racing!  It was the funniest thing I think I have ever seen at the zoo.  5 tortoises were lined up and set to race to a lovely tray of fresh fruits.  Tony Kanaan, the Indy 500 race winner from 2013 waved the checkered flag!  The race was complete with a former Indy 500 announcer, a parade, and a few princesses.  The race didn't last as long as I thought it might at a little less than 5 minutes!

We have a winner, Marco!

We saw a super fun dolphin show!

Ben was really enjoying the polar bear at this visit.  The polar bear isn't always in close view like this particular day!

Spring swim lessons

All 3 boys have been taking swim lessons this spring, getting ready for summer time!  On the final day of lessons the parents were invitied to sit pool side for an upclose view!

Ben's lessons were on Monday mornings.  

Nick and Sam are swimming at the same level and took lessons on Thursday afternoons.  They enjoyed being in the same class together!

Cub Scouts!

Nick is officially a Wolf Cub Scout now!  

There was a short ceremony followed by a potluck dinner and games in the park. 

The ceremony included:

the changing of the neckerchiefs to signify the rank of Wolf Scout,

the Den saluting the former Wolf Scouts.

Sam, trying the Tiger neckerchief on for size!  Sam thinks he might like to do scouts next year as well. 

Spring Soccer

We just completed the spring soccer season for Nick.  His team was called the Swordfish.  He played hard and was always excited to go to the practices and games.  He showed good improvements in his skills as the season progressed! 

  

Mother's Day

Mother's day is a special day to me.  I love all of the attention that I receive from all of my boys including the homemade cards, artwork, flowers and breakfast in bed!  I'm very spoiled!

Ben's preschool class hosted all of the moms for a Mothers Tea where we enjoyed finger foods and a performance by the students.  They have been working hard at learning to sign the ABC's and sang a few songs for us including a couple of songs dedicated to the moms.  The kids also answered questions  about their moms.  Ben says that my age is 100, I cook the best hot dogs, the thing that I am best at is hula hooping, he likes it when I push him on the tire swing, and I am prettiest when I put on my earrings.  

Ben has quite a sense of humor!

The last comment melted my heart.

Nick and Sam also made me beautiful cards.  Sam says that he is thankful to me for taking him to school, that when I cook I cook chicken, and I am really good at running a marathon!  Oh, and that I never make a mistake!  (I thought I should document that one for later on!)
Nick's card says that he is thankful to me for cooking and feeding him and doing his laundry, (he notices these things!) and the best thing about me is I am careful.  He also likes to play Mario Kart with me and ride Space Mountain!  

I am truly humbled to have these 3 little ones and the title of Mom.

One America 500 Festival 5K

Nick, Sam and I ran our first 5K race together on May 3rd!  We had so much fun and I was so proud of those two.  They didn't complain once, even with having to get up at 5:30, and nobody fell down or tripped anyone else!

  I enjoy running and was so excited to get to share the race experience with my boys.  The medal at the end didn't hurt either!  Sam wore his all day, including to breakfast afterwards at Cracker Barrel. 

There were 4000 participants taking part in the 5K, and an additional 25,500 running the half marathon in downtown Indianapolis; all part of the 500 festival that takes place in Indianapolis during the month of May in conjunction with the Indianapolis 500!

 The day before the race Ben and I went to the convention center to pick up our race packets.  That in itself is a festival!  Ben sat in a couple of race cars and collected cowbells, hats, Gatorade and candy from the vendors, including a turkey!

The official pace car!

Cub Scouts

Nick has been active in scouts this year and seems to be enjoying it!  At the most recent tribal meeting he and Eric took part in a Dad and Son bake off.  While they didn't win any awards for their fishing cake, they did have fun decorating it and eating it too!

Sam and Ben continue to be Nick's biggest fans!

Jack

With great sadness I share the news that our kitty Jack is no longer with us.  He was hit by a car during the night of April 18th.  He was the best kitty, so tolerlant of the boys and the ways they would handle him, always purring and 'maw-ing',  looking for a loving pat on the head.  I always said if we had any baby doll dresses around our home, Jack surely would have been dressed in them.  

Loosing a pet is always hard, they truly become part of your family.  But having to tell your children that their kitty has died broke this mommy's heart.

You will be missed Jack.