We are still having lots of sleeping issues this week. I even asked her teachers to let her read quietly during naptime rather than sleep in hopes that she would be good and tired at bedtime. That does seem to be working so hopefully we are on the way to a better bedtime. I was not ready for her to give up her nap just yet but many kids do at this age and Abby has been showing signs of giving it up for several weeks now.
Anyway, on to the Fourth. Abby and I went to the zoo that day. It was very hot (97 degrees) and very humid but this must have kept a lot of people home because we pretty much had the place to ourselves. It was a really fun day despite the heat.
On one visit to the zoo we found out that one of the elephant's name happened to be Dotty. Now Abby always looks for Dotty.
Abby loves these things and will now pose anytime we come across one.
Watching the panda in his air conditioned area.
It was incredibly hot but nothing some dippin' dots wouldn't cure. Neither of us had ever had dippin' dots before. In case we are not the only novices, dippin' dots are little dots of ice cream. A bit odd I guess at first but not bad either.
The petting zoo portion of the zoo has different little "tools" for the kids, like these back scratcher things for the goats and sheep.
And these tractors. Over the years, they have acquired different models of tractors. Problem is, as Abby is indicating here, this model doesn't have any pedals. To make it go means pushing it with your feet.
We rode the carrousel. About 95% of the time, Abby chooses to ride on the bench. The same bench that is generally reserved for senior citizens. Most kids like to ride the animals but Abby definitely prefers the seat.
Abby's view from the senior citizen bench.
That evening we went to the Decatur Fourth of July parade. This is one of the sweetest, funniest, and most endearing parades in the whole country. Pretty much, if you want to be in the parade, well, you just jump in. It is made up of families and kids, a couple of little "bands", a few local policitians, and a few people throwing candy. It lasts all of 22 minutes. We ran into our dear friends the Joyners, or, as Abby calls them, Honey and Grand Doug. Here she is having a water break with Honey.
Snagging candy while standing with Grand Doug. Abby didn't even want to eat the candy. She just liked the collection of it.
Part of the parade. It reminds me of parades we used to watch when I was a kid. Goofy, yes. Fun, yes. Memorable, yes.