We found this snake right outside of my parent's house - thank goodness I found it, and I didn't have someone bring it to ME! My Dad had to check it out to make sure it's not the dangerous kind, I guess there are 2 kinds of black snakes here. He said it wasn't - I'm just glad we didn't have a chance to find out.
On Friday we went to this really fun walking outdoor mall called Barefoot Landing.
Jax, pushing himself.
Dad, trying to get cell phone reception.
Grandpa and Eli.
The boys on the carousel.
There was this Circus place that was like a knock off Build-a-Bear. The kids were all about it on the way in, but we decided to do it on the way out so we wouldn't have to carry the things all over. When we got back, Eli was throwing one of his, now infamous tantrums that he didn't want one. Fine. So we pick an elephant for Jax (really for Eli because earlier that is what he said he wanted) and Jonah gets it all fluffed up. Then Eli throws a bigger tantrum that he wants this monkey thing! Wow - what have I created!! So we do that and really give the elephant to Jax. Then, picking out outfits, Nonny was dressing them all and the boys kept changing what they wanted. I made them keep what they asked for, but by the time we got to the car, Eli's monkey, Domp, wanted to be naked - I guess that is why they are buddies.
An Airplane Adventure
After that adventure, we were going to see some alligators, but we were all too wiped out. So we had lunch, then took pictures of a COOL yellow airplane (as per Cabela's) and helicopter that topped a mini golfing facility.
We then went to a fun store, Paradise, that just had a bunch of touristy stuff and beachwear. It had this cool sharks mouth you could enter the store through, although we were the only ones using it, everyone else went through the regular front door.
On Saturday we were going to have train day, in honor of Sweeps, aka Eli. I had seen a bunch of ads for this Thomas the Tank Engine day at Toys R Us, so we hunted one down. Thinking it would be really fun, maybe get a picture with Thomas, or Sir Topham Hatt, but it was just a couple of train maps and a VERY short story read every 30 minutes, and a coloring page. That was it. BORING. But, we tried.
Then we had to kill some time so, to the OTHER outlet mall - this one had covered walkways, so it was not too bad to walk around there. The kids found this fountain to stick their feet in to cool off a little bit.
The BIG HIT of the day was when we went to this hobby shop that Nonny had seen an article about. Above the store was this space, about the size of a good-sized kids room, where these men had a model train set up that they were working on. Not only was it cool to see, but the boys were SO GOOD!!! They were quiet, they didn't touch a thing - Jonah had his arms folded almost the whole time without even being asked. Jax was a little wiggly, but he is not one for being held for any length of time. They were all so good!! And the men were very nice, and you can see that Eli even got to blow the train whistle and push other buttons. He was SO in awe - he couldn't move!! It was a great experience for us all!!
Sorry the video is sideways - I'll try to adjust it when I get a second.
