Preparing For Thanksgiving

We made the decision as a family to stay home for Thanksgiving. We knew that we could only travel back to Ohio for one winter holiday and we chose to go back for Christmas instead. We know that it will be a quiet day, but we kinda like it that way. I have planned some activities to do and hope that my children will humor me in what I have planned even though they have probably outgrown the days of planned activities.

I ordered my Thanksgiving food this past weekend and picked it up yesterday, so I am prepared for the meal. I just need to bake a couple of pies tomorrow and maybe have Elizabeth bake some cookies and we should be all set in terms of what needs to be prepared ahead of time.

We are looking forward to a quiet day watching the Macy's parade, looking through the Black Friday sales ads, watching football, and eating delicious food. There will be no shopping on Thursday night as I am extremely anti-shopping on a holiday, especially this one.

Josh and Sarah have tomorrow off from the public school, so that will be nice. Because Josh and I stayed home during Fall Break, it will be the first time all 5 of us (since Bob has to work) have been able to spend some extended time together since school started. I am looking forward to having my people together - even if it is just here and there as Josh's social life is now quite extraordinary.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope that your day is stress free and filled with good food.

Indianapolis Zoo

My mom bought our family a zoo pass a couple of months ago after a visit in which she, I, Andy and Elizabeth had gone to the zoo together. Our family hasn't had a zoo pass in over 5 years, but we used to get them every year when the kids were little. It was so nice to have some place to go where the kids could run and explore on those homeschooling days when we all just needed to get out of the house. Elizabeth, Andy, and I all enjoy the zoo very much, but Sarah and Josh don't. Being gifted a zoo pass is perfect for us because while the two kids who don't care for the zoo are in public school, the rest of us can use our pass to visit the zoo anytime we want for free.

The Indianapolis Zoo is probably one of my favorite zoos. It is not very big and the animal selection is not huge, but what makes me love it so much is that it has the biggest, most entertaining (for the animals), best exhibits for the animals I have ever seen. The space allowed for each animal is amazing. I have never been to another zoo that is even close to matching the space that the animals at the Indianapolis Zoo have. For an animal lover, like myself, this is awesome.

We have already used the family pass three times since we have received it, and I imagine that we will use it plenty more times before our year membership ends. The zoo is only about 20 minutes from our house, making it easily accessible for a quick (free) trip out of the house.

We arrived right as they opened and a lot of the animals were waiting for their breakfast when we viewed their exhibits. 

The stingray exhibit is so mesmerizing. Andy and I stood there for a good 20 minutes just watching the stingrays move around in their space. 

His paws were H-U-G-E!

I had the coolest lion encounter I have ever had with this guy. I spent quite a bit of time with him. 

The orangutan exhibit is so awesome. It is HUGE. I love that there is a staff room that overlooks a small part of the exhibit. I love even more that this guy was peeking in to their conversation. He stayed that was for quite a while. It was so funny.

This guy cracked me up too. He stayed that way almost the whole time Andy and I were viewing his exhibit. Just plopped down, tuckered out. 

Couldn't help taking a pic or two of some southwest fauna. 

White River State Park

Bob and I took the kids to White River State Park this past weekend. The park is located within the Indianapolis city limits and follows a canal system that leads to the White River. It was a really cool experience, and although it isn't much of a state park in the traditional sense with trees and woods and natural space it was still something I was glad to get to do. If we are still here in the summer, you can rent paddle boats and kayaks and make your way through the canal (which runs through the city, I believe) in those. I think that would be super fun to do. 

These colorful panels turn in the wind creating a beautiful effect. 

The brick building shown here is the NCAA headquarters. It's cool to think about the decisions made here and how they affect college athletes. 

Me and my people. I am now the shortest one in our family. Crazy how time changes everything. 

The White River. (I have no idea what this white streak is...)

This is a steam powered clock. 

Elizabeth showing Sarah the mammoth.