This seems to be the year for home reno in our world. You've heard about my basement, but Rick has also been hard at work -- first, on his rental duplex and now on one of his bathrooms. Kevin came to help him tear things apart and since Molly and the Camster had another engagement, I said I'd have a Carson day! It would include a play, some dinosaurs and more than a few fish!
We started out with the children's play, a new piece called "What If Wilhelmina," based on the children's book. Prior to the play, kids could get their faces painted (my guy declined!), color, or play a matching game and see some art, which we later learned related to the play.
The play involved audience participation and while some of the kids got up and danced, my guy preferred to participate from his seat! After the kids got to meet the cast and touch the puppets.
From there it was lunch and then back home to do a craft project. We made stained glass hanging pieces -- and they were pretty cute!
As the bathroom work was finished (for the day -- it will be a long time before it is finished!), we were joined by the Camster so we could have more fun and a sleepover. That was when our critter adventure began. We headed to the natural history museum to see the dinosaurs!
The bones were huge and some almost close enough to touch.
The Habitat Hall had some beautiful dioramas. (We have a similar place up north that my cousin's son used to call the Dead Animal Museum and I couldn't help but think of that here!)
There were also some exhibits more of interest to adults but if there is anything that's interactive, these guys were on it!
After that, dinner, a movie (Peter Pan) and a couple of sleepy heads, gearing up for the next day!
We had to deliver the boys back to Mom and Dad in the afternoon, so there wasn't a lot of time to "play" (and the weather wasn't exactly "let's go to the park" weather) so we decided to hit a pet store in town that we'd heard about but never visited. When we arrived, it was packed -- and when you went in, you could see why! This place was loaded with fish! Row after row of tanks.
The kids found Nemo -- and Dory, along with some fish that were large enough to make a nice dinner!
I think you could buy any aquarium fish that ever existed and I saw things I'd never seen before, like this one. (I forgot to photograph the label -- sorry.)
Then there was this one -- not fancy . . .
. . . but very pricey!
This one seemed to just be climbing the wall of the aquarium. He was fascinating to watch.
(I really need to take pictures of the names next time -- but I was herding kids and taking it all in myself -- along with looking for the cat food section, which was surprisingly small.)
They also had a huge selection of birds, including this impressive fellow.
And then there were the reptiles.
I'm not big on the reptiles and smalls, but the kids were!
They also had the biggest koi pond I'd ever seen inside! It was very relaxing.
All in all, it was a great couple of days, time to commune with the kidlets and have some fun ourselves. It was also educational.
I learned that the price of fish has come up from the old goldfish-in-a-small-bowl days and that I could never afford to have an aquarium at home.
Sharing with: Saturday's Critters / Talking About It Tuesdays / Share Your Style
60 comments:
Aww, I love that you and Carson had a day like that. I still remember my one-on-one grandparent outings very fondly, and I'm sure he will, too.
...everything is expensive these day!
Better to go to the store to see those fish, LOL, and no aquarium to clean!
What a fun time you made for the grands! I want to do all those fun things too.
Wow you sure made the best of the time for all of you!! Thank you for sharing, that was fun to read!
What a fun couple of days!! Good Times!!!
Dawn P.
Awesome 2 days! The kids and adults had fun. I was amazed at that $999 price tag, too. Unbelievable. I used to have a small aquarium when I was single. I gave it away when I married David and moved to his condo. It was a hassle to clean every month.
If I owned a pet store, I'd be terrified to stock a $999 fish. What if it died?!
Anyway, you had a busy couple of days! I was tired just reading this! LOL
You had a busy day! We once had an aquarium when our children were school age. It was fun to watch the fish. Those sucker fish do a good job of cleaning the inside of the tank.
What a fun time to spend with your grands.
A thousand dollar fish???? Oh my.
Looks like you planned all kinds of wonderful adventures for the kiddos. Good job;)
You definitely know how to keep a child entertained and in a very interesting way.
I enjoyed your fun! Thanks for sharing.
OMGosh! This was such fun for me! Over the years I was an assistant manager in three different privately owned pet shops and ran the fish department in the last one (early 90s). Salt water fish have gone way up in price because they do not allow them to be stunned by explosive devices that blast corals--thank god! Or at least they're not supposed to be catching wild fish anymore. Supposed to have bred them--same with the birds. There's a huge market for illegal wild caught critters, though. :(
Back when I was first working in a pet shop (very first job at 17 in 1968) we even had a wooly monkey, racoons, skunks, ferrets, crayfish, caimans (alligators), etc...in Minnesota...in a suburb of Minneapolis. They are not allowed to be sold in most places anymore. (I am soooo glad!)
Anyways, your trip to the pet store was a treat for me. Love that Koi pond! And the boys had a blast looks like. With all of the adventures, not just the pet shop--lol! ;)
That must have been a wonderful day for you all, you really took the littles to some great attractions! Glad you all had fun! Enjos zour weekend! Hugs, Valerie
And A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. (capslock)
The thousand-dollar fish, if Google Lens is to be believed, is a Fahaka Pufferfish! Yipes! Websites describe it as an intelligent sih that needs a large aquarium with an enriching scape design, aggressive, and intolerant of other species. It's African in origin, no relation to the deadly Asian pufferfish from which the lethal delicacy "fugu" comes, but I still wouldn't eat it. Not at that price.
XOXOXOXOXO
Taking the kids out makes a meaningful and fulfilling day
You really had 2 action-packed days! No wonder the grands fell asleep on the sofa. Who would pay 1K for a fish? I had a goldfish in college named Leander, and I took it along to the Jersey Shore when I got a summer job there. It just had a small bowl but seemed content....
Looks like some fun stuff is happening with the boys. They look so darn cute sleeping. Makes me think of and miss my g.grands. Enjoy them and hug them plenty they are growing before your eyes. Blessings to all, xoxo, Susie
You certainly know how to entertain a child. The photos are precious, and it looks like a good time was had by all.
Jeanie, two wonder-filled days with adorable boys. You packed in a lot of activities in a short time. I bet the boys weren’t the only tired ones. The thousand dollar fish, who would pay that for a fish that could suddenly die?
That all sounds like so much fun! I often marvel at the cost of some of those fish; after having had a tank in our house for a few years (where we kept much, much cheaper fish!) it isn't nearly that easy to keep them all alive and healthy and I could not imagine spending that much money on something that could die within a year.
I never would have thought of going to a pet store for entertainment, but the ony pet stores I know of around here are the Petsmarts that specialize in guppies! This would have been like going to an aquarium -- heck, it was an aquarium. I had no idea that such specialized fish could be purchased. I suspect you'd have to grow into them -- have a life long history with fish -- just to have the knowledge to keep them alive and happy. I remember reading a blog entry years ago written by someone who made the mistake of plopping piranha into her home tank. Things didn't go well.
What a fun time with the little ones
What a great time you had with the kids. Takes me back to when my daughter was a little girl and we did so much together. Once she got past around fourteen she no longer wanted to spend as much time with her dad. The good thing is that it lasted for about ten years and then it was back to going for walks together again. I have often wished that I had a terrarium at home. Reptiles can be very interesting animals to have, and they require relatively little care, but somehow it has just never happened and never will now. I am glad that you learned too, Jeanie.
Wow! What wonderful adventures you had! I confirm, after sharing snakes and turtles and alligators (!) with kids the last couple of days at the wildlife refuge---kids love reptiles.
The stained glass is lovely, and the play sounds like a delight.
These precious days fly by.Enjoy every LITTLE moment:)
I enjoyed sharing your day. You must have been even more exhausted than the kids (unless you dozed thru Peter Pn).
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Aw, Jeanie. These photos remind me of my boys which were just two years apart...and all the things we did with them. So cute, and the more experiences you share all the better. The aquarium was a favorite, grins, Sandi
I’m impressed with all the activities you and the kids had together. I’m exhausted just seeing photos and reading about everything. But I really enjoyed the pet store. It’s been years since I was last in one. We have had many aquariums over the years, all cared for by Mr. Cottage. Aquariums can be so peaceful to watch, but I remember one day where we had all these neon fish that kept disappearing. Mr. Cottage was at work that day, and I was getting upset about one of the larger fish who kept eating all the neons. Anything but peaceful!
Such fun filled days. Those boys will have so many fond memories. You two must be exhausted as well. We used to have an aquarium. I loved it. So fun to watch the lit up tank. The sucker fish looks like a plecostomus fish that eats algae. Happy weekend Jeanie.
It's definitely more fun to see neat things and do arts and crafts with little ones. I hope you took time to rest too! They are a bit of a work out! heehee!
Hello Jeanie,
What a great time with the boys. The Natural history museum would be a favorite of mine. The aquariums and fish are a nice sight to see. I like the parrot and lizards too.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Those little bitty human critters look like they had a great time, so great, they were worn out!!I love it! I love the adventures. And the craft project is great. Hang those on the deck and let the sun filter through them.....great job.
What a delightful couple of days filled with family, fun, and adventure! From attending a children's play and making stained glass hanging pieces to exploring the natural history museum and visiting a bustling pet store, it sounds like you and the kids had a blast. The aquarium fish must have been fascinating to see, although it's true that maintaining an aquarium can be quite an investment these days. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! 🐠🦕
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Lucky you to have access to such adorable grandsons. what a fun day you shared through pictures. thanks for sharing the kiddos adventures with you!
Loved it!!!!!
You had a great time with the boys. They have really grown a lot.
You certainly are the fun grandparents, Jeanie. A great idea to visit a pet store that's more like the zoo. Such a variety of interesting animals for all to see. The boys are darling and growing up so fast! Such a fun post.
A lovely post and photographs.
What a fun couple of days you all had.
All the best Jan
Your boys sure had a marvelous time. The fish were a real treat. The boys were conked out, and I would guess that you are too.
WOW!! What a wonderful place and time you had!!! Looking forward to being able to do things like that with my granddaughters...
Hugs,
Deb
Great collection, especially the parrot.
I thought of getting one, about 30 years ago, but after learning that the one I was interested in was $1,000 or more and that it could outlive me. I could have probably managed the $ part, but I would not have wanted to raise that child and have it be given to someone else to manage (not fair for the bird).
Thanks for sharing all the fun stories and photos.
Be well!
What a whirlwind of fun and adventure you and Carson had!
It's so heartwarming to read about all the special moments you shared together.
And that pet store sounds like a treasure trove of fascinating creatures!
Precious photos of your time together.
Hugs and blessings, Jeanie
You are so fortunate to have time with grandkids. A fun day for sure.
Great job keeping the little ones entertained while they were there. If I had to do that, it would have been me zonked out on the couch instead of them!
What a wonderful way to spend the day. Those stained glass sun catchers are beautiful.
Looks like a great pet store..Fish are a lot of trouble besides being expensive. It's a nice outing for the kids.... And you as well.
Loved the "stained glass"...
Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Isn't one of the nicest things about being around kids the way you find your horizons widened in unexpected ways! this sounds like a wonderful couple of days, that everyone got lots out of!
Jeanie, oh yes! THESE are the good old days. Oh what fun to experience life with those little ones. Thank you for sharing the joy with us all.
What a fun couple of days for all! The picture of them zonked out on the couch is so sweet! Both boys are at great ages for adventures like the ones you had. Paul would have loved to see the dinosaur skeleton! He is still very intrigued/into dinosaurs!
What fun activities with the family. Love the photo of the boys crashed out in the sofa after an active day.
Lucky grandkids !
Looks like a fun time Jeanie. Those reptiles look like Australian dragons. I wonder if they are? Can't believe the price of that fish! And that fish with the big lump on its head is very ... interesting.
What a great series of outings! You guys are lucky to have each other. That pet shop sounds like it must be huge. My daughter would be in heaven. Some day I think she'll have a big aquarium. In the meantime, she loves to watch videos of a guy who designs aquariums. I wish I could remember the name of the page, because I bet your grands would like it.
Looks like such a great time was had by all!! Along with making wonderful memories too!! How wonderful that you get to spend time with the grands!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! I hope youa re having a great week!!
Hugs,
Deb
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Great blog
What a great idea to visit the pet store/aquarium. I had never thought of doing that with my guy. Your boys are at just the right age for that. What fun you had. I love the art project too. I was sitting here trying to figure out how you did it. Hummm?
Stopping by from Talking About It Tuesdays! Looks like a fun weekend with some special people and I CANNOT believe those fish. They look so cool except the expensive one looks kind of boring :)
What a fun day! That museum looks great, and now I want to go to that pet store too. LOL. Although, it is probably not safe for our budget - or house -for me to go. We already have a pretty full house!
What a special day for your grand kiddos, Jeanie. They are lucky to have you and your husband and vice versa. The fish is a flower horn. I was curious and googled it. Wishing you many more special days with your grandsons.
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