Sundays in My City: Wild Kingdom

My oldest's birthday is coming up at the end of the month, and, cringing slightly, we asked him what he wanted as a present. We winced as we asked because it was just as likely that Owen would ask for a food dehydrator or a carper cleaner as he would a monster truck or a football.

Owen's weird. The best kind of weird, but still....he would prefer to do laundry over almost any other activity, and had a meltdown the other day because I wouldn't let him unload the dishwasher.

I know, I know....you all wish you could have my problems. Let me assure you that when a near-four year old "unloads" the dishwasher, bloodletting is part of the process more often than not.

It has been well-documented that Owen's other favorite toy (besides the previously mentioned household appliances), is his collection of PVC pipes.

When I took this picture, it was about forty degrees outside, the coldest temperature I would allow for him to turn our backyard into a mud-wrestling arena (although Paul and I generally save that activity for after hours...)

Thus, it was with a great deal of relief that Owen declared that he wanted a fish tank for his birthday. Of course, a nice, self-cleaning pet rock would be an EVEN BETTER pet, but I understand the allure of having actual fish to feed and name and study.

I'm not so sold on the cleaning of the fish filth, but I love my son, and I will do the bitter task....or better yet, passively aggressively ignore it until Paul takes care of the job instead.

We journeyed to the Prince Frederick Zoo, otherwise known as PETCO. This is a regular field trip for us, because we have no museums for children, no indoor playgrounds, no water parks, and no options for indoor fun without driving in the car for at least a half hour (a whole bag of Goldfish crackers, in kid terms).

It never fails to please. We went to PETCO this time as a reconnaissance mission, and I imagine I probably shouldn't have let Joel do this: 

 

We checked out the wildlife. 

 

I had my eye on this little hot tamale: 

And what's this? 

Now you're talking my language. Feathered AND STD free? Hubba hubba. Boom chika wow wow...

  

We saw all the fish. Even all the Nemos, which were once again, trapped in glass tanks. Nobody found this sad. 

Joel was quite taken with this ferret. Since I would no sooner bring a ferret into my home than a possum or a rabid 'coon, this is the closest he will get to this weasel-like creature. Mommy's love goes only so far. 

After distracting the kiddos with promises of apple juice, I thankfully missed a meltdown regarding the dog treats that looked just like cookies, and the long-winded attempts at bargaining to procure some of said dog treats. 

As I drove home, I spied this sign. Perhaps dog treats would be a more healthful choice. 

Join Unknown Mami each week as we explore our Sundays in our Cities!