Zoo

Last Saturday I got to go to the zoo with my sister and nephew, and I realized just how fun the zoo is when you have a nine-month-old little boy to help you appreciate it!

 All bundled up!  It was a little nippy out.

 With his mommy by the big, fake elephant.

 He was kind of tired and out of it at the beginning.

 But then he warmed up to the lemurs...

 and the birds...

 and the kangaroo-thingys...

 but not so much to whatever this animal was.

 However, he LOVED the giraffes (or he just decided to be happy when we were with the giraffes)

 I love this face!  He makes it whenever he's excited about something.

 Look at that grin!  I love this kid.

With his favorite aunt. =)

He also adored the merry-go-round!  

So, in summary:  I love the zoo and my nephew is one of the cutest boys in the world! (My other nephew is another of those, and my two nieces are the two cutest girls in the world)

The Funny Thing About Parental Advice...

It's usually good.  I cannot even begin to count how many times my mother told me to keep my room clean or to tidy my bathroom every day because it would be easier than cleaning it once a week.  She also pointed out that I would feel better and be less stressed.  It's only now, 5 and a half years after leaving her house, that I am finally heeding her advice and trying to keep my house in order every day instead of letting it get out of hand and then cleaning on Saturday for hours at a time.  I've discovered that I sleep better, I'm happier, I have more energy, and I get more of everything (grading, reading, spending time with Bryant) done when I take the half hour to re-clean the kitchen after cooking or make the bed (even at 5 pm) or hang up my jacket instead of leaving it on a chair.  This probably doesn't come as a surprise to any of you out there who have been neat freaks your whole life, but it is utterly amazing to me!  I think I am a neat freak who has been wrapped in a decorative coating of laziness for the last 23 years.
So here goes:  Mother, you were right all along.  Oh, and you were also right when you told me that doing the dishes warms you up and keeps you from being bored. =)