Day Camp. Potty. And Penguins. Oh My!

The week is flying by. H is loving day camp. He comes home exhausted and dirtier than possible and sometimes he's even missing something, like today, a random sock. {He claims he didn't notice he only had one sock on as he put his shoes on after swimming. That must mean he's too busy having fun.}

The weather's cleared up and after the first day and a half of rain it's been full sun and full bugs.

I'm so glad he's having fun.

***
I told my dad today that H pretty much broke me in. The first time he went potty I remember thinking we were going to be out of diapers within a week. {I was wrong.} Then I bribed, pushed, cried my way through some challenges until one day where he just got it. And it's funny because my dad told me when that was going on that in 6 months or even a year, I'd look back and laugh about what seemed like such a struggle. And I do.

All this to say, I've had pretty low expectations about the potty thing with Miss E. She's been going potty off and on for a LONG time now. Yet I've kind of been all laissez faire about it but the other day she begged me to let her wear underwear. Of course this was a day where we had a 30 minute drive in the car.

I hemmed and hawed, even at one point asked if she would wear her underwear over her diaper {my thinking was who wants to clean out a car seat potty accident? not me!}

Finally, I gave in. And she was fine.

Accident free all day.

And then today she did it again, minus an accident at bus pick up for H, she did great. Even telling me at one point in a childrens clothing store "Mama, I have to go potty!"

Ladies and gentlemen, we may be on our way!

celebrating.
see big girl E. dirty faced camper H. And two bigs who go along with my crazy celebration plans.
edit: I replaced the previous photo with a better one where everyone actually appears happy to be alive

****

This past weekend we had the chance to visit the Minnesota Zoo all the way down in Apple Valley. I hadn't been there in maybe 15 years?

I'm not sure why we waited so long though. It was a full, wonderful day. {And we left planning on becoming members before the next visit!}

Our first stop was the newest penguin exhibit. Penguins from Africa! Our littles loved it.

They pretty much loved the entire time we were there. H wanted to take pictures of everything. And we let him so now we have about 64 pictures of his finger or glass displays and occasionally the ground.

We rode the monorail at the end of our visit which was probably a little mixed up because had we done it first we probably could have mapped out what we really wanted to do and see for next time. {Such as the barn! That's a fall trip for sure!}

The Minnesota Zoo is giving away TWO free passes to the zoo here. {Including parking!} The passes are good anytime for any regular admission {either adults or children}.

To enter, tell me something that's bringing you joy this week. Is it the sunshine with no humidity? A big break at work? Planning a vacation or a girls weekend? Whatever it is that's making you happy, leave a comment here and you're in.

Because this is a bigger giveaway, there are two additional ways to enter.

1. Like my blog on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you did so.

Or...

2. Share this post on either Facebook or Twitter and then leave a comment here saying you did so.

Winner to be chosen by random.org on August 10 at 8pm.


Disclosure: The Minnesota Zoo sponsored this giveaway. They also gave my family complimentary passes to the zoo. The opinions shared here are mine.