New Year's Day

Okay, so it's a little late to be posting about the new year.  We actually went to a New Year's Eve EVE party at Nate's house this year.  He hired babysitters so the kids were busy and entertained while the adults enjoyed adult conversations and beverages.   We spent New Year's Eve eating popcorn, sipping hot cocoa, and playing games with Gabriela - you know, like Go Fish and Old Maid and Zingo!

The next day, after Lane made us pancakes and smoothies, we decided at the last minute to hop in the car to San Francisco to go to the Academy of Sciences.  We were afraid it was going to be crowded, but we had found parking right away and enjoyed our day together. 

Gabriela was especially excited.  The other day she asked me, "Mom, what's the name of that one building?  It's white and it has walls?"  Finally, after asking her who we went there with, what did we see, please give me some other detail, anything... she told me, "you know, it has a rainforest!"  Of course, the Academy of Sciences.

First, we watched a little trivia show while Easton nursed. Gabriela went up on stage to answer a trivia question. I was so proud - she was on stage!! and answering trivia!!!  

It's official: This is my daughter, people!

 Just look at her concentration as the question was read to her.  It was a true/false question about whether or not ginger comes from the ginger root grown in Indonesia.  She answered true, very seriously and she was right!

 Here are all the kids who answered questions. Notice Gabriela is the only one bowing.  All the other kids did theirs a while ago. Gabriela observed and then did hers when she thought the time was right. 

 Gabriela giving some love to Claude, the albino alligator. 

 Then she rushed to the rainforest.  C'mon guys!!!  She really wanted to see this little froggy. 

 Gabriela and her Daddy after checking out the giant anaconda in the swamp.

She loves the touching pool.  Gabriela got to touch this starfish.  See its little tentacles feeling around? It was on the move!

 We arrived at the aquarium just in time to see these guys give a cleaning to the glass, talk about the giant tank, and observe a feeding.

 Here's Claude, the real deal.

 Gabriela and I went to the kids area to play while Daddy checked out the penguins.  It was then that we realized we didn't have her beloved Hello Kitty bag anymore.  We retraced our steps, asked around, and then Gabriela realized it was gone.  Thank goodness someone turned it in to the lost and found and she got it back.  Otherwise, our day might not have ended on a good note.

 We also saw a show all about snow and how it forms inside a giant tent of a snowman. Gabriela was very impressed.

We had a great time at the Academy of Sciences.  Gabriela and I have been 5 times in the last year, but only once with Daddy. What a fun-filled way to start the new year.