Spring Break And The Best Day Ever! Or, Spring Break on the Cheap! (to borrow a title from my cousin ;)

Spring break arrived, which of course translates into boredom. Boredom, and spending money to alleviate it...but I was determined to NOT go broke. Perhaps the best story of my endeavor was created on Wednesday, with Jacob and Morgan. Always with Morgan. Poor Morgan. I guess with her I feel more comfortable to try things and not worry so much about the what-ifs...it truly is a wonder she keeps agreeing to go places with us. But to stay in order, Tuesday we went to the Memphis Botanical Gardens, which has this thing called "My Big Back Yard." IT. IS. AWESOME. Aunt Debbie, Melissa and Nicole, if you guys come back in town, we WILL go here. You do have to pay to get in, but it is so fun, it doesn't matter. I did not get many pictures this day, but I have taken lots in the years past.  It has a huge tree/play house, an outside music center, a water feature to play in, all kinds of cool swings...etc, etc, etc. Anyway, we met a friend there.

The BEST swing was a hammock-like-thing for two, and the other mom and I camped out in it  ;)   Seriously though, I did not take pictures that would do this place justice. We will go there, cousins. That's just all there is to it.

And that brings us to the Wednesday adventure.  I had already promised Morgan we would come get her and do something.  The something was still being worked on when Mom called Tuesday afternoon to say that her co-worker had a zoo pass and would be willing to meet us there and get us in. For free!! Whoopee! This was a really nice thing to do since she would be using some of her lunch break time to do this.The kids were all pumped up about it because we had packed lunches and were planning a picnic (Morgan was happy), and packed extra clothes so they could play in the huge water fountain thingy (Jacob was happy) in one of the newer areas (I usually don't let them because we never think ahead and bring extra clothes and the water thing is toward the back and I don't want to listen to them whine about how uncomfortable they are the rest of the time in wet clothes).  So, we met her at the office, and then followed her to the zoo. Only, we never made it to the zoo, because the line just to get into the parking lot wound out of the lot, out onto both side streets, and out onto both major street on either side. And then down those major streets. It was ridiculous. *Side note:  in years before I would have totally dissed Memphis in explaining this ridiculous phenomenon by saying that the city sucks and there isn't enough to do.  However, since having Jacob and Morgan in my life and consequently actively pursuing finding new and fun things to do, I have realized our city is actually pretty awesome. Shudder.*  Back to my story: it was clear we were not going to get into the zoo, since it would have taken Mom's coworker's entire vacation package of waiting in the line to get us in. We were downtown, ready to picnic and get wet, what could we do? Mud Island!! I was cool with this b/c Mud Island is free, you just have to pay to ride the monorail (money not in the budget, but what can you do?). If you remember, last year when we did this, we rode the trolley from Mom's work (where we parked for free) and it only cost, like, a quarter. This time, I didn't feel like doing all that; and besides, Mud Island must have a parking lot, right? Right? Yeah, it does, a $6 parking lot. Ok fine. Budget not working out. I will just accept it.  But as we drove into the almost full parking lot (that's an important note to prove I am not crazy), the attendant peered into my car and asked, "you guys aren't planning on going to Mud Island are you?" As I look one more time at the title of this parking lot ("Mud Island Parking Lot"), I say, "Yesssssss...." He replies, (thankfully, but still confusing) "Mud Island isn't open yet. Won't be until April 14." Thankful that he told me before I spent the non-budgeted money, confused that there were LOTS of cars in the lot and more behind me (were the people wandering around the gates of Mud Island wondering why no one would let them in??), and becoming stressed because I had two expectant kids in the back seat, we drove back to Mom's office.  *Side note: also, before having kids-I count Morgan-I didn't know my way downtown.*  Well, long story short, every mom/grandmother on the floor was giving us ideas on nearby/safe places to go that didn't cost money.  *Side note:  also before having kids, I was not as outgoing/willing to talk to complete strangers.*  Pretty soon we were hooked up with a cool new park and the Main Library with it's really cool children's section. The only thing missing was getting wet, but these swings managed to make up for it:

I guess these were intended for the younger kids, but oh well. After hearing them exclaim that "these swings are so relaxing!" I came over and started swinging them in such a way that they started banging into each other (you know, the way you usually try to avoid) and called them "bumper swings." This is when Morgan could be heard (over the giggles), "This is the best day ever!"  Other moms and kids were watching us, the moms smiling at the other crazy mom, the kids glaring with envy because I'm sure all the  "good" moms warned against such activity.
Next, to add to the best day-ness, I started twisting the swing. Again, smiles and glaring.

 I didn't get a really great pic of the library, but we will def have to take Lily:

A couple of random pics:  First we have a Star Wars guy. I was cooking and I hear, "General Grevious is sitting criss-cross applesauce. He is ready to learn. Giggle Giggle." Totally adorable.

 A friend of ours is moving to Oklahoma (sadness) and are there this week getting things ready.  While they were gone, they told Jon he could come get their firewood if he wanted it.  Of course he did.  While he was there he picked a bunch of flowers for me ;)  Apparently some people are good at growing things...

 Jacob is lazy. There, I said it. (we were at a red light)