One thing I think about a lot is how to do better. I mean that in every way possible, but I especially mean it when it comes to parenting. To say that my parents failed in many ways is an understatement, but that's no excuse for me and my actions. I need to keep looking for ways to be better, do better, and create better.
Which is all to say, I try to remember to create moments worth remembering. That's one of the best things we can do, you know? I don't think the girls will remember the things I do or don't buy them in ten years (and sometimes the next day), but they will remember the things we do together.
Thus, Friday's spontaneous shenanigans.
Normally when school is out, Alexis would join Mila at daycare. However, our daycare was closed for Good Friday, so I took the day off. It was my first vacation day in a very long time, so it had to get used for something good.
Like a road trip.
To Cleveland.
(Shoosh yinz who haven't figured out that Cleveland is a fun little trip. It is.)
To the zoo.
It really wasn't a big deal. We decided to for sure do it about 9:00 that morning. By 10:00, we were in the car. A quick two-hour drive there, $11 to get in (it's a LOT less expensive than Pittsburgh's Zoo, plus it's a reciprocal zoo and we have a Pittsburgh membership), and an afternoon of just the girls and me walking around.
By the time we were done, Alexis and I had decided that Pittsburgh's Zoo has a better polar bear exhibit and the penguins' home is WAY better than this thing Cleveland has going on.
But Cleveland wins some points for the much better elephant building, general layout of the whole zoo, and the fact that they have a koala.
So it wasn't anything AMAZING, but it kind of was because any day spent hanging out with those two is amazing.
Hopefully some day they'll look back and think the same thing as they tell someone about that time we just randomly woke up and ran off to another city.