snake day.

Snake Day is looked forward to year after year in this house. The boys ask how many more days until Snake Day, and count them down for the last few months. We leave early so we can be there the minute it opens, before the crowd. We spend hours circling around again and again.

While G loves visiting the snakes, he then likes to wander the museum. A, on the other hand, wants to stay in the room with the snakes (and turtles, alligators, lizards, etc.) all day. He doesn't want to leave. Or visit other parts of the museum. This year his recent intense phobia of the dark means he could only go in the bright areas of the museum - which is about 10% of it. He tried, but ended up covering his ears, looking down, and refusing to step deep into the dark hallways full of the exhibits. So we visited a few things (butterflies!), but spent hour upon hour with the snakes! A loves their calm quiet, G likes their silky feel.


So we begin the countdown to the next Snake Day. 364 days to go!

s.s.snakes!

There are a few events we go to every year that are highly anticipated. Snake Day at the Milwaukee Public Museum is one of those big gotta go events. So, when the night before Snake Day the transmission suddenly starts slipping on the car, we knew we had to jump through hoops to figure out the logistics to get ourselves a rental in time to be at the museum - over 70 miles away - first thing the next morning.


And we did it! We were not there at the moment they opened, but we made it within an hour of opening, with all day to hang out. Snake Day for A is no small matter. He doesn't want to walk through and then is done. He must stay. All day. Touch all of the reptiles. Hold them. Talk to the herpetologists. Repeat.


Both boys love feeling the snakes. Some are smooth, some bumpy, all beautiful. In the sunshine the black rat snake (above) has an iridescent sheen. A even got a few kisses on his cheek by the tongue of that curious snake. He was in heaven. Ear to ear smile.


We wandered and visited the room filled with frogs, crocodiles, snakes, turtles and lizards. A spent hours with the snakes, while G visited for awhile, and then wandered the rest of the (not so busy) museum with me.


It is so interesting to see that the natural feelings almost all children have towards snakes is not fear - but awe. Every child wanted to reach out and touch. And the snakes are so fascinating to watch...and feel.


So as the boys look forward to the next Snake Day - we return the rental car and cross our fingers that the shop will tell us tomorrow that the transmission is under warranty. ;) Hope you had a great weekend!


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Sssssssnakes!

We have been hanging low, working to keep G (asthma boy) virus free. November is always his first big month of ER/Urgent Care visits, nebulizers, and breathing problems. This year we are being extra (extra, extra?) careful. Last weekend was Snake Day at a museum in Milwaukee. The boys REALLY wanted to go, so we all made an exception to our 'crowd' aversion and went. I'm so glad we did!


Snake Day is an annual event - but this year they expanded it quite a bit. There were dozens of volunteers there with so many types of snakes, lizards and other reptiles. So cool.


The boys were in awe. We spent hours going around and around over and over again.


They got to handle snakes, ask questions, see so many types and learn a lot. They were so interested and gentle with these creatures - and admired their beauty.


I am sure this was a day they will always remember!