the magic numbers

Back when I was pregnant with baby number two I first heard the magic numbers. When they are three and five years old, life will get easier. When they are three and five they will both be real people. When they are three and five you will be able to travel without a truck load of special gear. When they are three and five they will play so well together.

...three and five... three and five...

Three and five seems like a lifetime away when you are chasing a two year old as you bounce a cranky newborn, all on five hours per night of sleep. Three and five is hard to imagine when getting yourself, a constantly nursing, sleeping or pooping newborn and a defiant, potty training two year old out of the house on time for a ballet class is a monumental accomplishment. Three and five is hard to imagine when just making it to the end of the day is a monumental accomplishment.

And yet...

Abby is now five. Next month Claire turns three.

Three and five.

Today my mother suggested we take the girls to the zoo and the park, so I tossed an extra diaper in my camera bag and off we went.

No stroller. No toys. No bottles. No special food. No extra outfits. No burp cloths. No sippy cups.

But really, what is most notable about this trip is that nothing notable happened. No meltdowns. No drama. Nothing blogable at all really.

Just a couple of little girls at the zoo.

It was... easy.

We arrived.

We laughed at silly monkeys and stinky elephants.

At lunch time, each girl happily sat down and ate a Zoo kids meal, agreeing to a trade when one wanted more fries and the other wanted more nuggets.

As we passed by the gift shop, I asked the girls if they wanted to each pick one thing to buy with their Easter money. Abby picked goo with a giraffe in it. Claire picked a cat. We paid. No drama. No meltdowns.

We saw some more animals.

We rode the carousel.

Played on the playground.

Threw rocks in the Japanese Garden.

No drama. No meltdowns.

A day of fun that was actually fun.

Sure having grandma along helped, but still... we have come a long, long way since those early days.

I would say three and five is looking pretty good.

from right to left: Grandma, Claire pouting (she no longer smiles for pictures, she pouts),

Abby showing off her goo