HOT HOT HOT

As in Africa Hot- THAT's the temperature inland got today- HOT, dry, windy and HOT.

And I forgot to check the weather and we went to the Wild animal park today.

The geography/weather here is just so different than what I'd experienced before- This AM I woke up COLD- fleece jacket cold and debated turning on the heat. So.. I'm thinking.. today's a good day to go- I'm finally only coughing up 1 lung with any exertion and the kids sound less like they have tuberculosis.

Outside was cool- get in the car and as we get there it gets warmer. I expected it to be about 10 degrees warmer than it is at home. And I expected home to be in the low 70's.

But no. Santa Anna was here today and she blows hot air freshly dried from the desert at gusts up to 60 mph. And I want to know why they'd name hot wind that sucks the life/wind out of you and promotes wild fires after a saint? Really. They should have named them Satan Aires or something more appropriate.

Diddn't I feel dumb as we get there, open the car door and feel the hair dryer on the hot pavement. Felt dumber as I was cleaning up car sick boy in 104 degree heat. I am grateful he waited until we got out of the car before launching breakfast. I had just buckled him into the front seat of the stroller and he started crying - no unusual for him to protest being restrained from darting in front of moving cars in parking lots... but then the fountain erupted.

I really look forward to the day none of the kids get carsick. ever.

And I'm thinking.. 'hey, it's October- pumpin patches, fall.. isn't it supposed to get cooler or something?!" Hmm.. they must not have gotten the memo.

Yes, he sprayed me with water as I took his picture. Charming, huh?

They got soaked on these animals with water spraying out of them- designed so that visitors don't get heatstroke, I think. The kids and their clothes dried in less than an hour. I kid you not -it was that hot and arid.

And of course, the highlight of the day was the animals you could pet- here it was deer-

Kayla went and hugged as many of them as she could-

Once the kids had pet all the awake ones, Sonia decided to sit and wait for the sleeping ones to wake up and play with her. For a kid that hates sitting still, she waited pretty patiently a pretty long time.

And JM was on my back - why he's not in the pictures chasing the deer. He was tired and being the lazy mom I am, I thought- hmm... one less kid to get really dirty and have to de-contaminate.. yeah, he can stay there. He was there a bit late in the day as we were checking out the non-stroller friendly exhibits- they had some really neat walk through bird houses we were checking out sans stroller.

would I go back?

maybe. Does H*ll freeze or at least cool off?