Give Me A (Spring) Break

What are you going to be when you grow up?

I swear my parents started asking me that question when I was three, and I suppose I've been asking ChellBell that same question since she was three.

So we spend our entire growing-up-ness asking ourselves what we will "be". And then we reach grown-up-ness, and whether we are doing what we had indicated at the age of three or not, we have to "be", so we "are". And some of us are doctors and some of us are recruiters and some of us are CPAs and some of us work the cash register at the Walmart. But regardless of what we are doing or being, we're all working hard. And a lot. And we'd all like a break. Like Spring Break.

ChellBell had Spring Break this week. I had to hide my smirk as she announced that "school just wears me out. It is definitely time for a week off." The poor child has no idea about a standard work week, putting in extra hours, earning a pay check, and accrued time off. She just knows that she is worn out.

It's been a strange week for Spring Break, having to share a seven day space with St. Patrick's Day, the first day of Spring, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. That's a lot to pack into one week. A little overwhelming, and I am definitely not the only Mom who thought so.

We didn't plan a lot for ChellBell's week off, but we've still had a great week (allowing lots of rest time for the poor worn-out girl). One of the funnest things we've done this week is visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Park in Glen Rose, TX, just outside of Fort Worth. This is a fantastic drive-through wildlife reserve, with a 10 mile path lined with wild animals including giraffes, zebras, moose-type animals, and ostrich. Animals who want nothing more than to get food from you, even if they break all rules of personal space and invite themselves into your car. Like these guys...

Don't let the sweet faces fool you. These guys are after the alfalfa pellets. They know you have them. And they know that you can't drive with them either standing in front of your car or sticking their head in your window. Manipulative little animals, aren't they...

We have a few more things up our sleeves for ChellBell, but hopefully she will be well-rested by the time Tuesday rolls around and she is sent back to the exhausting world of first grade. From the looks of it, I think she'll be just fine!