day 91 - the dreaded guelph lake

I used to HATE going to Guelph Lake when I was in school, but we had to go every. single. year. By the time I hit grade six and we did the water study with leeches, I was done and I wasn't going back. I used to beg my mom to let me stay home. I don't think she ever did though.

Today was my first time going as a parent. And you know what? It was actually pretty good and the kids loved it. What's even funnier is that the mom sitting beside me on the bus was the same person who sat with me on the bus all of those years going to Guelph Lake, my friend Maggie.





I was a bit concerned at first though. We went into the classroom and started looking at the tanks and at the animals and I had to suppress my panicked screams of "WHY ISN'T ANYBODY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THE SNAKES IS MISSING?!?!"



One of the things I didn't count on? If the almost five year old touches one of the animals the naturalist brings around, the 34 year old parent probably should too.



Crap. Apparently I didn't think this one through. Here she is touching a Madagascar hissing cockroach.

I touched the cockroach. And the snake. But there was no way in hell I was touching the rat. She pet it and let it crawl on her lap. I watched from across the room.

The kids played owl in the trees.



They even got to feed the chickadees.



But this is my favourite shot for today. Maggie loves to take pictures as much as I do. She had three cameras with her and let the girls run around with two of them and take pictures. While the rest of their class played soccer, Ava and Maggie's daughter documented it.



Like mother, like daughter.

Comments

Carlynn said…
Way to be brave and touch the creepy crawlies. I can't say that I'd have done it. Love the photo of the kids playing owl in the trees. What a fun field trip.
Andrea said…
I remember doing a Guelph Lake trip...but thankfully only once. Which pics did Ava and Lily take?
Jennifer said…
Thanks ladies!!! Not sure what pics they took Drea - I'll have to check with Maggie. I'm sure there are some funny ones. I find the pictures little kids take fascinating. It's amazing the things they notice that we don't. :)

I'll see if I can get some from Mags to post!
Jane said…
I'm glad you embraced your inner naturalist, reluctantly! I used to work their and loved all the furry, slimy, feathered stuff:-)
Buckeroomama said…
That last shot is just awesome!

Guelph --as in Guelph, ON? The only reason I know of Guelph is that one of my friends is considering retiring there with her husband. :)