Good thing we didn't worry about her at all this weekend

Um, if you all thought my weekend was fabulous, wait until you hear about ZOEY'S weekend. She has assured me (many times already) that my weekend was total crap compared to hers. BECAUSE EATING IN A GROWN-UP RESTAURANT DOES NOT COMPARE TO SEEING A SNOW OWL LIVE AND IN PERSON AT THE ZOO. Sorry, Mommy.

As mentioned previously, Zoey was whisked away by my MIL early in the morning. Heather took both Zoey and Finley to Northwest Trek, which, if I remember correctly from my one field trip there in the third grade, is a zoo-ish setting complete with tram ride and wandering amongst animals native to the Northwest. I figured, with the gray, drippy weather hanging around yesterday morning, they might spend a couple hours there at the most. From what I gather, they didn't return home until nearly 4 p.m. The trip has rekindled Zoey's love of owls, and she has spoken of few things other than the snow owl she got to see while she was at the zoo.

I take that back. If you ask her what animals she saw yesterday at the zoo, her first response will be "A SHWUG." (Slug.) Followed by an appropriately long 'eewwwww' accompanied by a grossed-out face. And after she reviews with you in infinite detail the shortcomings of the slug species, she will move on to more dignified and less slimey Snow Owl. But please be prepared for a rather lengthy slime monologue.

But I digress. Zoey and Finley both made paper cut-outs of owls (Zoey made three, actually, and added hair to one of them), picked out 'special rocks' at the gift shop (because only a grandmother will spend MONEY on ROCKS), and rode the tram and walked around the park to their hearts content. There was no napping. There was a lot of snacking. Because that's how Grandma Heather rolls.

Then they were off to Grandma Heather's house where Grandpa "Aggix" (Alex) was waiting. Apparently my child scarfed down a dinner of roasted pork loin and swiss chard. I think this part of the story might be a lie.

Even bedtime was relatively stress-free BECAUSE OH MY GOD GRANDMA HEATHER LET ME SLEEP IN A CASTLE, MOMMY! A castle! Like the one I used to love and adore in our dining room that you so heartlessly dismantled weeks ago!

That's right, Zoey. Your mother loves you but both your grandmothers love you way more.

This morning, after chatting with Zoey on the phone and getting the low-down on the slugs and rocks and castle-sleeping, the whole team headed to the swimming pool where Grandma Heather didn't even make her wash her hair after getting out of the pool. See! The love!

Bryan went to retrieve our blissed-out child late this afternoon and apparently had to pry her (complete with kicking and screaming) away from Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We'll be dropping her off again on the 23rd, for Bryan's birthday, and picking her up sometime in January.