I decided the boys were finally ready for Parrot Jungle, one of my favorite places to go during the Miami winter. I realized they wouldn’t be into feeding and watching the birds for hours like I am....

... but I thought they were old enough not to run off and get eaten by the petting zoo goats. I kept pointing out the different kinds of birds, but they were most interested in: 

After climbing up and down these rocks for a long while, we headed off to the petting zoo area. We got to go into the kangaroo enclosure and pet some babies. Benjamin loved conversing with the roosters. And he was really annoyed he couldn't go into the oragutan enclosure to play on their playground.  (Did you know "orangutan" doesn't have a "g" at the end?!)

And I thought they would like the giant tortoises…

.... but once they spied the playground they lost all interest in the animals.  Except for this wooden rabbit:

After naps that afternoon, I noticed a reddish rash on the back of Jonah’s neck. It spread a bit that evening, but it didn’t seem to be bothering/itching him.

But the rash was dramatically worse the next morning and covered nearly a third of his entire body. He looked like he’d been bitten by several giant mosquitoes – large raised red and pink welts.  If I showed you pictures, you'd call Child Welfare Services on me.

I took him to the doctor who determined it was some sort of allergic reaction – maybe to something he came into contact with at Parrot Jungle. Benedryl cleared the rash in a couple of days.

Must've been the creepy bunny.

Jonathan had this Fantastic idea to take a Fun Family Outing to the Sony Ericsson tennis tournament a couple weeks ago.  We couldn't actually take them into the stadiums to watch the tennis, which seems to me the whole point of going to a tennis tournament, so..... how to entertain two toddlers in the blazing sun in what was essentially an outdoor food court? 

First we investigated the sculptures:

[The two photos of the Romero fish are for you, Heidi!]

Then they did some climbing:

And then they posed with Serena Williams on our way out:

Yesterday during an afternoon run/skate along the beach, we saw several police officers on motorcycles doing some serious off-roading. Over the curb, through the grass, tight circles, down the curb, one right behind the other.

Then today we’re driving along and see a dozen or more officers on trotting horses weaving in and out of the palm trees beside the road.

Are Miami police officers trying to lower fuel costs? Whatever the explanation, Benjamin and Jonah find their alternative modes of transportation terribly exciting.