Yesterday was hot – not Phoenix, Arizona hot – but a typical summer day in Columbia, South Carolina that was hot with high humidity. What better time for Pretty and me to take our 22-month-old granddaughter to the zoo, right? The zoo?

No, not the animal viewing side of the zoo. We’ll save that for the fall and cooler temps. Pretty had heard about the Waterfall Junction in the Botanical Gardens, however, and that was our plan for this babysitting day.

everyone came to play

Pretty asks is this the most fun ever?

Naynay, come – come get in the water with us!

Ok, then. I’ll hang with Nanna.

Wheeee – this is the most fun!

I wonder if these boys would like to play with me?

Who cares about them – I have my Nanna

Wow – look at this big rock

It’s the biggest rock I’ve ever seen up close

Catch me if you can, Nanna

I’m hiding from Nanna behind the water

Sorry, Naynay – I have to play without you today

I love the water!

This yellow thing is as big as I am

I don’t care – I’m strong

Naynay, do you have my water bottle?

Have I seen everything yet?

I hope so – I’m a little tired

I’m not THAT tired

Nanna, wait for me! Is that an Olympics balance beam?

I have to say I’m hard pressed to choose which little girl had the most fun today. Pretty releases her inner child with our granddaughter who has fun wherever we go, and I have fun watching them even when I forgot to wear a hat. Seats in the shade were at a premium; I had to play the old person card to get one.

Our thanks to our friends Saskia and her son Finn who gave us a family pass to the Riverbanks Zoo for our birthdays this spring. This was our first time to use it, but I promise it won’t be the last.

Stay safe, stay sane, get vaccinated and please stay tuned.