The day started out slowly and sped up. We enjoyed a nice breakfast at Shoneys once everyone was up and going. Then off to the zoo, theater, and wild evening of egg dying!

The zoo egg hunt for MaryVic was at 12:30 so we went to Shoney’s first for breakfast. I managed to forget almost everything. Greg remembered the theater tickets before we were out of the neighborhood. I still left behind the zoo carousel tokens and my zoo pass. I had changed purses earlier in the week and didn’t realize they were not there until we were at the zoo. We have a family pass for the zoo and they let us all in anyway.We parked in an undeveloped area of the zoo back beyond the anteater houses and the zoo greenhouse. The zoo entrance for members was right at the elephants and giraffees exhibits. MaryVic put in her bid for a giraffe purse but was distracted by heading on into the zoo for her egg hunt. Daddy found rabbit ears for her and William at the radio station tent. MaryVic wanted to see the Shoney Bear and gave him a HUGE hug. We then tried to take a picture with the Easter Bunny but he went on break. Face painting seemed like a good idea and MaryVic loves it. Unfortunately it was one person and there was no way she’d get her turn before the egg hunt. Poppa and Daddy distracted her with a carousel ride. Poppa rode with her for his first carousel ride of the year. Then it was time for the easter egg hunt madness. Grandmomma, William and I had staked out a spot at the front. It became crowded quickly. Many more people attended than the previous year. While MaryVic was riding the carousel, E.B. passed through and high-fived William. He came by again but it was at a run. They did get to pet the ostrich before the egg hunt started.MaryVic picked up a few eggs. She started to only get three but went back to get more and Greg was able to get some good pictures. Egg hunting with William was more of an exercise. I had to carry him out and lower him down at an angle so that he could grab some eggs. Take those to Grandmomma and then go back and grab some more.It did not matter how many eggs a child picked up. Everyone got the same treat bag for the eggs. Off to the treat tents and everyone got a treat bag. Luckily William was willing to turn in his eggs after watching sister do it. Candy, easter egg ears, bubbles!, toy and candy! They were allowed a piece of candy and put on the easter egg ears for a minute.There was still some time before we needed to head to the theater so we took MaryVic to the playground. Grandmomma chased her around some, Daddy chased her around some. She played Momma knock over in the blue toddler area where William was getting some toddler time. She gets this look on her face, ‘I’m going to get you’ determination, and runs full force at you. The key is to start rolling back before she hits you otherwise you are going to get hurt.After play we headed off for MaryVic’s surprise, the Nashville Childrens Theater to see Go Dog Go! (http://www.nashvillechildrenstheatre.org/yellow/dog.htm). It was a cool performance of the P.D. Eastman book with actors pretending to be dogs and all over the stage. Some slapstick humor, audience involvement, and nice music. It was very energetic and colorful. Everyone enjoyed although MaryVic was very disappointed that no dragon was in it. She saw the theater’s dragon on the tickets and next month they are doing The Reluctant Dragon. Between the two she was quite sure a dragon should have been around somewhere! Both kids fell asleep on the way home. William woke up enough at home for Greg to carry him in and put him down in the den. We took it easy somewhat for the rest of the evening. Ordered pizza and then realized during clean up that we had not dyed eggs with MaryVic. What was going to be a quick activity took a couple of hours as Poppa determined we didn’t have enough eggs and we experimented with vinegar and without vinegar in the dye.William was frustrated not to be able to help.

MaryVic had to look at the eggs every 3 seconds during the process which dragged out the dying somewhat although Poppa was able to distract her by threatening to eat the eggs. She was very good and gentle but it didn’t last as it became late and she became tired.

Eventually everyone was totally worn out and had to retire for the night. MaryVic did want to bowl on the Wii (NO!) but eventually settled down and went to sleep.