Life with Dylan

Category: Mother’s Day

  • Garden Festival – The Mother’s Day Bouquet That Keeps on Blooming

    All families have traditions. Some traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and other traditions are newly created with the anticipation of being carried on for many years to come. My family has some traditions that I can remember doing since I was a little girl, but I think my favorite tradition is the one Dylan and I started two years ago for Mother’s Day. We spend the day together enjoying all the sights and smells that the San Diego Zoo Discovery Days: Garden Festival has to offer.

    The beauty of each flower.
    The intricate details of the orchids.
    The other side of the zoo – the side most people overlook.

    This year’s theme is “How Does Your Garden Grow?” and will feature display booths where visitors can get gardening tips on pruning techniques, container gardening, the difference between soil and dirt, odd and curious plants, botanical wonders, growing bamboo, making a home garden more beautiful and bountiful, and more. Visiting the booths during this two-day event is a wonderful way to learn some great tips and tricks from the experts!

    Garden Festival also will offer self-guided walking tours, a scavenger hunt featuring plants with animal names, craft activities for children, and a chance to meet Zoo horticulturists, insect keepers and a researcher from the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research who is working to save plant species around the world and in our own backyards.

    I always enjoy seeing how the zoo’s horticulturists have decorated the planters and have been known to take hundreds of pictures … of flowers! My favorite part of Garden Festival is the opportunity to spend time inside the fabulous Orchid House.

    Yes, the San Diego Zoo has an Orchid House! Did you know that?

    Last year was my first time visiting the Orchid House and I was in awe of the beauty that was all around me. There are now 949 rare, unique and glorious species of orchids to see … and 22 of the orchid species are conservation worthy!

    Presented by Sparkletts and held every Mother’s Day weekend, the Garden Festival has quickly become my favorite family tradition. I can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day then being surrounded by flowers while I spend the day with my son at the San Diego Zoo.

    Does your family have a Mother’s Day tradition?

    For more details about the activities and booths offered during Garden Festival visit http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/gardenfestival

  • Creating memories at the San Diego Zoo

    Yes, as you know Dylan and I spend lots of time in San Diego. Starting to think we should just move down there – but that is another story. Over the Mother’s Day weekend we had the opportunity to attend a VIP tweet-up during the Garden Festival at the San Diego Zoo – so I figured we could make a weekend out of it and have some fun. Together, we shared some amazing experiences and created memories that will last a lifetime. Of course I documented the 20+ hours spent at the zoo with over 500 pictures … don’t worry, I’m not going to post all of them. 

    Day 1 started bright and early leaving home at 7 a.m. so we could get to the San Diego Zoo in time to see the macaw fly over and be one of the first people in the zoo. The Garden Fest tweet-up started promptly at 9:30 a.m. and Dylan didn’t want to be late. We were treated to a behind the scenes look at some creepy crawlies in the Insect House. One of Dylan’s favorite places to visit at the zoo – and one that took me some getting use to a few years ago. 
    Dylan was always front and center asking Kelli and Paige a million questions. He was in his element. Thanks for being so patient with him ladies – and fellow tweeps 🙂 
    Since it was the Garden Festival I took my time looking at all the beautiful flowers on display and at the various exhibits. Sometimes I get so caught up with the animals that I forget the San Diego Zoo is considered a world-class botanical garden. 
    After making our usual route through the zoo, we decided to make one more stop at the tigers in hopes of seeing them. When we went by earlier, the tigers were way up at the top and we like seeing them up close. Boy were we in for a treat! 
    Not only did we get to see the tigers, but we were front and center for play time in the water. After 20 minutes and taking close to 50 pictures, we peeled ourselves away from the glass so others could get a look.

  • The Mother’s Day I will never forget

    This is only my ninth year as a mom, but it was by far the best Mother’s Day and one that will be hard to top. We spent the weekend in San Diego with two full days at the San Diego Zoo – and by full days I mean from open to close.

    Aside from the special Garden Fest tweet-up, Dylan being selected as a volunteer and having a toucan land on his arm (proud Mom moment)

    and about 20 other memorable moments, feeding the giraffes had to top the list.

    I mean really, how many moms can say they got to feed giraffes with their child on Mother’s Day?

  • Happy Mother’s Day!

    Next to Dylan’s birthday, Mother’s Day is one of my favorite days. Dylan woke me up with a big hug and kiss, told me I was the bestest mommy in the whole wide universe, to the moon and back and infinity and beyond. 🙂 And just look at this beautiful frame he made for me! This will be going to my office so I can see it all the time.