The Old Pen

Solitary confinement. 

Watching movie about the history of the jail.

Enlarge the picture so you can read the stats.

It was all a bunch of fun learning about the history until we saw the conditions. This place was awful. Deplorable. Just horrendous. People lived in this jail until 1973. 1973 was the year my mom graduated high school.  1973 was my dad's senior year of college. That wasn't very long ago. A major riot burned down many of the buildings in 1973. The new jail opened that year and in 1974 tours began here. Nothing could possibly be worth doing if you ended up in here.

Right behind Brandon is the door for your bucket. No toilet.

Globetrotters Galavanting

Watching the coin go round and round to vote on the next exhibit added to the zoo.

 We went to Africa.

 Professor Braeden was pointing out all the countries. He can spell all of them from memory. He loves all things related to maps.

Uncle Chris & Granny Bug stopping to catch the scenery during the junket.

Loving the giraffe.

Getting sprayed by an elephant!

Granny Bug driving the Land Rover in the caravan. Look how fast she can go!

 We went Down Under.

The wallabies could walk right up to us and around us. There was nothing to keep them separate from us. That one tried to escape as we were leaving. Two had a successful escape last summer.

The trekkers.

 We went to Argentina.

Bear sloth

Wolf as tall as me that looks like a fox.

Stopped to pick the dandelion while this was walking by....

Aunt Meg 

This is how he felt about having a tiger eat him. Apparently, I'm happy to be his meal. 

My favorite exhibit.

Ridiculously cute!!

Granny Bug & Braeden

Ian

Braeden's gorilla face.

Braeden lost his second tooth naturally this week for a grand total of three missing.  

Riding a seal is the best!

The one I didn't cut Granny Bug's face off in.

Surprise!!!

Granny Bug and Poppa came for a visit. Uncle Chris and Aunt Meg joined us as well. We all managed to keep the visit a secret and this is the reaction of the boys when they all walked in the back yard last Tuesday evening.

Braeden finally calmed from his excitement and gave hugs!

It proved all too much for Ian. He stayed like this for 10 minutes. Then I held him for 10 minutes. Then he bit my shoulder. Definitely not the response I was anticipating!