kid's music

anyone out there have some suggestions for kid's music? we're going on a road trip next week and i don't really have anything for the boys to listen to. of course they have their favorites, but i can only listen to so much led zeppelin


and mc hammer.

i know, i know, but we're 2 legit 2 quit.

please - any recommendations would be great from christian kids music to the old standby songs - as long as it's not so overly cheezy. i haven't been able to find much through itunes, but let me know what your kids like (and what you can stand) in the comments below. thanks!

pain hurts

My boys like to play outside with a little portable pool or a large bucket whenever they can. Unfortunately, we don't have a backyard, so we get to do it in the front yard.

Nate and Noah don't ever want to wear shoes, and they inevitably get little scrapes while running/tripping/crashing on our driveway. Every day it's something.

Today, however, Noah took a nice little chunk out of his big toe. He was quite unhappy about it too. The worst part was there was a tiny rock wedged in there and I had to get it out. Unhappy would not be the word to describe that. More like, "My Dad is the spawn of Satan." Beth had to hold him down, and I got out the tweezers, did a little surgery and pulled that little sucker out. He screamed his head off. (It still doesn't beat Nate's trip to the ER for stitches, but it's close.)
Then, while I was holding him, letting him know I wasn't completely evil, something came out of my mouth completely by accident. While I was holding him, I said to him, "Sometimes things have to hurt more before they can get better." I've been ruminating in this thought all night. When we realize we hurt, does it usually get better or worse? What have you found to be true in your life? Leave a comment and let me know.

saturday zoo

last saturday we went to the zoo. i never really liked the zoo all that much. beth and i went to the "world famous" san diego zoo & wild animal park a couple of times when we lived in san diego, but i could take it or leave it. it probably has to do with my disdain for large groups of people touching me. really, don't touch me if i don't know you.
having kids has changed this monumentally. i now love the zoo. why? because they love the zoo. their complete joy at seeing the different animals affects my joy level. of course, i still don't want strangers touching me, but i'll put up with some discomfort when there is that much joy surrounding me.
saturday was about the most perfect zoo day you could imagine. just slightly overcast, in the mid-70s and the animals were out. even better, the people weren't. i love the oregon zoo. it's quaint, they have great animals, their prices are great (with a season pass) and i can easily find my way around. we found a parking spot, brought in our wagon and the day had begun.
our boys first reaction when we get into the zoo is one of excitement.

they took off running to look for "amnals." unfortunately, the first animal you come across going this direction is a mountain goat. they don't like goats. ask them. they'll tell you.
the wagon is a great tool at the zoo. in fact, a lot of times, the boys will do the work:

the day is always great when you get to the primate section. the boys love the monkeys, and they always seem to be doing something awesome. today was no exception. we got to the chimps at feeding time, and then there were two primates that really wore their emotions out there for everyone to see:
This guy was awesome. he sat here the whole time. not happy at all:

and the orangutan. what can you say. haven't you had a day when you just wanted to sit in a giant bowl with a bag on your head? i have...

anyway, it was a great day at the zoo. if you ever want to join us, we're ready to go! the boys talk about it any chance they get. maybe the tiger will be out again: