One on One: Mommy, James, and The Petstore (etc.)

Earlier this year, we decided that we would take turns taking the kids out for one on one time with each of us. Going through a monthly rotation, it would end up that by the time six months was up, each kid would have had one date with Daddy and one date with Mama.
We did awesome at this plan for . . . one month.
Then things got busy. And it was a new idea so it wasn't habit yet.
BUT, we wanted to get back on track. So, this last Saturday, we decided we would play catch up. First, I would have a date with James. Once we got home, JC would have a date with Ben. Then me with Bethany. And...there's our day. :)

Game plan? Pet store with James (he has always been an animal lover and lately he's on a lizard kick), Mall play area with Ben, and shopping for a new school outfit with Bethany. Since it was a last minute thing, our dates weren't too spectacular but still good, right?

Since the pet store was a laid back trip without any shopping involved, I got some pictures. JC is less picture happy than I am, and Bethany and I stayed pretty focused on our outing, so it's only James that gets a line of photos all for himself. This time.

We went all over that store, hitting every square inch at least three times. At least.
He really liked the geckos. Aunt Monica used to have one!

He was only partially interested in the fish.
When we were in this spot, surrounded by fish tanks, someone who worked there dropped something and it made a huge noise.
The fish area lost big points for James when it nearly gave him a heart attack.

His most favorite spot was this tank of "swimming turtles."

He liked them because they looked fun swimming around and around in the water.

And they always came up to us when we approached the glass.
One of them kept trying to 'talk to' him...also known as trying to bite him through the glass. But, seriously, this one turtle really did like James. We visited him many times while in the store.
(I also happen to be partial to the 'swimming turtles.')

These frogs were pretty darn cool too. Fun to look at, not entirely sure they would be fun to own, but to each their own.

Because I'm a team player, I took him to visit the stinky part of the pet store. The ferrets. I dislike these things. Creepy little things.
He thought they were interesting.

And they thought the same about him.

It was a really fun outing with James! It was nice to just kind of be along for the ride, follow him around, let him do what he wanted with no rush or purpose. Usually when we go in public, we are very goal oriented. But, this was just a nice time out, just the two of us!
The other two had fun on their outings too, though I am not on top of things and have no documentation. Except the outfit Bethany found for school.
I commit to staying on top of this now! It is a fun way to get a change of dynamics and enjoy the kids.
They seem to like it pretty well too.