To the ZOO!

If you read my last post, you know that Taylor has the chicken pox; so we are all stuck at home for the next few days and have been for the last few days. We are starting to go a little stir crazy. In an attempt to occupy the boys I pulled up some photos we took recently at the zoo for them to look at. It worked all of 2 minutes!

While I had them up I thought I would put them in an online album for you guys out there in blogland and fill you in on the day.

About a month ago, we took the kiddos to the zoo. We had a blast! Everyone was in a super good mood and were very well behaved. It was a little crowded when we first arrived...school groups, but they started to clear out about a hour after we arrived.

Our first stop was at the brown bears. A good first stop, because they are impressive in size, so they definately get the little ones attention! We were lucky to find them basking in the warm sunshine! The boys were both amazed. Taylor wasn't sure what all the hoopla was about.

From there we  moved on to the birds, which impressed Daddy more than anyone else. But what came next was exciting. Our zoo has a new kangaroo exhibit, in which you actually get to walk down a path thru the exhibit where the kangaroos are-no fences seperating you from the animals. Thankfully the kangaroos kept their distances...not sure how fun it would have been if they came too close.

Onto the gorilla building (a large building with glass walls where you often find yourself face to face with the apes, kept apart only by a few inches of glass).  We were disappointed to find that they were not out and about, but our spirits were soon lifted when we moved onto the "jungle" (a cave with many small displays of fun little monkeys and such). The boys loved the little creatures! *There is a picture of them leaning over the railing, staring through the glass at a small brown and orange monkey.

Our next stop was at the tortoise's. I thought we would NEVER leave them. The boys were captivated; which pleased their daddy and mommy, who love it when they show an interst in things most children ignore. There was a tortoise sculpture there that you could pose on, but only Aaron would get on alone. Ofcourse Isaac was willing to get on with Aaron. He'll do anything if his brother will do it with him! :) *Be sure to check out the picture of our little family atop the tortoise.

On to the fish and lizards and snakes! Boy, oh boy...I laugh now as I think about it. We started looking at fish and the children loved it. Taylor even seemed enamored. But then Nathan tried to show the boys a snake and they just were not having it, so we moved on to the desert room. As soon as we walked in there was a huge display and amoung the critters there was a kinda big lizard...Aaron stands up in the buggy, throws one of his hands out in a stop sign and sheilds Isaac with the other, and screams "NO!", just once and with much authority. (*I just lucked up and got a great picture of the moment, you don't want to miss that one in the album.) It was hilarious and embarassing. Well, Aaron was done after that...he was afraid of everything else in that building and when we got to the baby gators he literally begged to go. (*I had to get a pic of that, though I admit it was mean to stay there with him long enough to snap a picture of him pleading). He would not even look at the big gators!

So we headed out and went to the barn. If I thought seeing cute, cuddly animals would calm his fears...I was wrong! He was TERRIFIED of the BUNNIES! Would not get near them, would not look at them, climbed out of the buggy and into his daddy's arms at the mention of them. He did eventually move past his fears and begin to enjoy the animals after watching his daddy feed a goat and working up the courage to pet it himself. Isaac really liked petting the goat too! We thought we would try the bunnies again after that...but it was a no go. Little Isaac even tried to help, saying "It's okay. It's a nice bunny." Too sweet. Too funny. That story does a great job of showing off both boys personalities. I sure love those two little guys.

We finished up our day at the zoo. Looked at the koala bears, flamingos, lions, and bamboons. Somehow missed the zebras and the giraffes (hate that we missed them, because you can feed those big guys). Grabbed some lunch and headed home. We hope to go back around Christmas time, when it is all lit up; maybe even walk across the bridge to the gardens (which we have never done with the children). Hope you guys all take the time to enjoy your family this week!

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