The Zoo

We haven't done as much lately.  The summer is fantastically empty.

Gene had a bit of a disappointment this week.  He has spent so much time planning, with a committee, Youth Conference for this past week.  Even had to find a venue change at the last minute.  And then, the day of the event was so sick.  He couldn't attend.  Spent most of the weekend in bed and then headed off to Chicago Sunday night. 

The kids have all completed their summer reading for the library rewards book.  Included are lots of prizes.  For example, a free icecream at Brusters, a free day at the zoo, a free game of bowling, etc.

So, guess what we did this week?  Yep....icecream, zoo and bowling.  There are lots more in the rewards book.  I'm sure we can do most before school is back in session.

These are all pictures from our Zoo trip.  Emily loved the butterfly garden and was sad they wouldn't land on her like last time.  But, there were new things too.  Like this large puzzle and a splash pad.

There were displays out and we learned that baby zebras are brown and white and their stripes turn black when they get older.  Male giraffes "but heads" when they fight and have a large build up of cartilage on their foreheads that help with that fighting.  Elephants only have 4 teeth....but, they are big teeth, molars in fact!

We always get a photo on the lion!

Eventhough we are getting older, we can still pretend play that we are on Safari.  Grandma and grandpa will have to tell us what that is like when they get home from Africa.

Just monkeying around.  The monkeys were actually our favorite this time.  The baby marmosets were adorable!  The Chimpanzees were fist bumping through the glass.  It was hilarious.

Emily replayed/rehearsed/sang Disney's Tarzan "You'll be in my heart" when she compared her hand to the gorilla's hand mold.

Ok, see,....here it is!  Emily's flat hand, Jacob makes a fist and the chimp makes a fist and bumps the glass over and over. 

A row of rhinocerouses all sleeping in the shade.  That was US all trying to find shade! Oh, it was a super hot/humid day.  I know all you westerners remember what southern humidity does to us.  It was not pretty by the time we got back to the car.  I had to remind Jacob that it was his idea we went to the zoo in the first place and that a couple of hours ago he was really happy to be there.  How easily we forget ourselves in this humidity.

Tara trying her best to "spread her wings"

 A wall of animal carvings.  We loved the river otters, the colorful birds , the kamodo dragon and the lions.  Tara was actually trembling through the reptiles.....she asked over and over.  "Mom, can we go? Mom, can we please go?" I tried to keep it light hearted until I made the reference to Harry Potter magically "removing the glass" for the snake.  That was it, she made a "b-line" away from all the displays as  fast as she could. 

Trying to hide in the bird nest.....just couldn't make himself small enough to be hidden.