Trip to the Zoo

We went to the zoo last week. My bff, Natalie, called and said she had her nephew (Jack) the following day and wanted to know if we'd come see the animals with them.

I said no.

I had just gotten home from grocery shopping and from the library. I didn't feel like planning an outing. I was tired! I was hot! I was lazy!

An hour later I called her back and said yes. She didn't sound surprised, maybe she knew I'd change my mind. I tend to do that.

When I told the kids we were going to the zoo to see the animals Asher said

"and the tractors, too!"

"no" I said, "there are no tractors at the zoo! We'll see giraffe's and monkeys and lions and tigers and bears!" (I couldn't resist)

And he said - as he backed away from me - "I don't wanna see lions and tigers and bears! they are scary!"

I said "They aren't going to get you, silly! they are in cages!"

He stopped backing up then and started looking worried "Why are they in cages?" he asked

"so they can't get you." I answered

He was concerned about the animals being locked in cages. He seemed to be having a real internal struggle about the comfort/happiness of the animal vs. his own safety. I know the feeling. I love the zoo - but it sort of makes me feel really bad for the animals.

Anyway, I packed a lunch and sprayed everyone (including myself!) down with sunscreen, and we spent the day at the zoo.

Tessa's favorite animal is the giraffe.

Asher does not seem to have a favorite animal. He was excited to see the aligator...until we actually did. Then the alligator made him quite nervous. He thought the monkeys sounded like fun - until he realized none of them looked like Curious George. (he didn't say that, I'm just assuming)

He did like the bears. They're one of my favorites, too. They're so cute and cuddley looking! If I ran into a bear in the woods I'd want to give it a hug. I can only imagine how disasterous that would be.

Anyway (again! I'll try to stay on track now!) we saw the animals - and we learned a lot, too! Tessa read most of the signs to us. She'd been reading a book about animals the day before so she had lots of additional tid-bits for us, too. Most weren't about whatever animal we were looking at - but were interesting nontheless.

We met this Falcon. She's a local bird - we have them on our mountain, actually. She's one of the fastest birds in the world. I asked what she eats and the zoo keeper told us that falcons mostly eat other birds - they swoop down on them and grab them out of the air while they are flying. I felt like she looked a little uncomfortable when she told us that (the zoo keeper, not the falcon) but maybe I imagined it. Anyway, I thought it was cool.

We also learned about how a Rhinosourus pees. I couldn't resist taking a picture. It wasn't like I had to hurry, either - the thing peed for 5 solid minutes. Totally gross.

Rhino's are one of my favorites, too - because they look like dinosaurs.

We ended the day with a ride on the train, of course. THAT was Asher's favorite part :)

More pictures here.