Zoo Trip

Last Friday, the high was suppose to be a bone chilling 106 degrees. So why not go to the zoo?? lol

We explored a few new parts of the zoo this time,

Here's the kids checking out the otters. They were really good at spotting the little fellows who were trying to hide. And what's in Nathan's arm?? A popcorn bucket. A few months ago I splurged on the refillable popcorn bucket at the zoo, so we bring it back with us everytime and get it refilled for dirt cheap. Nathan knows exactly what that bucket is for and refuses to let it out of his sight - even before it's ever been refilled!  Don't even try to offer to hold it for him :)

We checked out the birds and monkeys, then headed to the children's area. There's a "riverbank" in there for the kids to play at. Last fall Nathan was too upset at the idea of sand touching his feet, and since he's gotten over that, it's either been too cold, or too crowded in that area, so we've never really played there before. The kids loved it on Friday, though!

I reminded them to walk slow, be careful, and not get their clothes wet.



Opps... she tried to bend over and got wet - then looked up at me with a "what just happened?" look. haha  Good thing I didn't actually expect them to stay dry - and I brough changes of clothes. Well... at least I thought I did... turned out Faith's got left at home, on the couch. Oops. She didn't seem to mind - it probably felt good to have cool wet clothes in the heat (I did get her a dry diaper)!

Faith loved splashing the water. While Nathan walked around and picked the debris out of the water... lol  my little neat freak! And he did so good at staying dry - unlike his sister.

Well... he did a good job staying dry until he slipped and fell in, belly first. His head didn't go under, and he stood up right away. But boy was he upset that he was wet - lol!



Faith enjoyed the sand while Nathan got over being wet and went back to have fun walking in the water.

Since they were already soaked, we headed over to the campground area (still in the kids part of the zoo) and played in the creek for a while.

Then it was inside to change. But we walked right by the fishing hole, and there's more water there... so why not keep playing in wet clothes, just in case ;-)

Nathan caught a BIG fish!!

But don't let him fool you - he cheated... lol

After a change of clothes, we explored the newest "wild things" exibit - full of cool bugs and reptiles. Nathan's pointing to an ant farm, we watched the ants carrying leaf and flower pieces to their home.

And here, the kids are checking out that giant lizard on the left.

And yes, Nathan's still carrying that popcorn bucket ;-)

We ended up going down a different path than I'd ever been on before, and it took us to see an anteater. I had no idea they were so big!!  And Nathan had no idea how close he was to it!! It's hard to tell in the photo, but the anteater is sniffing up along the cage door. And Nathan is standing about 2 feet on the other side of that door! He would have freaked out if he'd looked to his right! but he was focused on our goal - the heat was rising, it was time to head home, after a ride on the TRAIN!



Oh yes, and POPCORN!

He's a happy boy now! 

Nothing like a train ride through the park, with Mommy, sissy and popcorn! And, for the first time, not only was he older enough to require I buy him a ticket.... ug... he was older enough to sit by himself - under close supervision, of course :) 

And Nathan even shared some popcorn with his sister. He's slowly learning that when we buy things like popcorn, it's not HIS. It's MOMMY'S and mommy is willing to share with him ;-)  It's definitely helped him share with his sister, too!

I think he was too hot - too full of popcorn - and too tired to smile while standing in front of the train. We were all ready to head home and take naps!