Trip to the Zoo

 Back in May we decided to take the kids and my 12 year old sister to the zoo. We had been traveling every weekend to see family and staying locked up at home during the week. Most night Bill wouldn't get home until after the kids had gone to sleep. So we thought a trip to the zoo would be a great way for us to spend time together.  Hazel has been to the zoo several times with my mom and I but never with her daddy, so she was really excited to show him all the animals. Will had been last summer but he was only 9months old then so he really couldn't enjoy it like he did this time. 

Dad holding Will up to see the Elephants

Aunt Emma and Hazel with the Elephants

On this particular trip to the zoo the zoo was PACKED. It was the first Saturday after all the area public school let out for summer and it was also a cool day for May.  With Will and Jacob in the double stroller and Hazel running at full speed we made or way through mobs of kids to the bears, the birds, the kangaroos, through the monkey cave and into the Gorilla house.  With each new animal Hazel and Will grew more and more excited. Bill and I tried to explain to them what each animal was and what they ate and whether they lived in a tree, on the ground or in a cave. Needless to say, they weren't interested in what we were saying, they just wanted to see the animals.

Hazel showing us how the giraffes eat leaves

Hanging out in the Monkey Cave

By the time we made to the Reptile and Bird Houses they were moving faster than we could keep up. The penguins had Will squealing in delight every time they dove in the water. He was practically yelling SNAKE at every station in the reptile house. The albino alligator gave us an exciting open mouth hiss. By the time we got through all the exhibits they were finally starting to slow down. They talked about the animals at the zoo for days. We are hoping to make another trip back to the zoo in the fall when the temperatures are below 106.

Penguins in the Bird House

Alligator hissing