Another Zoo Day

I try to take the girls to the zoo once a week.  I've been expecting that the girls will get tired of it at some point, but every time we go it seems that there is something new, exciting or different!

 This time, it was something very unexpected...

The girls, C especially, have a fascination with big vehicles.  Buses, 18 wheelers, tractors, trucks, school buses, horse trailers...  If it is big and on wheels they want to see it, touch it and talk about it!   When we parked our car and prepared to go into the zoo, two buses from a church were nearby and the drivers and passengers were eating lunch.  C went on and on about the buses and wanting to see them.  It seemed like a request that I could easily grant, so we went over and asked if we could take a picture and look at the bus.   They were super sweet and friendly and offered to give us a short drive around the parking lot!   The girls were stunned with excitement, wide eyed and wondering through it all!  I was blessed by their kindness and willingness to make two little girls very happy.

Thank you, Edgewood Baptist Church of Georgia!   Your kindness made a great memory!

Afterwards, C kept asking for "more bus"!  I think she just wanted to wander around and try out every large vehicle in the parking lot!

On to the zoo!   We had a mission this week to find spots and stripes on different animals.  Our first stop was the parakeet hut. Despite their expressions, this is one of the girls' favorite exhibits.

They were also not in the mood for pictures.   I had to tell C that I would not stop taking them until she smiled.  : ). FL was giving me the crazy brow...

Next, we visited the tigers.  This is one of my favorites because they are almost always right up by the glass and of course because they are such beautiful animals.

The lady at the ticket booth is familiar with us now (I wonder why - do we stick out or something?!) and gave both of the girls their own map.  I had a little help with navigation around the park this time. : ) "Mama, Shawyotte tell where go to next!"

And of course, Justin Giraffe is her faithful sidekick!

They look little next to an elephant, don't they?!  What amazes me is how FL is catching up to C in height!  She is definitely in the middle of a growth spurt!

 I asked them to make an elephant face for the picture and this is what I got. : ) One of the elephants was splashing/squirting herself off with water from her trunk while fanning herself with her ears.   It was fun to see it in real life...  Such a big wonderful creature!  Sometimes I get so caught up in enjoying watching the animals that I forget that I am there for the girls!

The alligators are also a favorite, as is the long, wind-y, steep stroller ramp down to the exhibit!  C and FL like to sit up here and watch for a long time.  On this visit, an alligator came up to C's shoulder and tried to take a bite out of her!   I don't think she even realized that was something to be scared of!  I was thankful for the thick, double glass! 

Peacocks wander all over the park.  We saw a mama peahen with her chicks.  The girls named them Mama, Charlotte and Flora Lin. : ) They wanted to know where Papa peacock was and if they could pet them.  They were fun to watch and see so closely.

We stayed past naptime, so we were able to see many of the animals being fed including the lions, jaguars (another favorite exhibit!) and monkeys.

We were also able to ask the keepers some questions, like why the mama jaguar was so grumpy and smacking the papa and the cubs around ( she is in heat, or has a tummy ache, as I told the girls.:)).  The girls liked showing the keeper their "jaguar pants" that they wore special to show the mama jaguar.  It is another one of our favorite exhibits!

The girls and I enjoy watching all of the inner workings of the zoo.  I wish I could get them a behind the scenes look at so many other things there!  And maybe a little for myself, too!

And why do I keep them there past naptime?!   Sam and I call it "Wear 'em Out Wednesday!"  

They take an hour nap in the car while I take the long way home and get a frappuchino and sit in the carport and drink it. ; )

 

Charlotte's first words upon waking this time were, "Coffee, peas..." : ). She knows the drill!

So we wear them out and put them to bed early and they sleep late the next day!

Works for us and they're not complaining! : ) And, goodness, aren't they so sweet when they are asleep?!