A Day at the Zoo

This is crazy, but ever since Christmas of 2008, when Nana gave the kids all money for Christmas, we've been planning on getting them a zoo pass. Well, it's been a lot longer than it should have been :) and no, we didn't still have the money Nana gave them to buy it with, but we finally went to the zoo, and bought our zoo pass :) Feels good :)..... the kids had a lot of fun. It was cute to hear Charity "remember" things from when she went before we moved to Alaska (can you believe it's been that long since we took her!) Kelly had gone last year for a field trip that I got to accompany her on, and the boys and Erika and I went a few months ago on one of the freezing cold free days, but for Charity and Nate this was a first in a while. I gotta say I really loved some of the new renovations. I don't love that they're taking away the bears for another one, but I guess I'll live. I think the Penguins need a new home next though, they looked just pitiful in their little habitat this time.... I felt worse for them than usual..... We took the traditional (in my family anyway) drinking out of the lion drinking fountain pictures. I'm pretty sure that they had more fun playing on all the statues, and posing for pictures on them than they did actually looking at the animals, but isn't that what the zoo is all about :)

I think this was everyone's favorite thing..... the baby elephant Zuri. I loved that they do the little show, with the tricks and everything.... very impressive :) I seriously almost got teary-eyed watching that cute little one with it's mommy :) There's just something cute aabout a baby and their mom..... I loved it. We laughed as the mom was scooting the food with her trunk, kinda pulling it close to herself, and away from the baby in a "this food is MINE" kind of motion.... I can totally relate to that feeling.... sometime's a mom's gotta have her own stuff. Anyway, we stood there for quite a while watching the whole show. Very cool.

yeah that's an oreo amidst all the crackers and cheese :) So healthy. My kids will do anything for a Lunchable though.... it's kinda cute how excited they get about them :)

Charity took pictures of all the weird writing so that she could ask Simon what it all said later.... I'll let you know the translation if we ever remember to ask him :) and if it is even real Chinese.

Charity took this one of the Linx. I though it was blog-worthy.

Sweet little girl konked out halfway through.... she's so funny how she hangs onto the stroller for dear life. Course it is an umbrella stroller. Our last few kids haven't had the luxury of an infant stroller for some reason.... they've survived though right?

Oh, I just have to glue the images like this into my little brain. I just know that these moments are fleeting and that if I'm not careful I will blink and they'll be gone. I love this stage, I love the stages that they're all at right now and I just wish it could be like this longer....

cute little NOah was so fascinated by the giraffe.... I loved watching him

I'm sure I've said this a million times, but Luke is so adorable with Erika. They have a really special bond. I feel like Erika has a different bond with each of her siblings. They each bring something different into her life. It makes me excited to see how they are in a few years.... hopefully they all still think the world of her and she of them.

we all had fun watching the giraffe and his tongue! That thing was massive. Kelly's pretty proud of her tongue and the fact that she can touch her nose with it :) A talent that has taken years to master (inspired by McKinlee Lausch, one of our good friends in AK). I think this shot was mid stick, but she really can do it!

And of course the beloved Elephant statue. Charity was SCARED. TO. DEATH. by this thing 5 or 6 years ago!! She would hardly go near it :) It was fun to watch them all enjoy it now :) Got lots of pictures of it!

Luke really does own the place, in case you were wondering :)

I thought it was a really fun day at the zoo. A little crowded, but definitely ideal weather, and good fun.