A Day at the Zoo

Back last year, I purchased a membership to a small zoo that provided reciprocal benefits to other zoos,which meant, basically, I could get into most of the zoos in my state for free, all year, unlimited visits. It was a great deal and well worth the money. Since I don't spend much money on school expenses aside from the occasional book or art supplies, I decided this was the best use of our resources. I mean, to be able to up and take a field trip to the zoo whenever and all we'd be out was our gas...a no brainer, right? Well, I bought the membership when gas here was between $4 and $5 a gallon, so I never got to use my membership because I couldn't afford the gas to get there.Then when gas went down, it was far too cold. Well yesterday was a beautiful spring day. Partly sunny, breezy, low 70's...very comfortable. So , since Jody's on spring break this week, we picked up my mother-in-law ( I really need to come up with another title for her cause we get along just fine and have a good time and I really am blessed to have her in my life.) and headed off to the zoo. It was a blast! It has been 7 years since I've been to a big zoo and not to this particular zoo since my childhood. I forgot how amazing and fun it is to be able to see some of God's most interesting creations at work (and play). When all was said and done, we were a tired, happy bunch devouring a picnic lunch in a parking lot. A super day with some super people! It would have cost us around 70.00 to go and I only paid $45 f0r my membership to that small zoo...what a deal! I asked the kids what their fave animal was and they had a hard time. Lillie liked the river otters (I did too) the best and Jackson liked the Mama Chimp carrying her little baby around and I'll have to say that was my favorite as well. Spoonbills that were bright pink...

Red Pandas...I love Red Pandas, they look like stuffed animals.

If you ever have any doubt that animals have personality...you should have seen this gorilla. My mother in law kept saying how sad he looked and he looked kind of shyly at her and then...stuck out his tongue at her! No joke! We all had a good laugh over that one. I love a gorilla's eyes...so expressive.I joked with Jody that this gorilla reminded me of him...he took it well and chuckled. Seriously, this gorilla looked either bored senseless or like his lady love just broke his heart. He just rubbed his fingers along the log and was all sprawled out...it was hilarious to watch him.

And here's some lounging we did on our own...


I wish I had gotten a better picture of the mother and baby chimp. It wrapped it's arms around it's momma waist and hung upside down while she carried it. And to say it was sweet and made a mom's heart flutter is an understatement. The daddy followed closely behind and the mom actually grabbed a baby quilt in her mouth and drug it over to a sunny spot, spread it out , and the whole family laid down together. It was neat.Was sorry I didn't get pictures of every animal we saw, there were so many. But we all had a blast and will be going back again in a month or so when there will be even more animals on exhibit!