Day at the Zoo

We took advantage of a day off school last week and went to the zoo.  The kids had a lot of fun.  Grant really liked looking at the animals this time, and John was a good little traveler.  I would never attempt such an outing with all four right now without my mom helping me, so thanks mom for making the trip possible!!  Anna wanted to bring her stuffed animal, "Wool," who she says is a female husky dog, to meet the other animals.  So extra points for spotting Anna's husky in some of our photos.

 Grant by the big giraffe feet

The kids all got to feed the giraffe some lettuce leaves. Anna decided she didn't want to when she saw the giraffes big tongue but Matthew and Grant gave it a try.  Here's Grant pointing at the giraffe.  I tried to get his different excited expressions on camera, but it wasn't that easy.

 With the giraffes.  Grant is saying, "OOOOHH!"

In the Budgie Buddies room (aka the room from the movie The Birds).

We'd never been in this exhibit before so we thought we would check it out.  You go in a set of double doors and as soon as you enter the room, there are budgie/parakeet type birds flying EVERYWHERE.  I was afraid they would poke my eyes out a few times.  The kids were terrified.  Grant cried and wanted me to hold him while Anna clung to my leg.  I kept telling the kids that the birds wouldn't hurt them (although I didn't feel entirely sure of this, what with the eye level flying going on).  I was right in the middle of telling them they shouldn't be afraid of the birds when two large-ish ones landed on my back and head at the same time.  I screamed and tried to wave them off me, which seemed like a natural reaction at the time.  This, however, cast serious doubt on the credibility of my "the birds won't hurt you" speech.  Oh well. 

We eventually got used to the birds.  Another one landed on my shoulder and wouldn't fly away.  I figured if I tried to take a picture of him he would fly away before I could get a good shot.  It didn't work.  So here we are with my bird friend.  I didn't freak out this time when the bird landed on me.  Progress!

There were little bird seed sticks the kids could use to feed the birds.  Of course, when you have a stick you WILL get attacked by a million birds.  For this reason, the first few sticks we had ended up being thrown on the floor by the kids during the initial attack.  Later, Matthew decided he would like to try again.  He was very brave and a nice green bird came and sat on his stick for a while.  No other attackers.   Although I think Matthew was on his guard...just in case.

He looks like he's ready to drop and run at any moment.   I was too. ;)  So from these pictures this just looks like a fun place to see some birds...and not at all scary.  :)  I guess it wasn't so bad.  No one got their eyes poked out.  That's something right?

Next we checked out the snakes.  Matthew, Anna and Grant were all very fascinated by the snakes. Grant would even say "Nake" as he pointed at them.  He is learning so many new words!

 Playing in the spider web at one of the kid play places there.

 And hatching out of the egg.

 Coming out of the big tree
Grant had such a fun time exploring and keeping up with the big kids

 Matthew got to climb the big spider web

John was on this outing too.  He was very good.  I fed him and changed him just once while we were there.  He rode in the stroller or baby carrier the rest of the time.  And the weather was nice that day too.  He'll get to enjoy the animals when he's older.

Grant deciding whether to check out the little cave at the otter exhibit.  He eventually went for it.  He walked all over the zoo and had to check out everything.  Maybe that's why I have so many pictures of the back of his head.

They closed the zoo early that day 'cause they were having a special Halloween event there that night.  We got to see their garden of jack-o-lanterns and a lot of other Halloween decor.  We had a great time at the zoo, but by the time they were closing we were all ready to go.  We'll be back.