The Zoo: Like We Own It Edition

When my Mom and Grandma came to visit us, we bit the bullet and bought a zoo membership.  We had a membership a couple of years ago, but with both of us working, we didn't go as often as we would have liked, so we opted not to renew last year.  Since I'm home with the girls now, it made a lot more sense financially to pay for a membership and Brian and I know we will get our use with it.  We calculated 2.5 visits and the membership has paid for itself.

This is visit #2 for us, so next time we visit we are already ahead!

We took a different route at the zoo today.  We normally head up to North America and Africa - those are Brian's favorites, but since he was not with us, we decided to call the shots and head to the Congo and Australia & The Islands.  We found a carousel and the coolest play area ever, so while North America and Africa have their draws - polar bears, train rides, petting zoo, feeding the giraffes, the cheetah run, camel rides, etc. - the Congo and Australia area are just as cool!

We rode the carousel, had lunch outside, played on the enormous play gym, saw some cool monkeys, got WAY lost in the Congo as we were trying to leave (I realized I was the furthest away from the exit as I could possibly be at one point), and sat on a bronze kimono dragon, and we had a blast!  Once again, the weather was just phenomenal!

We were so happy to be able to spend the day outdoors!

Penguins!

All three girls on the carousel!

Note the photo below.  This is by far the largest outdoor play gym Kate has ever tackled.  It was massive, people, and I fully anticipated having to go in their myself, with Maya bundled against me, to save my first born.  But I was completely wrong.  Kate conquered this massive play area in no time and even asked me how to get to the "green" slide.  At first, I was really confused because I didn't see a green slide and she hadn't even gone down the red slide or the caterpillar slide.  Then I noticed, way in the back, the tallest, twistiest slide there was, and it was forest green.  So, while Kate got a-climbing, I walked her through where to head next to get to the tallest slide there.  (I felt like I was in a challenge on Survivor.)

I am constantly impressed with her no fear attitude and incredible physical abilities, but she is surely keeping her Mama on her toes!  That was a TALL slide...

1/3 of the outdoor play area!  And you can semi-see the green slide
in the back to the right of the caterpillar slide...

I thought this red one was tall and huge...Green had it beat!

Checking out the HUGE tortoise!

Kate was enthralled with this bronze kimono statue.

She used it as her mode of transportation and
decided to take it for a ride...

...she tried to lift its tail...

...she patted its head...

...and even decided that sitting on its head was a must!

We are so looking forward to these lazy zoo days!  A packed lunch, a ton of cool animals, and a humongous play area is right up our alley!  Now that we've got a good feel for the layout of the entire park, it kind of feels like "our" zoo.  In a just a few more visits we'll be walking around the place like we own it.  #cuzwedo