Blank Park Zoo

We did a lot this Summer but we still had a lot more that we wanted to do.  A zoo trip was on that list.  School started a few weeks ago but Fall hasn't officially begun so I don't think we're too off track.  I'm glad we went now because there was a fancy dinosaur exhibit that has only three days left.  We loved our day at the zoo (even though it rained a lot) and have the pictures to prove it, as always.

9/3 - Spencer loves all things to do with America.  It's interesting to watch him get excited.  We saw this Bald Eagle and he was so fascinated with it.  It's kind of in the dark back in the cage but he was quite a happy camper to see one "in real life!"

9/3 - The zoo had a fancy robotic dinosaur exhibit this time and the kids loved it.  Amelia really liked this one.  Every time it turned toward her she would smile and say, "He's looking at me!"  She had an especially good connection with this one.

9/3 - We told Miya we were going to see dinosaurs and she was quite excited until we walked around the corner to the exhibit.  She freaked out and grabbed my hand and said, "They don't have cages!"  I smiled and explained that these were just big toys not real dinosaurs and while they could move their heads they couldn't come get her.  She was not convinced until she saw the babies hatching, it was love at first sight and they won her over to the robotic dinosaur movement.

9/3 - I love how Spencer is slightly freaked out in this one.  He seemed okay until it turned toward him and opened it's mouth, then it was leaning back so far onto Aaron that he almost fell over.

9/3 - Alex LOVED the dinosaurs.  He really wanted to make friends with all of them and was his usually smiley self as he tried to touch each one.

9/3 - Spencer was roaring in his cutout dinosaur.  I'm glad I got a clear shot because I was busy laughing at his cuteness.

9/3 - Miya wanted to be the triceratops.  I think she pulled it off nicely.

9/3 - Amelia was all smiles as she posed in her dinosaur.

9/3 - I think this is the happiest T-Rex you'll ever meet and a cutie to boot.

9/3 - The three lions they had were all plopped on a ledge right next to the window.  They were watching the rain and we were watching them.  Apparently lions don't like the rain or maybe this one didn't want to mess up his hair.  Either way Alex loved getting up close.

9/3 - You can tell how wet we got in this picture.  Poor Aaron was quite soaked with no coat (he really doesn't like to use them).  However, it was worth the wet to see the lions so up close.

9/3 - This tiger did not have the same aversion to rain that the lions did because it was walking all over the place.  Alex was following it with his eyes and his chubby pointing finger.

9/3 - Amelia probably liked these goats the best of the whole zoo trip.  They had some babies among them and she adores baby anything.  If there is a small version and a large version of something, anything, it's a baby and a mommy or a baby and a daddy if it's more manly.  She sat and looked at these for a while and kept saying, "I like the baby ones.  They're so cute!"

9/3 - I think Alex and this llama had quite the connection.  It was pacing looking for a handout and Alex was waiting for a touch.  Neither of them got what they wanted in the end but I think they were both better off.  We got some good smiles and a few giggles out of the llama.

9/3 - I'm always amazed at how this fish can pack in there and wait for the food to be dropped into their seriously large mouths.  Amelia noticed the mouths too and was also amazed at how wide the could open.

9/3 - Alex really wanted to go swimming with the fish.  It probably seemed like the perfect combination to him.  Water + New Animal = Fun!  Aaron had to grip him pretty tight as he wiggled and smiled down at he new friends.

9/3 - See what I mean about the tightly packed fish?  It's craziness.

9/3 - Amelia really wanted to sit on the giant frog but it was soaking wet and at this point in the zoo trip her bottom was the only dry part of her.  We compromised and I let her stand.  It seemed to be good enough.

9/3 - Spencer, Miya, and Alex loved the otters.  Amelia loved the otters in theory.  It's much like how she loves cats in theory but when either of them come too close she'll cover her ears and scream in terror.   She did this today.  When the otter swam off she said (in a super happy voice), "I like it the otter!"

9/3 - Pink Flamingos have always been Miya's favorite zoo animal.  She also likes the ones available for lawn decoration and has failed in her many attempts to try to convince me that we need one.

9/3 - I really liked this cute bird.  It had fun colors and was so tiny.  Bird legs are also one of my favorite things.  They have such big round bodies and teeny tiny legs it just makes me smile every time.

9/3 - Blue is my favorite color, although if you ask Aaron it's green (you can choose who to trust on this one) so when I saw this frogs I was in love.  Look how fancy blue!  They could probably kill me or something but they'd sure look good doing it.

9/3 - Alex found another fascinating new animal to touch.  He tried to pick it up and take it with him too but he couldn't get a good grip on it before Aaron pulled him away, poor baby.

9/3 - Alex had another bonding moment with the caimen.  It was floating, sort of, with it's head poked out the top and Alex was giving it some love though the glass.

9/3 - These birds were so beautiful!  They are actually what prompted the zoo trip in the first place and they were the last animal we saw.  We were reading our animal book at home then we got to the zoo animal part.  Then all the kids in turn tried to convince me that we needed to pack up right then to go see this beautiful bird in person.  It works, just a few days late.

Alex can say a few words but doesn't really talk a lot yet.  He likes to communicate in grunts and squeaks.  It was amazing how much these birds sounded just like Alex when they squawked back and forth.