Annual Zoo Trip!

Today we pulled Chandler out of school to take a trip to the zoo.  It has become an annual tradition (except 2011 when Maverick was tiny) since 2008.  Since Mommy used to work (volunteer) at the zoo and actually had a job offer there, the boys love to hear all about what she did at the zoo and meet all the people she knows.  This is a huge bonus for mommy as she can go to the zoo for free as her friends will let her in the back door, so to speak.

We started the zoo visit off by visiting old friends, eating M&M's and playing with stuff on people's desks.  Mommy and Daddy reminded the boys that we were here to see the animals, so we better get going.  Our adventure began by meeting a zookeeper who had found a snake on the path on the way from the office complex to the actual zoo entrance.  The boys were super excited about this too, and yet...we still had not made it inside the actual zoo.  We pressed on...

Towards the end of the trip we rode the tram.  This was also a big hit of the zoo.  

Here Chandler climbed on the Rhino.  All by himself, he would add.

Mom and 3 boys pose with the bear.  The grizzly bear decided it was hot and we actually got to see him take a dip in his water feature of his enclosure.  

I think my favorite part of the zoo was seeing the two new baby gorillas.  They are both boys that were born last August.  They were SO CUTE!  I could have stayed there and watched them all day long.

Here's Mom and Maverick visiting the elephants.  Maverick was excited about a goose that he saw just past the fence.  He did like the elephants too, but we thought it was funny that he was excited about the common goose.

Climbing in a helicopter is always fun.

Dad and Maverick take in the flamingos.

Amazingly, our trip to the zoo with 4 in tow went very well.  Jamison mainly slept as he was strolled around.  He and our stroller were an attraction in itself for some people.  Normally we take our annual trip to the zoo in the summer, but went earlier this year to avoid the heat.  I hadn't counted on the school groups coming, so the crowds were much, much more than we normally encounter.  It was still manageable though.  Too bad we just missed the opening of the new Polar Bear exhibit that opens 

May 15th.  I guess that will wait till next year.