Mommy Daughter Zoo Day

 A few weeks ago I woke up and had a last minute decision to take Baby A to the zoo. It was going to be a glorious day and I knew before long the heat would set in and I would be there wrangling 3 kids instead of one. Besides even though we are home together every day there are very few times we get out and do something just the two of us. I kept the trip a secret from the boys because getting them off to school knowing we were headed to the zoo was a headache I was trying to bypass. It worked and as I shut the door to the van after dropping the boys off I let Baby A in on what we were going to do that day. She was SO EXCITED!!! She talked non stop for the rest of the morning about each animal we would see and what they ate and said and she would look at me and say "Mommy I so sited!!" That was worth every effort to get things together for the day (and believe me...it's an effort)

We got to the zoo shortly after they opened and saw lots of schools there. I was a but overwhelmed at first but we managed to steer clear of the crowds the whole time.

 

Since it was just Baby A with me she got to pick the places we went to (YAY for no snakes, lizards and the smelly bat house). We went to see the cats first and then we were off to see the new exhibit at the zoo....Stingray Bay.

 

This is just a temporary exhibit but it is AWESOME!!!! I was a chicken and tried to touch one but squealed and jerked my and out each time.

 

Baby A nope... she LOVED petting them. She said they were soft and laughed every time one came close enough to touch.

 

 

There were a few HUGE (like 3.5 feet in diameter) stingrays that scared her (and me too) but other than that she loved it all.

 

 

The shark hung around us and I wouldn't let her touch him. He was small and there were no signs saying don't touch him but I chose the common sense route this time.

 

 

After we were done petting them and getting wet (who knew they would come up and splash you with their wings??)  We walked through the gift shop and she got a sticker that said I toughed a sting ray..... .I didn't get one since I didn't touch one and that was clearly ok with me!

 

Up next was the farm area and she LOVED that. She walked around and thought the chickens running free where just hilarious. 

 

She loved the sheep until the one right next to her said baa really loud and nearly gave her a heart attack.

 We headed to see all the other animals and took a break to eat some snacks together.

 

 It was a wonderful day together that she still talks about to this day. I see many more mommy daughter days like this in the future!