Members Night at the Zoo

We have been zoo members for a good 8 years and have never been to one of their members nights. 

We decided this year we would try one out and met some friends there for the fun. 

We did all the things that we typically don't do at the zoo (the stuff that costs money). 

We headed to the Budgie house first and fed the birds. They were CRAZY aggressive about getting food this time. So much so that it creeped us all out. 

They wouldn't move so you nearly stepped on them and they came so close to flying right into you. We ended up setting the sticks down because they were so crazy.  

Well Scooter liked it but he looks like a bird whisper here. 

After that madness we hesitated to feed the giraffes but went ahead and did it anyways. 

It went much better than the birds and was lots of fun. 

One of the fun things about Members Night is that the rides are all open and free.

 I have pictures of me riding in these same rides when I was a little girl. 

(The boat ride)

(with sweet friends on the tilt a whirl ride) 

(nighttime ride on the train) 

More tilt a whirl pictures with our sweet friends. 

We let the kids play in the geysers at Teton Trek and then headed to see the sea lion show.  

We had hoped to pet the sting rays but by the time we got over there they were closed. 

It was so much fun and we will definitely be doing it again. 

First Summer Zoo Trip

We go to the zoo a lot. It is one of our favorite things to do and it gets better during the summer because the kids get to swim and play in the "nile river".
This trip we saw the cats, the penguins and then headed to see the sting rays. My kids never grow old of the sting rays so we spend LOTS of time there. That results in lots of pictures and videos too.

After seeing the sting rays for a while we headed to let the kids play in the "nile river". Then it was time to go home. That's the nice thing about having a membership, you don't feel bad if you only go for a few hours and see just a few animals. There is always a next time.

Three very good looking children!! 

Snow leopard keeper chat 

Rascal petting the sting rays and trying to pet a shark 

Scooter petting the HUGE sting ray 

They were all three in heaven, Just look at those sweet smiles. 

Baby A was not the least bit afraid of them. She petted them and even fed them!! 

After the sting rays we headed to let the kids swim! 

They had a blast!!!! 

Field Trips

We have been busy busy busy with the end of school fast approaching and with that comes field trips. 

Rascal's class went to the Pink Palace. 

We saw the 3D film Flight of the Butterflies (BORING!! but cool because it was 3D)

We had a picnic lunch on the grounds. It was a BEAUTIFUL day!!! 

We looked around the museum a little and ended up in the gift shop. 

We had tickets to see the planetarium. I had not done this before at the Pink Palace so it was a new experience for me. We enjoyed it! 

We are going to call this Baby A's field trip. We met up with some friends and went to the zoo. 

She LOVES the zoo but the zoo with her friends is like heaven on earth for her. 

(this Puma was "talking") 

(4 week old sheep)

I just love all these sweet kids!! 

We made it to the grizzly Bear feeding but they were lazy and not much to watch.

 It is pretty awesome to see them so close though. 

We spent a good 4 hours at the zoo that day and it was such a wonderful time! 

Scooter had a field trip last week to the Safari Park. I have heard MANY great things about this place but have not gotten the chance to go yet. This is Scooter's LAST field trip (how can it be??) so I was glad that I could go as a chaperon. Side note..... I love that I was able to go on EVERY field trip he had from the time he was in Kindergarten to 5th grade. I wouldn't have had it any other way! 

Here was the group I was responsible for. We won't mention just how hard it was to keep up with two of these guys. Oh goodness!!! 

(Albino peacock, turtles) 

Peacocks roam free at the safari park. They also have a LOUD call that scared me to death the first time I heard it. It sound like a dying baby goat. I had no clue they made such a noise. 

Here is Jerry the giraffe. 

You never realize just how tall a giraffe is until you are this close to one. Goodness. 

And look at his tongue!!! Yes they got to all feed him a carrot. 

They had llamas, goats, camels, and several other animals that you could feed too. 

(macaws...again VERY loud birds!) 

(this is a baboon, he kept hiding in the house from all the students) 

(lemurs) 

Ready to head out on the "safari" 

On the safari, we got on a huge covered trailer that was pulled by a tractor. We headed out and toured the acres upon acres of free to roam animals. 

I couldn't begin to tell you what exactly there was out there besides Ostriches and Emus. And boys where they eager to come see us to be fed. 

The kids all fed the animals some bread and it was really cool to see them come right up to you. 

(Buffalo... the kids were all going crazy because one was giving birth) 

This antelope had JUST given birth just seconds before we pulled up. Again the kids were going crazy. 

(look closely and you can see the baby) 

It was like National Geographic there in the safari and we won't go into further details ;-) 

This antelope was only 2 days old and already running around so great. 

I love being able to go on field trips with my sweet kids.