Zoo Dayz with Lolo and Ela

Okay I'm rrreeeaaaallllyyy a slacker. I forgot to write about our zoo day [2 weeks ago] with Lolo and Ela! I guess its because I can't find the box that has the cords for the camera - so I can upload the photos we took! Slacker! Anyhow, what reminded me [again] that I needed to make a post is Lolo's comment on a post.. gesh you must think I didn't enjoy that day with you guys!

Xander was in "BOB" most of the day. (This is the name we gave our jog stroller and the stroller in our travel set...its a beast to lug around and get in and out of the truck, so his name is "the beast". Our little Umbrella stroller is named "itsy bitsy". It's tiny.) He loves looking at the bushes that line the walkways to the cages and he spent the day laughing at the birds on the sidewalk. Some day at the zoo for him eh? Well, he is at the age that he isn't that interested in the animals yet, and since most of them were tucked up in their hideouts, there wasn't much more to see than the birds in the courtyards.

Ela, on the other hand, was very interested in what was in the enclosures. They are about a year apart in age. It was a lot of fun watching and listening to what she was interested in :) I can't wait until Xander can understand what we are there for :)

We decided to go to the right, down towards the camels, cat canyon and the bears this time, and hit the stuff to the left the next time. Of course we made a mandatory stop at the Flamingos... love them! and headed on down. We walked FOREVER around that place, got lost, and ended up at the tippy top of a vvveeeerrrrrryyyyy steep climb.. Up to Polar Bear Plunge! The Polar Bears were really no where to be seen and that hike got my gluets burnin'! When we tried to get outta dodge, we realized that the only way was back down the way we came! So a quick stop to nurse Xander and let Ela run around and eat too! Then....On the way down, I realized that my hand break wasn't quite working the way it should! So BOB pulled me down the hill as I made beeping noises and cautioned people that I was truckin' on down that hill! [some genius guy told me to use my brake... der!]

We did get a change to see the lazy Panda Bears, as they slept. I got pics of those, nothing exciting. We couldn't really see the fat hippo... he was on land and just sat there a bit. I really wanted to see him in the water. Come on fat hippo! humm. maybe next time! We saw A LOT of monkeys and animal butts. Why is it that every time I turn on my camera, the animals turn around to show their butts? One would think that I have this weird thing about photographing animal butts. Can't post a ton of butt?!?! erghpfh!

After we decided that the kids had had enough of the strollers, we decided to head to the park. Ela LOVES the swings, and could swing all day long. Lolo suggested I give a go at the swing for Xander, and I thought- "what the heck! Lets try it!". I wasn't sure what he would think about them, but with camera in hand we trotted across the play yard to join the girls :) To my [pleasant] surprise.. he loved it!! I took a bunch of photos and I think he had enough when I started pushin perhaps a little too high. Xander was a good sport about it and now I know that swings are a go. I should have remembered that he likes to swing, since Cameron and I turned his door bouncer thingy into a swing many times and pushed him forever in it. Hummm mommy brain!

The kids were getting a bit cranky, and Ela really just wanted to run around with all the school-aged kids at the playground [must've been a field trip day] but she was almost getting run over at every turn! She's a crazy tough kid! Sooooo onto McDonalds we went.. We had no clue where the closest Subway was and I hate driving downtown.. I get lost all the time. Its interesting to note that once the kids have had enough and its nap time... its time to cut the visit short. Nap time takes precedence over anything else.. thank goodness for nap [sanity] time! I know we love our kids... its nice to get a break every so often!

It was great to get out and walk. I really enjoy the time I get with Lolo and Ela. Lolo and I have been on many road trips when we were single and its fun to hang out, chatt and go on different [more grown up] road trips, even if they are right in our backyard! Ela is growing up so fast! I rember being at her blessing, it seemed just last month! As a kid I thought a week was a long time and a month... for-ev-er! I think as we get older we become aware that there is no real tangible to time, its mearly a suggestion. I also love the benefit of exercise and walking....My buns and thighs were burnin' all day and into the next. It felt really good! Our goal is to not get lost in the zoo ever again [but we might want to just limit it, for now, to a few times a visit] and memorize where everything is. And all the walking will help me get back into shape! :) I'm really looking forward to our next zoo day with Lolo and Ela!