Continuing along on our jam packed fun summer, we decided to take a trip to the Louisville Zoo last Monday. We're trying to pack in as many fun activities as we can before Brent heads back to school, so this was
definitely on the top of our list. We couldn't wait to see how much the kids enjoyed the zoo this year.
We hit the carousel first thing after we got to the zoo. We've just learned that you're better off doing it at the beginning of the day if it's something you want to do. Otherwise, end of the day temper tantrums tend to get in the way! I know I'm WAY too old to be riding the carousel horses, but I'm just a big kid at heart.
Tristan opted for a giraffe ride and Daddy hung out with him.
Maura was SO excited about riding a butterfly! She smiled for the whole ride. I made sure she understood that the butterfly wouldn't go up and down, but she was NOT about to trade for anything other than that butterfly.
Daddy and the kids enjoying a "rhino" ride.
Hands down, my favorite thing we saw at the zoo--the baby giraffe that was born in
February. He was absolutely adorable and charming. We watched for awhile and he eventually laid down and took a nap. Tristan loved the giraffe, Maura loved the ducks swimming in the giraffe enclosure.
Like most boys, Tristan is fascinated by bugs. This
tarantula was no exception.
This was the other zoo baby we were so lucky to see.
Scotty the elephant was actually born last year and we saw him the last time we came when he was really tiny. Now, he's still little and so cute!
Maura actually WANTED to pose with the elephants!
The kids got a hands on elephant experience.
Stick 'em up!
I think Maura was getting into the zoo mindset when she
camouflaged herself in the foliage. Those blue eyes aren't hard to spot, though!
As if we hadn't already had enough experience feeding exotic animals, we actually paid for the privilege of feeding yet another giraffe. What's another dollar when you have the chance to photograph your child feeding a giraffe AGAIN?
Tristan was not too sure about this!
We went to the petting zoo next. They really should have just called it the goat zoo to be a little more precise. It didn't seem to matter to the kids that they were just petting the same type of animal over and over.
My sweet kids and I.
Maura turned into a little model while we were there. She looked like a
cover girl! Click!
Click!
Click!
Click! What a cutie!
Tristan LOVED the petting zoo. He wanted to lay on each animal and put his face in their fur, but I managed to convince him that he could only pet them with his hands. He walked from animal to animal and petted each at least three times. He's
definately my animal lover.
Uh, oh, we've hit
mid afternoon moodiness. Time for an intervention! We headed back to the car for lunch.
After a quick lunch and a wardrobe change, we walked in the direction of the splash pad, pausing only to "ride" a turtle.
AND get up close and personal with a bird.
The splash pad is a huge draw for this zoo. It made me choose this zoo over another in this area. My kids love it and it gave us a chance to cool off after the hot walk through the exhibits. Maura and Tristan had a blast.
Maura stopped for a little polar bear cuddle. Louisville Zoo, July 2009
Here she is last year in the very same spot. Louisville Zoo, June 2008
Tristan loved the splash pad and wore himself out running around and trying to drink all the splashing water.
Here's last year's shot, sleeping peacefully. This year, our trip was much simpler without having to nurse a baby. Louisville Zoo, June 2008 Tristan was five weeks old.
Why is it that I never remember to have someone take a family photo until the very end of the day when we're all hot, tired and grimy? Nevertheless, I'm glad we took this photo. Our zoo trip was lots of fun--so much so that we're going to try to make it back again by the end of the summer. Brent is free due to the military, Tristan is free due to his age and Maura is free because of summer reading at the library. We can't often get a day at the zoo for $12! Fun times!
We hit the carousel first thing after we got to the zoo. We've just learned that you're better off doing it at the beginning of the day if it's something you want to do. Otherwise, end of the day temper tantrums tend to get in the way! I know I'm WAY too old to be riding the carousel horses, but I'm just a big kid at heart.
Tristan opted for a giraffe ride and Daddy hung out with him.
Maura was SO excited about riding a butterfly! She smiled for the whole ride. I made sure she understood that the butterfly wouldn't go up and down, but she was NOT about to trade for anything other than that butterfly.
Daddy and the kids enjoying a "rhino" ride.
Hands down, my favorite thing we saw at the zoo--the baby giraffe that was born in February. He was absolutely adorable and charming. We watched for awhile and he eventually laid down and took a nap. Tristan loved the giraffe, Maura loved the ducks swimming in the giraffe enclosure.
Like most boys, Tristan is fascinated by bugs. This tarantula was no exception.
This was the other zoo baby we were so lucky to see. Scotty the elephant was actually born last year and we saw him the last time we came when he was really tiny. Now, he's still little and so cute!
Maura actually WANTED to pose with the elephants!
The kids got a hands on elephant experience.
Stick 'em up!
I think Maura was getting into the zoo mindset when she camouflaged herself in the foliage. Those blue eyes aren't hard to spot, though!
As if we hadn't already had enough experience feeding exotic animals, we actually paid for the privilege of feeding yet another giraffe. What's another dollar when you have the chance to photograph your child feeding a giraffe AGAIN?
Tristan was not too sure about this!
We went to the petting zoo next. They really should have just called it the goat zoo to be a little more precise. It didn't seem to matter to the kids that they were just petting the same type of animal over and over.
My sweet kids and I.
Maura turned into a little model while we were there. She looked like a cover girl! Click!
Click!
Click!
Click! What a cutie!
Tristan LOVED the petting zoo. He wanted to lay on each animal and put his face in their fur, but I managed to convince him that he could only pet them with his hands. He walked from animal to animal and petted each at least three times. He's definately my animal lover.
Uh, oh, we've hit mid afternoon moodiness. Time for an intervention! We headed back to the car for lunch.
After a quick lunch and a wardrobe change, we walked in the direction of the splash pad, pausing only to "ride" a turtle.
AND get up close and personal with a bird.
The splash pad is a huge draw for this zoo. It made me choose this zoo over another in this area. My kids love it and it gave us a chance to cool off after the hot walk through the exhibits. Maura and Tristan had a blast.
Maura stopped for a little polar bear cuddle. Louisville Zoo, July 2009
Here she is last year in the very same spot. Louisville Zoo, June 2008
Tristan loved the splash pad and wore himself out running around and trying to drink all the splashing water.
Here's last year's shot, sleeping peacefully. This year, our trip was much simpler without having to nurse a baby. Louisville Zoo, June 2008 Tristan was five weeks old.
Why is it that I never remember to have someone take a family photo until the very end of the day when we're all hot, tired and grimy? Nevertheless, I'm glad we took this photo. Our zoo trip was lots of fun--so much so that we're going to try to make it back again by the end of the summer. Brent is free due to the military, Tristan is free due to his age and Maura is free because of summer reading at the library. We can't often get a day at the zoo for $12! Fun times!
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