Zoo Time

We decided this year to get a membership to the zoo. Our zoo is perfect sized for little ones, we can go and see almost the whole zoo in less than three hours which allows us to do just a morning trip and not throw out our whole normal routine. Most times we don't see everything because Andrew becomes fascinated with a couple of animals and we spend a lot of time there, but that is why having the pass is great we can catch those other animals next time.

Andrew loves seeing the animals and would go every day if we would let him. I have learned that telling him we are going there too early is a bad thing because then he doesn't stop repeating "Zoo".

After our first visit this year we learned a valuable lesson, leave the stroller at home! Andrew much prefers to walk through the zoo and since he does a pretty good job of listening to us and staying close this works out great. We can quickly lift him up to see animals and we aren't getting him in and out all of the time. I have gotten a few comments from others, they are surprised to see our little guy walking that far, but most think it is cute how excited he is.

The zoo has a great Australian area that is one of Andrew's favorites. In here the animals roam free (wallabies, emus, and a peacock). One time while we were there one of the emus got a little excited and ran across the path right in front of Andrew, he wasn't to sure of that, crying and quickly climbing into my arms. But he wasn't traumatized for very long.

The last time we visited there was a wallaby very close to Andrew, he turns around and smiles at me and says "Touch?". Thankfully he listened when I told him he could only look, granted it probably would have just hopped away.

Usually they have out at least one of their "learning" animals. These are animals that the zoo uses in educating the public and often they can be touched by the kids. Andrew was not afraid to touch this lizard. A week or so later we were able to take him to our library where the zoo brought in some of their education animals. Andrew sat there and intently watched the whole thing and was very excited when he got to pet a ferret at the end.

After all of the excitement this is how we always end our trips to the zoo. Andrew asks for a snack and water for the ride home and within five minutes or less of leaving this is what he looks like...

The zoo is definitely a favorite for our family and I see many more years of this to come.