Back to the Zoo

We have had such beautiful weather we took another trip to the zoo! I left Bryson behind with a sitter and went around the zoo with NO STROLLER. I kind of felt naked.

To the Zoo

Ohh, how I love our zoo. We experience new things every time! The highlight this trip was while we were eating lunch. I was so fascinated or frightened that I didn't pull the camera out until the very end and almost didn't capture any of it!

We decided to have our picnic in the cat complex. We learned that the cats eat 50 lbs of meat in captivity and 100 lbs when in the wild. We thought it was funny to discuss over lunch that the cat would eat one Mason, or 1 Ellery and 1 Bryson, or 1 Parker and 1 Bryson and on and on we went. We then were pleasantly surprised or in Ellery and Parker's case not so pleasantly surprised when the cat jumped up and put it paws up on the window ledge. It then would look around like it was deciding which one would be the best to go after, then he would walk down the window with his paws up on the ledge and keep eyeing us as if we were good treats, and then off he would go. I am not sure I will ever eat there again? It is way cool that we can get this close to the animals, but I am not so sure I like only a thick pane of glass between my children and a beast! I realize I would only have to be faster than one other person, but I don't know if I could outrun them while holding three children!

A Trip To the Zoo

We hit the Omaha zoo today with the family. Our zoo really is amazing and a lot of fun. The highlight of this trip was seeing a Bernese Python eating a white bunny rabbit. We missed the initial feeding. We didn't get to see if bunny was alive when put in the cage or the capture. We did however get to witness the squeezing of the bunny and the jaw unhinge to eat the bunny. It was a mixed emotion moment. Initially I wasn't going to let the kids see or explain what was going on, but they were really into watching the snake eat. We went with the survival of the fitness explanation with emphasis on everyone has to eat and that snake eats bunnies. I don't know why I keep saying bunny it was a full grown rabbit. We watched until all we could see was two bunny feet sticking out the mouth of the snake. I think everyone really enjoyed the zoo experience. We also had a duck that was interested in trying to eat everyone through the glass.

Skyfari

Thanks to our friend Stacey, we have a picture to share of us on the skyfari.

A is for Adventure

Oh the adventures we can have at the zoo. A is for adventure...they put a new Skyfari in at the zoo. Ellery spotted it and requested to ride. I was shocked that she stuck with her decision. I put Bryson in the sling and hopped on for a round trip Skyfari ride. (it is like a ski lift ride but around the zoo so you can see the animals.) The kids loved it! I have to admit it is a bit freaky riding high over the animals at the zoo and not having your kids buckled in. If they were rambunctious kids they could have easily squired away and plundered into the leopard lairs. Yet in all of the adventures to be had or not have, it was a gorgeous fall day to spend outside at the zoo.

Zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday with some friends and had a great time. They just opened a Madagascar Exhibit with a lot of lemurs on display. You can walk up close enough to the lemurs you could touch them. The temptation was almost too strong for Ellery.
We also took a train ride. Mason was super excited and he sported his ventriloquist smile through most of it. Ellery enjoyed it, but would cover her ears because she thought it was a little loud at times. She would uncover her ears to point out animals she spotted on the ride. We also hit the gorilla exhibit and Ellery remembered she wasn't fond of them. She would cry if I drove the stroller to close to the glass and caught glimpses of the gorillas. Yet, when we read a book and it has a gorilla in it she has to point to it and retell her gorilla story of it hit hitting the glass.

I Want to See the Zebras

We hit the zoo with Grandma Ellen and Mason told us he really wanted to see the zebras? We walked all the way over to the zebras waiting for a grand response from Mason and he literally looked at them for 10 seconds or less and was ready to move on. A big hype and talk about the zebras and a major mommy let down. It was a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed themselves except maybe for the billy goats? Oh, and for some reason Ellery was terrified of the gorillas. She screamed though the whole exhibit and it didn't help that we witnessed one gorilla hit his chest then bang on the glass and take off. That really sent her over the edge.
I told the kids they could ride this elephant and Mason took me up on it while Ellery refused to go near it. Hopefully this will work for a few more years so I don't have to pay the outrageous prices for them to ride an elephant at the circus.

A cold trip to the zoo

We decided to get out of the house and do something as a family. Rob suggested we go to the zoo even if it was only 19 deg. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it was cold running from building to building. Ellery is feeling this cold weather as well and wishing for warmer. She insisted upon wearing the pair of sunglasses she found in the stroller in all the exhibits and outside even though the sun had no intentions of peeking out or showing itself. Mason still loves crossing the bridge at one point we weren't fast enough walking back to go on it with him and found out he snuck in behind some people and was already crossing it. We also almost had a hitch hiker to bring home, a tiny tamarin monkey came up to the stroller and put his two front paws on it like it was going to jump in, but then got startled and took off. It was cute and all, but it makes me nervous having a wild animal come that close, I seemed to be the only one that was nervous everyone else was excited and thrilled.

Visit to the Zoo with Kim and Cora

My dear friend Kim is here visiting with her daughter Cora. We took them to the Omaha zoo and had a wonderful time with the kids. Cora and Mason had a good time sitting so cozy in the double stroller together, they had a great time crawling in and out to look at the exhibits. I think they could pass as twins. Ellery was happy as can be to be riding by herself in the single stroller. It did give me a glimpse of myself having 3 kids and I have to say it wasn't a bad vision. It helps that Cora is a good kid.
Mason learns or notices something new every time we visit the zoo. Today he learned to walk like a gorilla on his knuckles.

Zoo with Papaw and Grandma Debbie

Papaw and Grandma Debbie came up for a visit and we took them to the zoo. We had a wonderful time at the zoo and again we were able to see another part of the zoo we hadn't discovered and Mason rode the train with Papaw for the first time. It was quite the scene, Mason came around the corner right when a train was taking off and started chasing after it and screaming for it. It took him a few minutes to realize we were going to catch the next one and he was going to get to ride. He was thrilled as can be to ride the train and look at animals, I think Papaw was just as thrilled.
Back to the beginning of our excursion. It is the weekend of the College World Series and the stadium is right next to the zoo. I knew it was going to be busy, but it was a complete frenzy at 10 am. We had to park far away and take two cars because my car isn't big enough to carry our guests. Papaw and I rode together and ended up with a great story without having to add any embellishments. It all started with us sitting in traffic and then taking a slight detour. We decided to park in a lot we would have to pay, but ended up being coaxed into a private yard by a cute little boy. Little did we know the yard was like a forest with trees dispersed about and the ground was wet and muddy from all the rain we have been getting. We headed down the little hill to turn around and park closer to the front of the house so we could push the wheel chair easier and ended up getting stuck a few times. At one point I am the only one behind the truck trying to push us out. It had to be a sight and I have no idea why I didn't take a picture of the fiasco. We are very grateful to a group of young men who were suckered into the same lot as we were. They tried to push us out as well and in the end they ended up towing us up the hill. It was a sight. I held the young men's "drinks" while they helped us out, I almost asked them to mix me one up as well. Thank goodness people are so thoughtful and helpful. Rob and Debbie wondered what took us so long to catch up with them and the kids and we told them the story and got a "No Way". I should have followed up with my new favorite saying of "Shut the Front Door, You will never believe what we just experienced."

Marina Visits

Marina came down to Omaha for a few days of rest and relaxation. I am not sure if she got any relaxation with the kids around or rest for that matter. I think the rest part was more her doing by staying up late and watching movies. Needless to say the kids were thrilled to have her around and it was nice having an extra pair of hands and eyes. We did drag her out to the zoo with us one day. We explored a new area at the zoo and Mason discovered the petting zoo. I feel sorry for those poor goats get manhandled all day long, but they don't seem to mind. My kids are now officially goat stalkers.

Butterflies

We have a butterfly house at the Omaha Zoo that opened this year, but I personally think the butterfly house in Sioux Falls is a bit nicer. It has a lot more butterflies flying around and a bigger walking path. Plus it is always so busy at the Omaha Zoo so it was nice to be able to walk freely around and follow the butterflies. Mason followed the blue ones and Ellery walked around pointing at everything that moved. Marina was a huge help in following the kids with me and keeping them from touching things they shouldn't.

Zoo in the Afternoon

I took the kids to the zoo in the afternoon. We usually go in the morning, but we were having a rough afternoon and instead of dealing with cranky kids at home I decided to stimulate them at the zoo. It was surprisingly very relaxing and not as busy. We had a good time and the gorillas were more active than usual. We watched them run around in the outside yard and wrestle each other, jump in and out of the water, and hit the glass and take off running again. I bet we watched them for 30 minutes.
I also made some new picture friends. I was taking a picture of Mason and Ellery crawling around on the lions and a young couple offered to take one of all of us. I jumped in the photo and so did her boyfriend. I was nice and reciprocated taking a picture of them, but I should have placed my children in their photo. I like this guy, it is something I would have done!

Zoo with Friends

I think we are going to have to up grade our membership at the zoo. If we keep getting visitors it will be worth our while to do so. We love the company and wonder if we will ever get tired of the zoo. It has so much to offer and we discover something new every time we go. It was fun taking Nancy and girls around the zoo. I forgot that they are terrified of bugs and sent them through the butterfly exhibit. After you walk through all the butterflies you then have to walk through an area with all sorts of bugs and spiders. Nancy said they zipped through it so fast I would have found it funny.
The gorillas were in full swing and active as can be. They would come up to the glass, look at everyone through it, turn their back towards us, look at us again, put his arm up on the glass, look back at us, and then hit the glass and take off running. It did it a few times in a row and Mason kept saying "uh oh, what happened". Also, the polar bear was doing a funky dance. It might become a household dance move now. He was walking forward and then backwards but before he started to walk backwards he would swing his head to one side hold it for a split second and do it again. It was very rhythmic and interesting to watch.

Daddy to the zoo

Rob took the morning off and we took a family zoo trip. Ellery had a great time even if she didn't make any of the pictures posted. She tracks and notices lots of the animals now. Mason always enjoys himself. He wanted to take daddy across the bridge and show him the gorillas. We discover something new every time we visit the Omaha Zoo. It is a spectacular place.

What size penguin are you?

Ellery is bigger than I give her credit. I thought she was going to be a Macaroni penguin but she is a Gento. Mason is some where in between a King and Emperor. I want to say the first time we came to the zoo 6 months ago he was barely a King, he is growing up so fast.

Nana Visits Omaha Zoo

We had a beautiful day today and took Nana to the Omaha Zoo. We were able to make it through a lot of the exhibits. Mason informed us that his favorite animals are monkeys and elephants. The orangutans, rhinos and elephants weren't out yet and the bears were hibernating but we did go through gorilla valley, the aviary, watch the seals swim in circles, feed the fish from the bridge, butterfly emporium, aquarium, and the jungle. We skipped the farm area, cats exhibit, and a few other areas. The train wasn't running yet, but Mason is looking forward to getting to ride on it. We wore everyone out, but really did enjoy ourselves and the nice weather.

Cross that Bridge

We went to the zoo today with Grandma Ellen and had a fabulous time. The weather was beautiful, a bit windy, but that is a given. It would be easier to write when we don't have wind rather than when we do. Back to the zoo stories. We did our usual loop, the gorillas were spectacular as ever and we were able to watch them eat and we learned they love yogurt. We also watched them eat a lot of vegetables and now Mason eats his veggies like a gorilla. We also happened upon the polar bear swimming with a pumpkin. It was amazing watching him swim and play. They have a viewing area that you can see him above the water but you can also see down below the water. We were fortunate enough to see him drop his pumpkin in the water and then dive down 4 feet to retrieve it. He did it a couple of times before he was successful at retrieving it and then playfully played with it in the water before becoming bored and off to sun himself.
We also ended with a walk through the jungle. The jungle it two stories and we did the upper floor this time. The bottom is more like a trail and has a dirt path while the upper is a concrete path and you are even with the trees and looking down into the water. Highlights of the upper level are; a waterfall you walk behind, caves, and a wooden bridge. Mason wasn't a fan of the bridge at first until he watched me do it and then he went across with assistance from me. We then proceeded to cross the bridge 4 more times with no assistance from me. Mason kept telling me to "move mom". I like his independence but I have not prepared myself for it.

I want to see Monkeys

I asked Mason if he wanted to go to the pumpkin patch or the zoo today and he picked the zoo.  I was impressed he picked the zoo over pumpkins, but he does love the monkeys.  First stop at the zoo is always gorilla valley.  They also have a mongoose exhibit in gorilla valley that Mason enjoys watching. They zip around the cage nonstop so it is a lot of action for Mason to watch.   Every time we go to the zoo we see something new or different, I think it is because it is so big and spread out.  We went out for a long walk and looked at the elephants, rhinos, sea lions, and then stopped to feed the fish at the covered bridge.  We ended the trip with a walk through the jungle.  Mason was a bit scared to go through the covered areas of the jungle.  I think it is our fault, the pumpkin patch has haunted houses and covered areas that Mason wasn't that thrilled to walk through and I think he was associating the two together.  Once we got through one and he got a high five for his victory he was excited to go through the others.  

Omaha Zoo

I took Mason and Ellery to the Omaha Zoo today. Mason loved it and if you asked him where we were going to go he would say "zoooooooooo" and after we got home he would say "I went to the zoooooooo" He informed me on the ride to the zoo he was going to see monkeys. I have not been a good mom in teaching him the difference between monkeys and apes. Nor does he know the difference between an orangutan and gorilla they are all monkeys. He will repeat it after you tell him but his first response is to say monkey. Our goals are to teach Ellery correctly because we were informed by many zoo personal today that their is a difference. I have a feeling my child isn't the only one who stated his primates incorrectly, but I wanted to respond he is only 2, might be gigantic for 2, but he is only 2 so give him a break. The zoo is impressive but so big we haven't seen all the animal areas.