Day At The Zoo

For the first time in the years since Gabe and I have been together, we did not have big plans for Memorial Weekend. We are usually always either traveling or having a big party.

This year we decided to stick to the homestead and work our fannies to the bone catching up on yard work that has been neglected due to weather, travel, other priorities and just plain laziness. Since we have 5 acres of land to tend to and non-stop rain this spring, we were buried in weeds, grass, and more weeds. There is so much to be done, that Gabe and I have to tag team just to get it done.

In the midst of all this work, however, we decided to give ourselves a break and take Mia to the KC Zoo. Her first zoo experience. And we all had a blast.

The best time to go to the zoo is in the morning right as they open. Not only do you get rock star parking, all the animals are active.

The first exhibit we came upon was the polar bears. And let me tell you, he was in a great mood.

Mia was fascinated...
Here is what she was looking at on Daddy's shoulders...
The polar bear was my favorite of the day. :)

Mia went nuts over the tigers...
There was a lot of this going on...

Then she found a playground. Her favorite thing in the whole wide world...

She even got excited when she saw the carousel...
...but wasn't too happy once she realized the zebra goes up and down...
...and was happy when it came to a stop...
...and of course wanted to do it all over again. :)

We stopped for lunch, but she didn't eat a bite. She was too excited to keep going. After all, there was still so much to see!

Like the incredibly LOUD mackaws...
and the elephants...
There was much more after this. But with the 90 degree humid weather, mommy was suffering from heat exhaustion and forgot all about taking pictures. We went for what-seemed-like-a hundred-mile walk though the African exhibit where we saw hippos, giraffes, zebras and alligators. Mia went nuts over that stupid alligator.

Finally, after 3.5 hours of zoo-filled fun, we headed for the exit. It was a terrific family day. Mia was a champ through it all. Surprising us with her stamina. She didn't use the stroller until the very end. Running full force all morning.

Then finally...

Crash.

It was a good day.