We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo

We love this zoo.  We've got an annual pass so when we go, we can take it slow and enjoy observing the animals.  They've got so much to do.  The first time we went, we randomly ran into some docents who were about to do an activity with the squirrel monkeys.  Sounded fun enough so we joined in.  First the kids colored their bag so they could identify it later.

Then they were each given a strip of paper and were in charge of spreading guacamole all over it.  Then they got a handful of cheerios to drop on the guac so it would stick.  They dropped their strip of food covered paper into their bag, folded the top down and gave to the zookeeper.

The zookeeper then took the box full of bags into the cage and let the monkeys figure out how to open the box and then fight over bags and then figure out how to open it w/out other monkeys trying to steal their bag.  We were there for about a half hour just watching these monkeys fighting and figuring it out.  They do this every Wed., Fri. and Sun. at 1:30 I think.  They use different foods, some they like and some they don't and call it Enrichment time.  It's a chance for the monkeys to get some extra activity and try different things.  We had a blast just watching and plan to go at a time we can do it again.  (I guess I was pictured out by the time we were watching the monkeys fight over the bags cuz this was the best picture I had.)

The zoo also has random learning stations.  We walked by two zoo workers who were showing the kids how they would feed baby cranes (or I can't remember what bird).  They use these puppets on their arm to look like a mom and had fake insects for the kids to pick up and drop into the fake bird.  But they really do use the puppets out in the wild helping the birds.

They also have a butterfly house.  It does cost $1 for older than 2, but it was worth it.  I think everyone but Alex got a chance to catch a butterfly.  The best trick was to be patient.

Isn't he gorgeous.

And they had this cute prop to take cute pictures.

Calvin even enjoys the zoo.  His favorite were the monkeys cuz they're so active.  Look at that face.  Andrew and Izzy weren't big fans of the smell.=)

This was really cool.  We went in the middle of June and that's when all the babies were around.  I'm sad I didn't get better pictures.  But we watching this mommy carry her baby around all over the cage.  It was so cute to watch.  I'm so sad I didn't get a picture of the kangaroo exhibit.  There were so many mommies w/ joeys in their pouches.  Absolutely amazing.  The plan is to go next year around the same time and make sure to get some good pictures.

Now to the pictures of the animals.  Lots of them to see.

These 2 hippos were sleeping and every now and then they would stick their noses above the water so they could breathe.  It was also fascinating to see the little fish eating stuff off the hippos' bodies.

Every time we go, this jaguar (or maybe they take turns trading places), but he/she is always sitting on this ledge while the other is somewhere else in the cage.  It's so funny to wait and watch everyone come by shocked at the close view of this gorgeous cat.  One girl slapped at the window to see if the jag would move.  Sure enough, he/she took a bite towards the glass.

Pretty birds.

Can't even remember what this animal was.

Of course the elephant.  It was so hot outside by the time we made it to the Africa section.

Here's one of the rhinos.

Giraffe.

The zebra always amazes me.  They are so gorgeous w/ their stripes.  And this cute bird has the funniest hair.  They just all hang out together.

Thankfully the zoo has an indoor air-conditioned kid play area.  It was nice to get out of the heat and let the kids play for a while so we could all cool off.

This concession stand ... so cute.

The zoo also has an outdoor beach area to cool the kids off.  They thought of everything when they built this place.  They brought turtles down to the beach area to show the kids and then had them glitter glue a craft w/ the sand.

There's also random stuff to check out everywhere.  Sarah, thanks for coming w/ us.

And there's my cute family.  We'll keep enjoying the zoo.

We've been to the zoo I think 4 times now.  The first time we went before Glen started school and felt so rushed because there's so much to see.  Since then, we go to see and observe a few things.