The Zoo...(again...)

We go to the San Antonio Zoo a lot. A LOT. I know I've posted many, many pictures here of our previous trips, but you'll just have to endure some more. In fact, I'm under strict orders (Hi, Jess!) to post about our most recent zoo experience.

My mom took a (much needed) day off from work Tuesday so we could go check out some animals. It had been a while since we were able to do this, so I was super excited. I didn't tell the kids about it until we were leaving the house, because I didn't want to disappoint them if something came up and altered our plans.

There was literally no traffic, and the zoo was pretty vacant. We pretty much had the place to ourselves!

 

 Zoe was being a little scaredy-cat and wouldn't come up there at first. Grammy had to bribe her with fruit snacks. Yes, I'm serious.

That's better. Doesn't she look thrilled?

Flamingos!

(I can totally see why people think the boys are twins.)

Anna was having so much fun looking at all the animals!

A spectacled bear.

Nicholas was trying to see how much size difference there was between his hand and a grizzly bear's paw.

"Whoa, Mama! That's really BIG!"

Komodo Dragon

(or as my children call it, "The Big, Ugly Lizard.")

"Are we lost? First, we saw the flamingos. Then, we saw the bears. Now we're right here. If we go all the way over to this part, we can find the lions and the tigers."

Who needs a tour guide?

A little window shopping.

"No, we can't buy anything right now because Mommy doesn't want to lug it around the entire zoo. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a pack mule."

They really, really wanted to take this picture.

Can you tell?

One of those rare days at the SA Zoo when the hippos were actually showing their faces!

"They're SO FAT!!"

 

Nicky's favorite, the crocodile.

"Oh, no! He's coming!!"

Granddad, Zoe, and Nicky.

 Monkey.

(I hate monkeys. Just so you know.)

Ethan really likes the okapi.

The only elephant that you can ride at the zoo these days.

When I was little, they actually had elephant rides. It was fun!

Obviously, it's too dangerous, so they don't do them anymore.

Anna was really watching the elephant. I think she might've been worried that it was going to come our way.

This lady was smart. She was spinning that metal keg around and making it dispense little treats. It only worked if she did it a certain way. We watched her for a long time.

This guy was really frisky, and kept doing laps while we were there. All I have to say is: I hope I never get chased by a rhino. They're really fast!

After years and years of waiting, the zoo finally has two new zebras!

All those stripes are really itchy, I guess.

Roar.

Look at the little joey! So cute!

 Poke, poke, poke.

Granddad was teasing the kids and telling them that the porcupines in the zoo were soft and cuddly. Thanks, Dad.

 Dad took the kids in to see the Lory exhibit, but those ear-piercing shrieks are too much for me.

He had quite a crowd of kids watching him feed the birds.

Exploring.

There is a small river running under those rocks. I remember Dad helping me cross in that very spot when I was a little girl. Awwww...

Anna and Grammy.

Funny story. We went into a building that housed several mini-exhibits, and while I was occupied with looking at the naked mole rats (ew!), Ethan ran a little ahead and around a corner. All of a sudden, we heard a blood-curdling scream, and he came charging back around the corner and into Grammy's arms. He was yelling, "Help me! Help me! I didn't know it was gonna be there and I went around the corner and it scared me!!" I peeked around to see what had scared him so badly, and saw this:

 The offending reptile.

Scary iguana.

Ethan was hysterical for a few seconds, until he realized there was a thick piece of (very clean) glass between us and the lizard. Once he calmed down, he wanted his picture taken with his new buddy.

All better.

This guy was following the kids around like a puppy. It was really cute!

Lazy tortoise.

Checking out the prairie dogs.

This turned into a shoving match.

 One of the play areas for the kids is a campground. Zoe was making us some dinner.

 Anna finally had enough and drifted off.

 Hissssss...
(I hate snakes. Yuck.)

 Shopping. Grammy is a sucker.

 Heading to the Train Depot.

 Waiting for Anna's first train ride.

It's a rite of passage.

Zoe skipped her nap. Can you tell?

Home again, home again...

We had fun! The kids were remarkably well-behaved, the weather was perfect, and it was just a great day overall. We're already trying to figure out when we can go back!