Bring on the Zoo

Christmas break has been pretty low key for my kids. We didn't actually leave the house all week- partially due to commitments and then my laziness and desire to get Christmas cleaned up and trying to get the house into order. Something that I rarely am able to do, but always striving to acquire. Anyway by the time friday rolled around I realized it was time to get out the door, for groceries and maybe a little playtime. It was very last minute, the zoo always is besides the sun was peaking out. Luckily we still bundled up because despite the sun, it was freezing, well a balmy 45 which is actually warm compared to some areas.

There actually wasn't a whole lot to see-the elephants were out dancing trying to get warm, and there were a few tigers who sat very still trying to find their happy place, and then we sought refuge and warmth in the aquarium and among the sharks. We were surprised to find they were putting on a wildlife show so we decided to see what they had for us today. There wasn't a whole lot and without the sun and with hungry children we didn't end up staying for the whole thing. I was surprised to see them lead a lynx out on a leash. I was always under the impression they were strong, fast and very wild animals. You know like a cougar. This one was just afraid the Hot Air Balloon was going to appear soon so they were trying to retrain him for this summer's upcoming show.

The kids decided we were done at this point so we found a place to finish our lunch and then went for a ride on the carousel and called it a day. As always it was a great little outing, just right to get us out o- the house.

Sunny Zoo days

While getting the van fixed 3 things happened. 1) Tate discovered a new big truck that he fell in love with

2) While chasing Tate I broke the loaner phone my sister had given me when it fell out of my pocket.

3) since the sun was out an impromptu trip was planned to the zoo. The zoo is the highlight of this post. It was quick, fun, and uplifting.

I love Sunny days and impromptu trips to the zoo and friends who take pictures.

I do not like how many phones I've gone through this year...although it will be nice to have a new one...sometime in the near future.

After having a cold for a week I finally felt good enough to even want to get out of the house. The sun was shining (after 4 days of rain) and although there was a bit of chill in the air, it was mostly warm. We had run to Ross to return some stuff and had the whole day ahead of us and when I asked the kids what they wanted to do, Tyler piped up with a firm, "let's go to the zoo". It was 10 in the morning and I didn't have a lunch or really anything except half a bag of pretzels and some waters on hand. I had my soled slippers on, so obviously I wasn't planning on doing too much, but after a little discussion it was decided we would go and only hit a few things that Tate and Tyler really wanted to see leaving by lunch time.

It was a perfect day for the zoo, the weather, the lack of people, and the overall attitude of not being in charge. That's right my kids were in charge and we saw what they wanted:

The MeerKats & the play area

The Goats (above) and the Wallabies (below)

The Blue Frogs

We also hit the Sharks and then with our spare time we went looking for the tigers, Clouded Leopard babies, Elephants and of course the Carousel.

This was a good day!

Hogle Zoo/Children's Museum & Slip n Slide

I over did it today, but it was sooooo worth it. I think...

The day started out a little rocky. My phone has been going out for sometime, the screen hasn't been working for a few days so I haven't been able to receive or send text messages or do anything except dial out-as long as I know the number by memory. This morning on the way to the car the phone fell from the car to the ground and that was it...it wouldn't turn on anymore. Although I didn't discover this until I had left my mom's and was headed south to meet Brooke and Tiffany at the zoo. I stopped for gas at Costco in Bountiful and luckily I remembered Brooke's cell phone and called and left a message and then headed to the AT&T where they were unable to help me except to offer to upgrade my current plan and sell me another phone. I decided to go the day without a phone-despite the busy plans I had on the agenda.

We successfully met Tiffany & Brooke and their kids at the zoo where they are having a dinosaur thing going on which was great because the kids are really into dinosaurs lately.

To our surprise these dinosaurs actually spit water at you.

They had fossils and found out that the Paleontologist Dr Scott from the PBS show the Dinosaur Train works in Utah and helped put the stuff together.

They have a 2 year old baby elephant-cute little girl who still looks soo small next to its mother.

Loved the Carousel that to Tate's dismay didn't have a single horse on it.

They also have a Fabulous Bird Show. Poor McKenna got Sunscreen in the eye, but which is why she has squinty eye-luckily we got it out before the show started.

This is from an asian house-a singing bowl that made the bad spirits go away.

Tyler was thrilled to see Giraffe's. This Lion waterfountain is what I remember from coming here as a child.

My own lil Gorillas....

Oh here are the horses....

The train ride-which the kids looked forward to all day!

Without a cell phone telling time is impossible for me so we were late meeting Jason at the Gateway. He was a good sport and accompanied us to the Children's Museum where the kids were able to finish playing all the things they had to cut short last week.

The grocery store staff:

Mailman McKenna & Construction worker Tate

Afterwards we ran up to McDonald's and got an ice cream cone for good measure. On the way my kids declared me, "the best mom ever!"

Then we headed home...but the fun was not to stop there.

We luckily found Aunt Brooke at home and stopped to say Hi to her and her dog Scout. We don't see her very often and she was nice to let us stay for a little while. Scout is really all they needed for entertainment. He's a great dog and they remembered him from he was living at Grandma and Grandpa's house a year or so ago.

When we got to Grandma's house the end was not to stop there-somehow under the kids spell or maybe it was exhaustion i agreed to pulling out the slip and slide. I think it was the cherry on top of there day. Wish it had been mine. After switching rooms yet again...I made the rounds with Tyler and then somehow the day ended and all was well and sleeping. What a day...what a day!