Put Me in the Zoo!

For my birthday this year, we decided to take the kids to the zoo. (Yes, I know my birthday was in August, but we’re going to ignore that part.) Grandma and Grandpa Wilson graciously hosted us with their annual passes. It was fun to go with just a little group and spend time with them.

This was taken at the end of our trip, and Sarah was tired and hungry (not her best moment), but I love pictures I have with me and my kids. Slight tangent, but I read somewhere a story about a child who cherished the few pictures he had of him and his mom when he was a kid. He wished he had more. I’m trying not to be camera shy about being in pictures with my kids so that they aren’t rare occurrences. So while this may not be the best moment for Sarah, and I may look at the pictures of me and wish that I were back to my pre-baby weight already, it is a moment that I have with them.

Anyway, back to the zoo. We went during the Lego extravaganza exhibit thing where they had many different Lego creations of different animals scattered throughout the zoo. Those creations always amaze me. That’s a lot of work to put all of those pieces together.

Timothy posed in this orangutan mosaic, and then (in true Timothy fashion) made faces over the top of it.

And then they wanted to climb onto the bronze statue.

And whatever Timothy does, Sarah must do too, even if she looks like she’s hanging on for dear life (which she was). But she insisted.

One of their favorite parts was the little splash pad that was a new addition to us, that the kids had fun getting wet in. Timothy was soaked to the bone and Sarah got a little wet, but not to the extent of Timothy. Ryan, poor little guy, didn’t get the opportunity because 1) he wasn’t walking yet, 2) I didn’t want to chase him around in the water myself and 3) I didn’t feel like dealing with a wet baby who wouldn’t understand why we didn’t have a towel or anything else if he got cold. So he stayed in his stroller and ate snacks while his older siblings played.

It was kind of funny the progression Timothy took toward getting wet. At first he did his best to just get his feet wet. And then one of the jets got his shorts wet, and then it was sort of a downhill slide from there. It wasn’t long before he was standing where he purposefully would get wet. Sarah just scurried around (a fast splashy walk) and got her skirt and shorts plenty wet, but refrained from getting soaked to the bone. Silly kids.

We saw some animals, enjoyed our view of the construction, and had fun riding the carousel.

At first Ryan couldn’t figure out why we were there. And just as he was about ready to be done before we’d even begun, the ride started, and he started grinning and giggling. And then, just when he decided he as done, the ride ended. So, all in all, it was a perfect-length ride for a 15-month-old.

My beautiful kids.

And after the carousel ride, my parents graciously hosted us for lunch. They so rarely get to spend the day with their adult children on their actual birthdays that it was a treat for them almost as much as it was for us.

And Ryan wouldn’t be Ryan if he wasn’t silly. Love my happy baby.

And then after it was all said and done, we came home, I made my favorite dinner and then I went to bed at 9:30. I got to spend the day with my family and eat good food and go to bed early. Best. Birthday. Ever.