Zoo Pals

This year was my first year to purchase a Zoo Membership to our local zoo.  I've always been a little hesitant to make an investment in a yearly membership but this year I splurged.  I'm so glad I did too.  We went last Friday (our 4th trip since April), which was unseasonably cool for the first day of June.  I knew it would be packed but it wasn't bad at all.  We didn't have to wait in line, which was a life saver with Jack and Regan.  It was just the four of us since Ethan was at my Mom's house for the week.  We only stayed for a couple of hours but had so much fun.  Before when I would plan a zoo trip it would be a big event and I would try and squeeze as many things in as possible to "get our money's worth for the day."  Everyone would be exhausted when we were done.  Without that stress I was able to just let the kids lead me to what they wanted to see and leave when it was the right time to leave.  No one felt they had missed something because we would just see it the next time and no one got so tired that they had a meltdown.  I also let them pick one extra thing per trip and this time it was cotton candy, pink cotton candy to be exact.  This way we avoid the "I want's" and the whining.  I'm cooler than Dale now.

I doubt I'll get a membership every year but so far it's been a blast.  Here's some pics of our last visit.

Ellie's face makes me laugh in this one!  Ahhh!

Hello big fish!

Finally!  Up close and personal with the Jaguar.  My favorite!

We love the chimps. 

Jack thought the rain in the Rain Forest was so neat.

Goal for the year: Get a shot with all four kids as monkeys.
It's worth a try.