First trip to the zoo with TWO!

Last week we had the fabulous opportunity to go to the Denver Zoo with some good friends.  I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again...  When we first moved to Colorado we took a parenting class with a group of 5 or 6 couples about our same age, and who had kids close in age to our kids (or, "kid," at the time ;-).  We've now been through two class series of Growing Families International with these same couples, and it has honestly been one of the biggest blessings of moving to Colorado.  It is so encouraging to have friends (and for me, other moms) who are pursuing similar goals in raising children, and are going through similar struggles with our various aged kiddos.  We can encourage and commiserate with each other through the good and the...well, the "not so good" times of parenting ;-)

Anyway, it's not very often that all of our schedules align to get all of us together with our kids on an outing, but the zoo last week was one such time!  Tyson has SO much fun with his little friends from this group, and at the end of the day I always feel encouraged in my efforts, and love the comic relief from sharing stories of how we, or our children, have "failed" recently in the whole journey of parenting.  This was also Jersey's first trip to the zoo, so I tried to document as best I could juggling two kids, the camera, the stroller, and all of the "stuff" that I seem to bring when packing to be out for the day! 



A TUNNEL to view animals through!?!  Tyson's idea of heaven.  He's obsessed with tunnels...

One of many many railings to peer over during the trip.

"Mom, look!  A polar bear!"

Highlight of the entire trip: CONSTRUCTION ZONE!  The Denver Zoo is adding a HUUGE safari/African exhibit this winter.  From the map it looks like the new exhibit will be 1/4 of the size of the whole zoo at this point.  Along part of the path there's a section blocks and blocks long of chain link fence which is mostly covered with black mesh, but every so often there is a whole cut out so kids can stop and watch the construction.  Do I even have to explain what a hit this is?  Let's just say it's Tyson's favorite "exhibit" of the whole zoo, and I think he's going to be devastated when it's actually completed and there are animals to see instead of construction machinery working up close.  Here's part of our little group watching the action (which I must admit, was pretty cool to see up close!).

Last kid standing looking at the construction.  He was glued.  The only reason he agreed to keep walking and move along was because we mentioned that it was time for lunch, and he'd been talking about food since we got there.  I think the kid could eat every hour on the hour.  Thank goodness, because otherwise he would not have left the chain link.

Watching the elephants "practicing" getting in and out of their 10,000 lb metal crates, which will be used to transport them to their new safari habitat this winter.  It was pretty neat listening to the trainers talking to the crowd about the process of moving a 10,000 lb animal, in a 10,000 lb crate!  Whew!

Aren't they so CUTE!?  Picnic lunch time.  And this picture doesn't include Jersey or the other two 2-month-old babies in our group :)

Photo opp....aaaand then the zoo train went by, and all attention was lost ;-)

My little Jersey girl, just hangin out with the big kids eating lunch.

...and chewing on the ziploc bag - her favorite "snack," lol.

"MOM, look at this awesome branch I found!"

Just standing up to everything, wishing she was walking.

Attempting a family photo on the train.  Can you tell Jersey wanted to get down?  I promise I didn't drop her, even though it looks like she's sliding right off of my lap.

Happy girl(s) on the train ride.

Highlight #2: his little friend, Kayla, on the right in the pink sweatshirt, brought her wagon to the zoo instead of a stroller.  Ty has been obsessed with pulling and pushing things since he could crawl, and wagons are one of his favorites ;-)  He had a grand old time playing with the girls.

"Mama, I'm getting sleeeepy."  Baby girl was a trooper, missed her morning nap but hung in there for the whole trip!

Here's to hoping the kids will burn some energy running down the zoo paths, and then running back.  Over, and over, and over...  How do 2 and 3 year olds have SO MUCH ENERGY!?!

"Mom!  Gorillas!"

Aren't all of the kids so cute together!?  They're all about the same size and height and they had so much fun together :)

A wonderful, wonderful time was had by all.  And amazingly enough, I was able to keep BOTH kids awake in the car on the 45 minute drive home so they still took their afternoon naps ;-)  That is an accomplishment, because it was already passed nap time and they were so tired from the fun day!  Robin has never been to the zoo with the kids, as we usually go during the week for a playdate of some sort, so our next goal is to make a family trip on a Saturday with the 4 of us.  So fun to see the world of animals through the eyes of a 2-year-old.  It's a lot of working hauling TWO kids around the zoo, with all of our stuff, by myself.  Not quite sure how I'm doing to be able to do it with THREE next year!!!  Guess we'll figure it out along the way :)