We're Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo! How about You, You, You?

Most of my favorite childhood memories involve my Grandma. My Grandma Belcher is the greatest! She had this really cool Lincoln Continental car with all the cool extras that we enjoy now like automatic windows and locks. My sister Amy and I thought it was very cool through Grandma made us wear our seat belts every time we got in the car. Oh, how times have changed!

Grandma always sang the "Going to the Zoo" song and she and I have been known to break into song at the mere mention of the Zoo. I sing the "We're going to the Zoo" song every time I go there. Ryan just laughs at me and sings along. Here is a link to a recording of the song I found on YouTube. Click here

I love being able to share my favorite memories with my children. I love to reminisce about how simple life was then. I was always in such a hurry to grow-up when I was younger and I often think that I didn't truly slow down and just enjoy being a kid. I work hard now to bring out my inner child. I am definitely a big kid at heart. The Abilene Zoo has undergone major renovations these last few years and they are all fantastic. The zoo entrance has been moved and major attractions have been added. The newest feature that we got to see Saturday was the new crocodile enclosure and the flamingos also have a new spiffy home. The crocodile has been at the zoo as long as I can remember and he always lived in this TINY enclosure which didn't seem to bother him because I NEVER saw him move.


The crocodile "not moving" in his new enclosure


Ryan and Emerson pause for a photo op of the new enclosure


A very cool dude!


Ryan poses next to the new flamingo and bird exhibit


Here is Ryan on his 3rd birthday at the old bird exhibit


Emerson enjoys a snack in the creepy crawler center


Our favorite part of the Abilene Zoo is being able to feed and touch the giraffes




Ryan on his 3rd birthday




Emerson's first time to feed the giraffes all by herself. She loved it!


Rachael and Emerson check out the white tiger


The very manly lion

San Antonio Zoo in July--What Were We Thinking?

My mom and I had this great idea to take the kids to the San Antonio Zoo on Monday, July 6th. We had the awesome privilege of keeping Cameron for the day and it seemed like such a good plan--get up early, go to the zoo, come home, rest. Seems simple right? Ha Ha!

San Antonio was blessed with a good amount of rain the night before which left the whole town hot and muggy from about 11 on. Of course, it took us way too long to get out of the house after working around nap times for both of the babies. We got to the zoo about noon and took the kids on the train first. We picked out our seats and waited for the train to leave the depot. There was NO breeze and everyone started to get hot very quickly. Everyone really enjoyed the train ride and the breeze was very welcome. None of us knew that there was a golf course right there in the midst of the zoo and our favorite museum, The Whitte.















































We rented a stroller for Emerson since we didn't have Cameron's and headed to the restaurant in the middle of the zoo. Everyone was hot, thirsty, and hungry. Emerson was starting to melt down, but I really thought that lunch and juice would perk her right up. WRONG!

She cried the entire time we were there and refused to eat anything and would only drink Diet Coke with lots of ice. She loves any drink with ice and as hot as she was, I gave in. Cameron kept looking at her like she had lost it. Ryan tried everything he could to help and make her smile. Even the manager came and checked on us. It was embarrassing. Emerson is NORMALLY very mild manned and super sweet, but being that hot did not agree with her.

We didn't want the zoo trip to be a total loss, so we took Ryan up to feed the lorry's. He did this a couple of months before this and just loved it. I guess he takes after his mom who is a total bird lover! I know that all of you are thinking back to my personal zoo days before Ryan.




My mom stayed with the babies and let Emerson run around a little while Cameron took in the sights from the stroller. Emerson enjoyed the freedom and started to return to her normal self. Cameron decided it was her turn to eat and had another bottle before we back up and went home.





I am thankful that there wasn't a picture of us leaving the zoo. All 5 of us were covered in sweat and absolutely exhausted. All in all, I would say that this was definitely a trip to remember.