That Time Q Rode a Camel and Touched a Shark

We didn't have to miss Gma and Gpa too long after the Fourth of July. They came down at the end of that first week back as my parents, sister, Mike, and I were going to a play that Friday night. We got to keep Gma and Gpa for the weekend and headed to the zoo on Sunday morning before they left town.

It was our first trip to the zoo where we knew we would be walking the outside areas and we didn't take the stroller! The stroller at the zoo is so annoying; the kids are getting in and out of it every 20 feet to see the animals and we are constantly trying to find a place out of the way to stash it. The kids did really well, but we were grateful to have Grandpa and his strong arms along. There may have been some small blond(e) assistance on the back half of the zoo loop.

I'm not sure how many animals we actually saw, but Grandma and Grandpa saw three small creatures in their natural habitat ... every climbing structure in the zoo. Fiona conquered a rope net and was quite proud of herself! Quinn decided to join her and got a little hung up on one of the steps. Mike called to Bugs to help Q, so Fiona bent over, grabbed Quinn's ponytail, and pulled her up. Q didn't seem too upset, but we did have a little review of more appropriate ways to help. I got to climb the ropes too as Declan needed to test it out too. He did great and the girls were so happy to help him - when he would let them.

Grandma and I took the kids on the carousel and we checked out the new kangaroo zone. Then as we wandered next to the kangaroo zone to check out the camel rides, we saw a couple kangaroos speedily jumping cross the kanga zone. Both Mike and I thanked the heavens that we - and by "we," we mean "Quinn" - were not in there when there were wild animals on the "loose." Q would not have been a fan.

However, after watching Fiona do a camel ride, both Quinn and Declan were willing to try, provided the other one went too. There's comfort in numbers, you know. And when your two more fearful children want to ride a camel, you close your eyes and hand the zoo man another $10.

At the end of the outside loop, we said good bye to Gma and Gpa. And then we made the kids' day by telling them they could go in the splash pad! It was such a hot day and I know it felt great ... because Mike and I joined them for a couple runs through the big sprinklers too. After we got dry clothes on everyone, we checked out the penguins and the fish. Quinn continued her bravery streak and touched a leopard shark in the tide pool.

We left around 1:30 and had not eaten lunch yet. Our people don't miss meals - or eat late - so this was a rather amazing accomplishment. We stopped at Wendy's for nuggets and Frosty's ... on what was, ironically, National Ice Cream Day. Big day all around!

Splash Pad Fun