Adventures of a Modern Farm Family: We took the monkeys to the zoo

I have a confession...I dread the start of the school year and I LOVE summer. I know the kids need an education, but being tied down to a schedule and having to do homework again just sounds dreadfully painful to me. It may be because I spent so much time in school and I have only been out for 6 years. I put on a smile and make school sound fun for the kids but my head is screaming "I don't want summer to end!" It is usually around this time of year when I decide home schooling would be a lot better. Then the rational portion of my brain takes over and I realize home schooling is probably not for us.

Lexi, Vincent and Logan in a little hut

Cecilia having a snack

Logan, Vincent, Lexi, Joel and Cecilia...apparently they segregate based on age

Logan and Vincent seeing how big they are

When August approaches and I know the end of summer is near we start trying to fit everything into a two week period that we didn't get around to doing earlier in the summer. This year was no exception, but we weren’t the only ones trying to squeeze a little extra fun into the summer before school started. The Crawfords' had the same plan as us, so we all got together at the Brookfield Zoo for a day of fun. We are talking seeing almost every inch of the zoo, don’t care if kids are melting, we are going to have fun kind of day! Actually the kids were really good, we did have fun and there were very few meltdowns. They even got to play at the splash park and the regular playground!

Joel and Lexi in the wagon

Lexi, Vincent, Logan, Joel and Cecilia

Joel and Lexi holding hands

So cute!

The cute crew!

Vincent, Logan, Lexi, Joel and Cecilia all took turns either riding in our stroller, the Crawford’s wagon, or walking. Vincent and Logan are two peas in a pod and went every where together. Lexi took turns either holding Joel’s hand and dragging him where she thought he needed to be (and most of the time he willingly followed her) or holding Cecilia’s hand.

Erik and Brad and the kids

Big smiles at the zoo!

Lexi, Logan and Vincent learning about Polar Bears. Vincent told her he likes predators because they eat meat and he likes to eat meat too.

The 3 who willingly pose for pictures!

Us adults took turns chasing down children, pushing strollers, and hauling children to the bathrooms. While at the bathroom Vincent made a great observation. He said “why is the girls’ bathroom line always long? Why can’t Logan and I just go in the boys’ bathroom ? We told him that the mommies usually have to bring their kids to the bathroom and that was why the line was so long and no you can’t go in the boys bathroom alone. Logan and Vincent both had arguments for our answer, but they patiently waited in line with us.

So much fun at the splash park!

Heather, Lexi and Cecilia holding hands

The kids loved these! Logan and Vincent

Vincent and Logan

After a very full day at the zoo, we headed to Red Robin for dinner. It was so much fun. The kids enjoyed the balloons they got while we were waiting for a table, and they just have fun when they are together. All four of us adults had a great time talking and joking around and our waitress was really great! We all had such a fun day! I would do that again in a heartbeat. Actually Heather sent me a text about 6 weeks after that day and it said Lexi was asking when we were going to go to the zoo and Red Robin again. Fun times with great friends are priceless!