Adventures of a Modern Farm Family: A Trip to the Zoo

I had been looking for a nice day to take the kids to the zoo. A first I though President's day and then Brad had an event to go to near the zoo the Saturday of President's day weekend. I asked my dad and sisters if they wanted to join us at the zoo. I picked my dad up and we headed out on the normally short 15 min drive to Brookfield Zoo. Brad was going to meet us after his event.

Nanno, Vincent and Joseph

Repeat minus Vincent and add Cecilia. She didn't want Vincent in her pictures.

I had no idea but that Saturday happened to be a free day at the zoo. It also was 65 degrees and sunny on a Saturday in February. Everyone decided it was a good day for the zoo. It took us 45 minutes to get to the zoo. 20 minutes of it we spent 2 blocks from the zoo just trying to get into the parking lot. It was insanity! Vincent was ready to drive home and ride bikes. My dad hates sitting in traffic. When we were close to the parking lot he couldn't take it anymore and he took Vincent and walked over to the parking lot and waited for us. Somehow waiting outside the car was less aggravating.

Joel and Dean

Cecilia and Dean

Vincent and Cecilia

Cecilia and Joseph

My 4 knuckleheads!

Joseph and the 4 knuckleheads

Once we were parked and in the zoo the crowds weren't bad at all. Jill and Joseph met us there and it was great to spend time with them and my dad. Brad joined us around lunch time and decided to use the find my iphone app to locate us. My phone kept making a strange noise and people were staring at me as they walked by.

The only elephant at the zoo

We lost everyone, so we stopped for a snack while they tried to find us.

Jill and Joseph

Brad and Dean

A double stroller and not one kid sitting in it

Dean and Cecilia

When we go to the zoo I ask each of the kids what one animal they can't leave the zoo without seeing. Then we make sure we get to all those animals before we leave. And I know the zoo well enough and how to time everything so we are usually able to see about 75% of the zoo on each trip. It could be more but by 3pm the kids start to melt. A lot of times when we go to the zoo Brad isn't with us, so it was fun to have him along this time. We were able to see 2 baby gorillas, a grizzly bear that was sleeping right next to the viewing window and he even woke up moved his head around and looked at everyone. Plus we saw the polar bear eating some lettuce, which apparently is hilarious if you are Joel. And we made it to the reptile house to see the Gila monsters. My dad couldn't believe how much random information Vincent and Joel knew about different animals. Part of it is because they read a lot and part is thanks to the Wild Kratts show on PBS. As is the usual a trip to the zoo isn't complete without playing at the park. I don't know why, we have parks by us, but the kids are sure the world would end if I don't let the play at the park while we are at the zoo. It is getting harder to keep track of all 4 of them on the playground equipment. They are generally going to 4 different directions. While I still wish we would have had more snow this winter for sledding, it was perfect weather for a trip to the zoo!