A day at the Zoo

Saturday was a great day. I absolutely LOVE to spend time as a whole family, it is by far, my favorite thing to do, especially when we have planned something fun and the kids are excited and happy and eager. For months, Arran had been asking to go to the zoo; we used to go quite often when they had the 'free day' once a month, but they changed the rules to make the free day only for San Francisco residents, with everybody else paying full price. To be honest, it was a pretty depressing zoo and the thought of paying to go there was not in the least appealing, when we had to drag ourselves there even when it was free. Well this weekend was the Smithsonian Museum Day, and the Sacramento Zoo was participating. We had never been there before, so we packed up the car and off we went.

It was great! Smaller than the San Francisco Zoo, but just right for kids our age, we were actually able to see (we thought) everything. The exhibits seemed closer, with the animals easier to see and, in spite of the extreme heat, a good time was had by all.

Arran was our resident map reader, that map did not leave his hands.






Of course, trains must be ridden, whenever they are available.

It was interesting to see how skewed a child's sense of reality can be. As we would talk about the animals, Bryttain repeatedly would tell me that they were not real. I would reassure her that in fact they were, to which she kept asking, "Well, why aren't they talking?". Too much exposure to Disney and Pixar movies and not enough exposure to the real deal!

At bed time I asked them what had been their favorite part of the day. Bryttain poutily told me
"The kangaroos...and I didn't even get to see them!".