I rode an elephant!

We are at the end of the semester and things are nuts.  We have a new baby, finals are coming and we are moving across the country.  It was Saturday and a great opportunity to study and pack.  But we didn't want to.  So we went to the zoo.

We packed the kids in the car and threw together a picnic and hit the road.  I drove so Logan could study.  The zoo we were headed to was the Animal Safari Zoo in Natural Bridge Virginia.  I put it in the GPS (we are so dependent upon technology) and started to drive.  The GPS died and we had to choose between having the GPS plugged in or Jack's DVD player that was doing a wonderful job entertaining him.  We went with the DVD player.  I had seen the map and we generally knew where we were going.  Once we got to Natural Bridge we followed the signs.  We pulled up to the zoo and Logan ran in and paid.  We loaded the kids in the stroller and then it hit us.  We were at the wrong zoo.  Turns out we were at the Natural Bridge Zoo not the Animal Safari Zoo.  Who knew there were two big Zoos within a couple miles of each other.  We asked the lady if we could get a refund and she said we could but then we decided perhaps fate had brought us here so we stayed.  Oh and we saw the sign that there were elephant rides.  It wasn't a huge zoo but had great variety: monkeys, tigers, giraffe, crocodiles, etc.  And you were super close to the animals too.  Jack was back and forth on the animals.  He loved them, then was indifferent, then was afraid of them.  His mood shifted but at least he was generally happy.  We stopped for a picnic and then Jack and I hopped on the elephant for a ride. We then went back home to try and be responsible adults, but accidentally fell asleep instead.  Happy Saturday.

A few of Jack's comments while at the zoo:

After we rode the elephant he wanted to ride everything. "I want to ride the giraffe with mommy."

I pointed out some chickens and their chicks to Jack.  I showed him there was a mommy and daddy.  Then he said "And there are baby sister chicks too."  Apparently anything that is a baby is connected to Charlotte.

A big kitty playing with a milk jug.  Jack told us this tiger gives hugs.  I am sure he does.  Death hugs.  He also told us "Let's go see him.  Open the cage daddy."  Jack seemed to be more interested in playing in the animals cages than the actual animal.

Logan's favorite because it reminded him of a dinosaur.

Feeding goats.

                We couldn't tell if this was a joke or not.

The most adorable animals on earth.  Pygmy goats.  I must have one.

Some day...

A cute little Jack turtle.

Llamas.  

Jack kept telling us he wanted to go see the "gator".  He wasn't talking about this gator though.

He was talking about this one.  His love for trucks trumps his love for animals.

Feeding the giraffes.  What a dorky animal.

Picnic!

Proof that Charlotte was there.  Asleep of course.

Elephant ride!  Jack cried the whole time.  As soon as we got off he said through his tears "That was fun".  And now he won't stop talking about it.

I love this picture.

On our way home we passed this closed, run down park called Foamhenge.  It looked like it was a really weird, but possibly an awesome place.

This was out front.  Fun fact:  one of my favorite movies growing up was Jurassic Park.  I have no idea why.  I must have watched that VHS a hundred times.  "Shoot her!  Shoot her!"