Saturday at the Free Zoo

We have two free zoos in our suburbs. One we've visited many times. The other remained a mystery until today!  Alina took the girls, picked up Simone and her two boys and headed to the free zoo for an adventure.

We started off getting a little lost. You wouldn't think that's possible with 2 smart phones and one GPS in the vehicle. Ahem.

After driving around for a while, listening to Kelton and Rosemary alternate between begging for snacks and asking "is this the zoo?" ("No honey, this is a gas station". "No honey, this is a residential street with a dead end") we arrived and found a nice shady parking spot.

The kids enjoyed seeing the animals and meandering through the pathways of the park. For once, we only had one stop instead of numerous at a public restroom - joy! The zoo is near the site of a archeology dig which unearthed a mastodon about 60 years ago. Pieces of the mastodon are displayed on site.  We marveled over the huge vertebrae and skull. Both Kelton and Rosemary asked many questions! Age 4 is such an inquisitive and thought-provoking stage for kids. 

Animal highlights for the kids included a huge python, two alligators, a gorgeou peacock displaying his plummage and wolves. Rosemary would have liked to see pigs and elephants.  We'd have to visit the big zoo for that!

Here's Gretchen posing near the sunken gardens. What a little ham for the camera!

Alina posed with Phelan and Gretchen, our 1.5 year olds.

After much coaxing, proding, pleading and cajoling Kelton and Rosemary allowed us to snap of photo of them next to the mastodon statue. Rosemary begging us to help her climb atop the statue. We told her she could climb up if she could figure out a way to hoist herself on her own.  Easier than saying "No!"

Later, the babies napped in the car and we buzzed through the Starbucks drivethru for icy drinks and adult food for Mamas, cake pops for the toddlers. Interestingly, neither Simone nor Alina remembered to bring adult food in our packed lunch. Ha!

We spent the rest of the steamy 90 degree day hanging out in the backyard at home, visiting in the house and eating a delicious meal of grilled pork chops, sauteed asparagus, salad and "healthy pancakes". Healthy pancakes are an amazingly easy gluten-free and dairy-free recipe we picked up from LLL. Mix 2 eggs in a blender with 1 banana. Pour on the griddle, cook like pancakes, serve like pancakes. The kids adore them.

Elliott and Steve were off at Elliott's final soccer game of the season. After the game, Elliott and his team enjoyed celebratory ice cream. Elliott's personalized award from the coached was "Best Soccer Role Model" for his focus on playing hard, following directions of the coaches, passing the ball and sticking with his position and good sportmanship.  We couldn't be more proud of our son!