The zoo

On Saturday we took the boys and Jessi to the zoo. We arrived as it opened in hopes to avoid the heat but it was soon scorching anyway. We all seemed happy to hover for however long the boys wished to play in anything involving mist or air conditioning.

Ben enjoyed the carousel or merry-go-round as Jess argued. I haven't had a chance to look up the difference but I am leaning towards me being right. I sat on the stationary manatee so that I could take pictures and the sweet gentleman running the ride came by to say that while he was a magnificent creature, he wouldn't be moving up and down. I thanked him and appreciated in him the character to do a job well, no matter the job.

Jess and Joshy paid to watch the machines that mold the hot wax into a figurine. These are their faces when the mold opened to reveal the giraffe.

We were lucky to catch a worker sitting out with a live alligator for the kids to pet. Joshy was hesitant after he was told to avoid the head so he wasn't bit. Joshy looks at the back warily and asks the keeper if the back will bite him too. He was still hesitant as he rubbed his hand down the rough scales but not Ben. Ben dived towards the alligator from Jessi's lap.

The one place Joshy was adamant about seeing before we left was the gorillas. Every time he would ask he would beat his chest to make sure I knew what he was referencing. We made it there last, rather tired and rather sweaty. Pushing a double stroller up a hill is hard work. You almost need someone behind pushing you.

Ben has a stuffed gorilla at home that he loves. As soon as he saw these pictures, he walked up and, well, I would like to say gently ran his hand along the picture of the face, but it was more a beating really. Still, he had a smile, so I am certain he was slamming it with love.

After three hours we were done. There was little steam left as we drug towards the exit, the 100 degree heat zapping more energy than the walking. As I turned to check on them, Ben was laying his head on his brother, both their faces signaling the readiness for a nap. The great part...after yesterday they slept until 7 this morning. Clearly they need to be zapped by the sun more often...