We're Goin' to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

Since Rudy and I were off this week, we decided to venture to the Philadelphia Zoo. For Christmas we got a season pass from my dad and hadn't yet had a chance to go. Since Dad bought us the pass, we let him come with us.

Upon entering the gates, the first thing you come to are the spider monkeys. They were pretty active.



We saw some fruit bats hanging around.

Wouldn't take pictures, but we went to the feeding for the Vampire Bats. They are fascinating - they drink blood only, but they take it from sleeping animals and never enough to harm the animal, or even wake it up. Vampire bats also work together and help each other out if one bat can't find any blood.



Rudy and a reptile statue (or a dinosaur statue).

We saw several peacocks, a few with their feathers spread like this one.

Rudy has been talking for months about wanting to see gorillas at the zoo. These gorillas were outside behind the glass, but you could see them pretty up-close. Then we went inside to see more gorillas. Rudy was grossed out by/ fascinated by the gorilla who regurgitated his food - several times!

This picture is made of legos.

I love the prairie dogs.

These animals, I never saw a sign but think they are like lemurs, were sitting on the corner posts of this structure. With their black heads they looked like monks or rabbis all sitting around together.

In the avian center, Rudy, and several other boys, were reprimanded for trying to touch this bird. It is a bit tempting when the bird just sits there as you walk by!

These birds had a huge beak with a bright orange shell over it. Thy had a huge wingspan when they flew.

 

Rudy posing for a picture and actually looking at the camera!

The Zoo Balloon - Dad really want to go up in this. Rudy would happily join him!

What's better after a Day at the zoo - ice creamd

Camping in the Cold

This weekend we went camping- an annual event that has become at least a twice a year event. One family couldn't make it (and was greatly missed - Rudy even asked at one point where the girls were), so it was just us and Kim, Olav and Lily.

As Paul and I packed the car, Rudy jumped into his car seat and started working in one of his books. He sat there the whole time, and for about 15 minutes after we were done while we finished up other things.


The campground was not very far from our house so we arrived way before the others. When planning this trip, we saw on a map that there was one playground and there were some cabins that were closer to it than others, so we requested the cabins close to the playground. This worked out great because Rudy played on the playground while he waited for Lily to arrive, and we're so close to it, Rudy and Lily could run between our cabins and the playground the whole time.


Our cabin.

Me on the porch with the playground (and pool) behind me. I'm not sure this would be a good location in the summer because of the pool, but when the pool is closed it is great!

Kim, Olav, and Lily arrived and Rudy and Lily immediately started playing. I think it helped that we saw them just a few weeks ago, so there was no adjustment time for the kids. Notice that although they are both wearing hats, likely at the request of a parent, all they are wearing is sweatshirts. It was like this all weekend. The adults wore coats and hats and gloves and sat by the fire, and the kids wore sweatshirts and ran around and never sat by the fire...

...unless they were making s'mores!

Rudy's skeleton costume was out almost immediately after dinner. (I was trying different camera setting while I took these pictures). Lily would direct him to go scare someone and Rudy would come up and scare us.

Of course flashlights came out too - what a great, cheap toy to play with!

On Saturday morning we headed to the zoo. As we got ready to leave, Lily said to Rudy, "Want to hold hands?" So of course we had to take pictures...

... and of course Rudy had to make a silly face.

Walking toward the zoo entrance with a map in hand.

The bald eagles... just gorgeous animals!

The lion was very noisy - we could hear him talking from all over the park.

Rudy watching the cheetah prowl.

Snow leopard cubs and mother - the cubs were born in May.

I don't think I've ever seen a giraffe do this - it was eating grass and it's front legs seem to be double jointed as he bends forward.

There were lots of great animals, beautiful scenes, and Rudy and Lily had to climb on and play with these binoculars every time we passed one. We never put money in it. Right behind them are all the giraffes; you can see what interests the four-year-olds!

I have never seen lemurs sit like this. He looked like an old man waiting for his beer as he watched TV!

In the reptile house, Lily was fascinated by this snake that stuck its tongue out at her.

The tiger prowling around - easily taller than two little kids watching it.

He was just huge!

Lily - so good at taking pictures - Rudy obstinate as ever!

After the zoo, we bought sandwiches and stopped at a park for a picnic lunch. Then we headed to the beach. Th plan was to walk on the sand and maybe the boardwalk. Rudy and Lily and other ideas.
Step one - pose nicely for a picture while fully clothed and away from the water.

Step two- venture a little closer.

Step three - walk to the edge of the water - still fully clothed and run from the waves, but sometimes get your shoes a little wet, so that your parents suggest maybe you should take off your shoes and socks.

Step four - take off shoes and socks and roll up pants and wade in the water and run from the waves.

Step five - laugh at silly parents who are not only fully dressed but wearing winter coats, hats and gloves.

Step six - make a plan.

Step seven - start to go further in the water until your pants are soaked and starting to sag

Step eight - let your parents suggest that since you are already soaked, why not just take off your pants, too?

Step nine - run around on October 30 in 50 degree weather and play in the ocean without pants on and have the best time!

So that is how the kids spent our hour on the beach.

Olav and Austin walked along the water's edge, but Austin couldn't be convinced to go in the water.

After putting on dry pants, we headed back to our cars and back to our cabins.

Rudy all snuggled up and (mostly) dry on the ride back. Don't be fooled, he didn't nap.

Once back at the cabins, Pocahantas and the skeleton made an appearance.

And after dinner, more s'mores were made.

It is very serious business.

Paul keeping warm around the fire.

Rudy and Lily played on the playground in the dark with their glow bracelets and flashlights. They were having so much fun shining the flashlight in the tunnel of the slide and going up and down.

In the morning it was time to leave - our cabin all cleaned out.

We took our traditional group pictures; Rudy was sad because he realized he and Lily weren't going trick or trating together and also just being a little dramatic.

Lily and Rudy - last two pictures.

The Drama King at work again!

As usual, when we get together, we had a great time. We missed Chris and Megan the girls, especially when we realized that they were the ones that brought the pan and water container that made washing dished so easy last time! Can't wait for our next adventure!