We finally did it: got a zoo membership. To be honest, I'm not quite sure why we waited so long. The
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is really close to us, but we've only gone twice in the past 4 years! Plus, a membership was only $25 more than what admission was going to be for the day. We had so much fun that we can't wait to go again! We did learn a valuable lesson, though: Just leave the stroller in the car!
We picked a great day to go. All of the animals were awake and active. We got to see many of them up close. The kids watched two Orangutans wrestle, against the glass in front of them. Many of the animals were coming directly up to the glass and staring at us. We got to see a polar bear take a swim, sharks up close and personal, a newborn seal nursing, and an otter doing something really nasty. A peacock even decided to eat lunch with us.
Loved the Africa exhibit. I totally thought I was there....
...until I spotted the building behind the giraffes...hello Pittsburgh!
Lexie was shocked that birds kept landing next to us. Imagine her surprise, when a peacock walked under the table and stole a french fry at her feet! She keeps talking about that peacock!
The aquarium was a huge hit. It really is a beautiful complex, and we spent the most time in there. The kids were mesmerized by the fish and sea creatures.
Lexie loved the penguins. I had to drag her away from the exhibit. This picture is crappy because the window was so foggy, but notice the Pittsburgh Penguins flag in with them! ;)
This ginormous fish scared the crap out of Lexie. She was looking back at us, telling us about the fish in the tank, and it started to swim toward her. I told her to look at the tank, just as it was face to face with her, and she visibly jumped!
The polar bears were awesome!
We were very blessed to come face to face with one of them!
The "dirty" otter looking all cute, before he did something really gross.
The kids tried out some kayaks before we headed into the water tunnels.
The sharks were amazing! We loved watching them swim around!
I love this picture I took of one of the sharks!
Grant and I love deer, and I was so excited to take the kids into the petting zoo. That sweet, little deer kept laying her head in my hand and licking my wrist.
Every time we go to the zoo, I take pics of the kids with this turtle. I used to sit on it when I was a kid!
The kids loved going "in" the meerkat habitat!
We spent hours at the zoo, and by the end of the day, the kids were beat. I took over 200 pictures, and had a hard time narrowing it down to just 30 to post on my blog! ;)
Dylan and Lexie loved their new zoo toys, a collection of animals for Lexie Bean, and frogs for Dylan! Lexie was asleep before we even turned off the street the zoo was on!
It was a great day for all of us! It got even better for me, because I got to go out BY MYSELF to see a movie with my sisters, while G kept the kids. :)
We are now discussing when our next zoo trip will be! I have a feeling it will be soon! Gotta use that membership!
