What's important, really??

On Tuesday, Brigham and I went to the zoo. Our zoo is only three miles from our house, so it made for a pleasant walk on an almost perfect Spring day.

As we got to the zoo, I got such an excited feeling. It has been a while since I've been to the zoo and I was happy about experiencing it with Brigham.

We got through the gates and checked out the aquariums. Brigham peeked into each one and said, "O.k., let's go!" The next stop was Arctic Foxes. I can't remember seeing them at this zoo before. One of them was lounging inside a large hollow log and the other one was digging a hole under the log. THIS, was going to be good! I looked over at Brigham who was puzzling out the sign hanging on the fence next to the exhibit (see coordinating sidebar story).

"What does this say, Mom?"
"It says 'Do not feed the animals.' Look Brigham, what is that silly fox doing? Look! He has dirt all over his face."
"What does this sign say, again?"
"Brigham, are you here to see the animals or the signs."
"The signs."

So, that was pretty much how our visit to the zoo went. Sometimes, like if there were five piglets nursing rabidly on their mother, he'd stop and watch for 30 seconds. Most of the time, though, he would just look in the cage and then want to move on.

What was the exception? The signs of course (Do not feed the animals, various animal names, no smoking, designated smoking area, etc. etc.) Another exception, you ask? Yes. There was one more. Birds!!!! Looks like you have done your job well, Nathan!!! Brigham could not get enough of our feathered friends.

Goin' to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

Yesterday we toured the Toledo, Ohio zoo which has been rated (by someone!) as one of the top ten zoos in the states. So, we're happy to use our zoo pass to get in free! We're pretty lucky that where we live there are five zoos within a two hour driving distance. Each is unique in its own way. With our zoo pass, we can get into some of them for free.

I had read on the website that there were baby polar bears. We didn't see them or any mention of them at the zoo. It might have been that I was too busy keeping my kids rounded up, though. I did take a look at the web cam and saw two of them just now! Check out the web cams. Toledo zoo also has something called a "Hippoquarium" where you can watch the hippos swim. The didn't swim for us yesterday, but we have been here when then did and it's amazing to watch!



I love the primates. Grand Rapids zoo is far superior in the primates set-up, but hey, I'm just happy to see them. The gorillas and the chimpanzees were resting, but the orangutans were a lot of fun, including a young one that had us all pretty thrilled (even Brigham who usually looks, says "oooh" and then wants to go on to something else).


The mama orangutan, brought this tarp right over near the glass where we were standing and proceeded to spread it out. It looked just like I might have looked spreading a tarp on the ground. Then she sprawled out on her back for a rest.




In the butterfly house, May called me over to tell me that there was a butterfly she wanted me to see. It was a beautiful deep blue color on the inside and multi-colored on the outside. She told me she thought the butterfly matched me. How nice! They were hard to photograph because there was a certain part of the room where all the butterflies fluttered like mad while they were drinking nectar out of flowers.




On our way out of the zoo, we had to see the snow leopards. Our little zoo also has snow leopards and May recently studied the habits of those leopards for a whole week. She wanted to see how Toledo Zoo set up the habitat. While we were there, I saw Sariah studying something and thinking. Finally, she said to me in a half-whisper, "Um, Mom, I think I found an elephant egg!" Judge for yourself:

A Sunday Evening Post

These guys (lady bug larvae):



And these guys (painted lady caterpillars):



are both in the "nap" stage of their existence. Soon they will break out of their pupal state/chrysalis state and become the beautiful creatures nature intended them to be. Did you know that when you bother a chrysalis they actually shake? I think it's to ward off predators. Seems to me that some predators might be attracted by that?

My kids have been spoiled this first week off school by a nature walk, a trip to the library, a trip to the zoo, a trip to the beach and a trip to the local science museum. Sariah would like to know where we are going next. I would like to know when I can have a nap!

May cried last night because she didn't want to sing with the other Primary kids in the sacrament meeting program for Father's Day. With her dad away for the weekend, she just couldn't bear to sing. I told her "no problem." I don't do sacrament meeting alone. My two youngest each need an adult in that meeting.

We are all so intrigued by the world of birds. Nathan now knows that an "ornithologist" is a scientist who studies birds. Currently he's more drawn to this world than to the world of marine biology. He's reading a 1000+ page book about birds, taking snap shots, trying to coax them to eat out of his hand, making plans for bird feeders and drooling over the birds that visit other people feeders. We're hoping to make some new sightings this summer at the local nature center. All of my kids are trying their hand at drawing. Nathan and May can sketch a bird faster than I can. That's what comes of practice.

Here are some images from the last week or so.

Our own house and yard:








Nature walk:

Painted turtle

Damsel fly

The zoo:

Bear cat (Binturong)

Peafowl