national zoo

photo overload:

we took the fam to the zoo one day. 

we had to reschedule once because of unpredictable spring weather, you know.

i've always seen peoples cute pics with this zoo sign, but i have never taken the kids pictures there.

so let's take a million!

even though we got there right after 10:00, all of the zoo parking lots were closed.

again.

last time matt went to the zoo all of the lots were closed too. it was super stinky because both times we had talked about buying a membership to the zoo, which would allow for free parking, instead of the $20 each time.

thankfully we found parking nearby and i think that might just be the way to go. saved us $20 at least! we were told that they'd closed several parking lots because they got new elephants. i'm not sure why they would have to close so many lots, but what do i know about getting new elephants at the zoo? nothing, that's what.

here's some of addie's handiwork. everyone knows how much i love having random people take pictures. you just never know what you're gonna get.

and just look at this gem! i've said it before and i'll say it again - little ansel addie!

then they almost gave me a couple heart attacks by climbing all over the sign. the sign is poised on a hill, so if they fell, i could just see them rolling to a doomed fate. i know, i worry too much. i've heard that a few times lately. ;)

we had fun. we almost had to bribe them to leave. they could have stayed playing here for hours, i think.

frankie insisted on going down by the flag and that i take her picture. she went down, totally posed, then came back up and totally checked my picture taking skills to make sure it was to her liking.

cute 2-year-old cousins. love laney's face. can you believe that these two are only 1 month apart? we've got one on the 90th percentile and one on the 5th. one with long blond hair, one with a brunette mullet. they couldn't be much more opposite!

and the other blondie.

oh, these two blondies had some issues.

battle of the blonds, for real.

chillin'.

it was a pretty perfect zoo day. not too hot or cold. it was pretty crowded in the morning because all of the school groups were there, but after about 12:00, we were smooth sailing.

this fish was huge! looked like a dinosaur to me.

we were trying to take a picture of the pretty pink bird, but frankie was not wanting to cooperate, and there were other people waiting to take pics.

not one to be deterred, addie was all ready to force frankie into submission. i love her faces!

"frankie, come on, let's just take a picture..."

"come on, seriously...."

"ah well."

this was another fun photo montage.

"quinn and addie, say cheese!"

"quinn, go by addie and give her a hug."

and this was her hug.

most awkward hug ever!

even after addie came down to hug her, she kept her little hand on the post! it was so funny!

finally a natural hug. :)

and a lion montage!

i swear getting all the kids to look at the same time is a science.

gotta keep trying though!

we brought our lunch and ate it halfway up the hill. we were definitely one of those weird food families, as amy and i ate our collard green turkey meatball wrap. 

at the zoo. 

oh that clean eating challenge was quite a challenge!

we had a fabulous day at the zoo. we did everything we wanted and had minimal meltdowns.

 until the drive home at least.

 that drive home gets us every time.

 

amy and i had made a calendar of things we wanted to do and get done, and even though it was a lot of work, we did everything we set out to do. it was such a good visit!