Zoo Adventures

Ah, Fall. That time of the year in Phoenix when it finally stays under 100 degrees, and we bravely venture outside of our air-conditioned abodes. My friend Jen sent me a text message this morning, asking if Kylie and I would like to join her and Gracie (age 21 months) at the zoo. I was thinking it was still a little too hot for my tastes (then again, anything above 75 is a little too warm for me), but since we hadn't been to the zoo since the temperature rose above 85 (which was probably sometime in February), I said, sure! (Hi Jen!!)

It turned out to be fun...it was warm, but not really too warm, so all of the animals were out and about. There was an orangutan baby that was really cute. I'd be able to show you a picture of it if I hadn't been way too lazy to get my camera out of my purse, which was in the bottom of Jen's stroller. We saw meerkats, the tiger, lions, spider monkeys, otters, baboons (I said, "Look Kylie, those are your people!"), rhinos, giraffes, and the geese at the snack bar that really want some of your food, and might possibly attack you to get it. I actually did take one picture of Kylie on the merry-go-round. Oh no, I didn't squat my lazy ass under the stroller to get my camera out...I used my cellphone, so forgive the quality:



The merry-go-round they have is actually pretty cool. Every animal on it is different. You'll notice Kylie was riding the panda bear. And for those of you who are going to nitpick and tell me that it looks like there are two dolphins behind her...that's actually a shark and a dolphin. So there. I would have taken a picture of Grace on her animal, but her ride turned out to be mom, whom she clung to ferociously as they rode on the merry-go-round bench. Grace is still not too crazy about rides. In fact, since I only have the one picture, I have no proof that Jen and Grace were actually with us. You'll just have to take my word for it. Well, wait...I do have a picture of Kylie and Grace at the zoo together!:



Hmm...I wonder what that face was all about. Anyway, you totally wouldn't even know that was a different zoo trip altogether...unless you noticed that Kylie's wearing different clothes, long pants, has her hair in braids, etc. Gracie's hair is a lot longer now! Actually, I wish I would have taken a picture of them when we first got there today, because Kylie kept insisiting that Grace hold her hand, and I was walking behind them, and it would have been a really cute picture. I'm such a loser for not taking that picture. Anyway, today was a perfect time for Kylie to practice her big sister skills (which she will never, ever get to use in real life, ever), by saying "Come here Grace...c'mon Grace...hold my hand Grace!!" I finally figured it out though...she is so used to having her big sisters boss her around that she grabbed this opportunity to be able to boss someone else around for a change. Luckily, Grace is little enough that she doesn't seem to mind. I'm sure that will change, someday. I can't wait for the day when Kylie tries to tell Grace to do something, and Grace gives her the big eyeroll. Ha.

Anyway, about 11am it really did start to get kind of hot, and we decided to call it a day. When I got home, I decided to check the 10 day weather forecast for San Diego. On the day we're supposed to go to Sea World, which is next Tuesday, it's supposed to be sunny and 69 degrees. 69 degrees!! With an ocean breeze! Heaven!! In fact, the whole time we're there, it's supposed to be sunny with a high right around 70 degrees. Let us pause a moment, and give thanks:

Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for the beautiful, cool weather that it appears San Diego will be having next week. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I promise I will try and be good from now on. No, really...stop laughing...I mean it. I'll really try to be patient and not yell at the kids, and I'll only dip into hubby's Xanax when things are really, really stressful. Amen.