Zoo-Doo

School starts again next Wednesday, 

so today we celebrated the end of summer break with lunch on the sand at Padaro Beach Grill in Carpinteria 

and a trip to the SB Zoo, 

where Jac and Donovan persuaded Pop that they were really, really tired - and Jac’s foot hurt soooo badly -

First stop - always- sliding on the ant hill

that they needed him to pull them in the wagon rather than walking. (Can you see my eyes rolling?? 😂)

 The most recent baby is a girl!

I was afraid the heat - low 80’s - and our afternoon arrival meant the animals wouldn’t be active or would be hiding in the shade, but we were lucky and saw most of the ones we like best. The lions were lying almost against the viewing glass; the meerkats were running around; and the bald eagle put on quite a long vocal display just for me and Donovan. 

We got to the giraffe feeding area a few minutes before it opened and were treated to the young males mock fighting in front of us. Whacking each other with their heads and necks has to hurt but it was hilarious to watch. 

The other highlight was that the bachelor gorillas were active. One was close to the viewing glass, as interested in the kids as they were in him. 

At one point, he wandered off, then came running fast back at the glass and spit a huge stream of water directly at where the kids were standing. 

Big reaction from the kids as the gorilla ran on by. I bet that’s one of his favorite activities and the kids’ reactions reinforces the fun. It was awesome. 

And of course we ended the day by adding to the stuffie collection. Leo chose chopsticks and candy, 

while Jac got an axolotl tshirt and a fox she named Lollipop.

Donovan chose a stuffed axolotl and a wolf, named Cotton Candy and Shadow.

All in all, a very pleasant day. 

Night Zoo

 We’ve been planning to go to Santa Barbara’s ZooLights 

since it opened just before Thanksgiving,

but one thing after another - 

weather, kids’ school work, illness -  

kept us away. 

But with it closing January 12, we figured it was now or never. 

So fun!

Even the zoo train was running, which the kids loved.

The forecast had a slight chance of rain,

but we lucked out -

it was cold and breezy (CA cold, not real cold 😜)

which just added to the enjoyment of our hot chocolate and s’mores. 

Can’t wait to see what they do at the zoo next year!

Bat Boy

The dinosaurs were only visible on the train ride

New At The Zoo

Since there was no school today, we packed up the baby grands and headed for Santa Barbara. 

There were lots of new things at the zoo - a week old baby giraffe (not on exhibit yet);

a Ranger Station with lots of touchables - the skulls were a big hit with Donovan and Jac;

a new tank for the axelotyl, one of Jac’s favorite creatures (Donovan said the meerkats were his favorite today);

and a red panda in a really nice waterfall-adjacent habitat.

The Australian exhibit puts the kids almost within touching distance of wallabies and kangaroos.

They were also within touching distance of the snow leopard (if you don’t count the window wall between them).

Leo’s favorite thing was the climbing wall, which was doing a brisk business.

Leo: I made it all the way to the top!

Me: So how was it?

Leo: Absolutely terrifying.

Prez Week

The grands are out of school this week for President’s Day Week.

We’d planned to go somewhere or do something with them each day 

 Can you spot all 5 monkeys apes?

but a big storm is (allegedly) heading our way, with very low temps (for us) and rain,

Australian Walkabout - the emu got close enough to almost brush against Leanne 

so we headed to the zoo on Tuesday

Ready to run if the emu comes their way

and plan to hang out at home, warm and dry, the rest of the time. 

Grateful we have such a nice little zoo close by 

Didn’t notice when I took this but Donovan’s in the background, laying on the ground

and the grands never (so far) get tired of going,

even if their favorite thing is playing in the sand and sliding down the ant hill. 

Thistle

Had lots of time for flower pics as Jac and I slow-walked to the car, her crying all the way, because she wanted to feed the giraffes and the line was looooooong and sloooooooow so we said no. 🙄

The fact that, every. other. time, she’d get to the front of the line and refuse to participate might have factored in too . . . 

P.S. Every zoo trip, Donovan gets a new snake. So far he has 3.5 -

Donovan put them to bed before dinner

left to right, Lemon, Jac’s Rose, Peanut and Salad. He and Jac share the original snake, Peanut Butter. 

Feeding Lemon a mouse lollipop.