Blank Park Zoo

Our church planned a zoo outing today for all the kids (and their families) in the nursery and children's church programs.  We didn't have a huge group, but we had a lot of fun having a picnic lunch with everyone, and then wandering around Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines together.

Getting ready to eat lunch

Colleen and Laurel by a waterfall

 We bought the double stroller, and started out with both kids in their seats.  Laurel did fine walking to the entry, but as soon as we got into an exhibit and she saw the animals and saw all the other kids walking around, she was not willing to sit in her stroller any longer!

Laurel and I fed the parakeets.  She kept trying to kiss this one.

We put Laurel on her "leash" for most of the time we were there.  That worked pretty well, except when she got mad and started spinning in circles.  And it didn't work as well when she ran full speed in a circle and then hit the end of the leash and fell face down in the dirt.  But, at least we kept her within 5 feet of us at all times!

Laurel let this little cow thing (I'm not sure what it was) lick some food off her hand once, but wasn't a big fan of being licked!

Laurel liked feeding the goats better.  She could hold out a single piece of food and then yank her hand away as soon as the goat's mouth got close to her.  But she did get a couple pieces of food into it's mouth!

Laurel and Scott went for a ride on a camel.  I took this picture as they were waiting in line.  Laurel is going through a stage right now in which she has little temper tantrums.  She does not seem to have much control over her feelings right now.  We saw this face and heard crying many times throughout the day!  However, we also saw a lot of other kids her age at the zoo doing the same thing, so we're not alone.

Nicolas was awake while driving to Des Moines and through lunch, but then fell asleep as we were walking into the zoo.  He stayed asleep the whole time we were at the zoo, and slept pretty much the whole way home.  

We eventually put Laurel into her sling on my back...she did not take a nap, and her little fits were getting more frequent, and she wanted to run all over.  She did much better in the sling!  There was an elephant and a rhino statue that both sprayed water in the air, and I stood in between them so Laurel could be in the water with all the other kids.