the zoo

I'm going to be honest. We really aren't animal people. There, I said it. Not haters, just not lovers. So, the zoo hasn't been on the top of our list of places to visit. It's not that we didn't want to go (especially for Cooper's sake as he is an animal lover), I guess we just hadn't found the motivation to make it happen. But, when Curtis' co-worker invited us to join him, his girlfriend, and their roommate, we jumped at the chance!

 We started off with a bang- the LIONS!

(Our own little monkey was pretty enthused.)

 Cooper plastered himself on the glass. He was in awe.

 How could you not be? Look at these creatures. They are gorgeous and terrifying and graceful. I can see why C.S. Lewis imagined Jesus in this way.

 Then we headed over the the chimpanzees. 

 

 I think Cooper had more fun playing around the exhibits than actually seeing what was in them. 

 Next up- the gorillas. Look closely at this guy: he is working on something in his "private area". 

No lie... He pulled his hand out, smelled it,

 and then took a little taste. 

That was just wrong.  

Our new friends were so gracious and patient with us. Cooper made a lot of detours as we visited everything from elephants to alligators to polar bears.

It was a really great day and such a sweet reminder of how much fun it is to do things as a family. Check out how these pictures capture that sentiment:

 Peas in a pod, I tell you. They are made from the same stuff. 

  Are you wondering if we left Annabelle at home? There were moments when we wondered that too.

 But she was there! She sat (and slept) contentedly in her stroller all morning.

 She was such a delight!

 

This day at the zoo, though, was all about this little guy. He loved it all. And he fit right in.