Halloweekend, Part 1

Want a recipe for a fun, fall, family day?

Step 1: Pack a picnic lunch.

Step 2: Head to the zoo for their Jumping Pumpkins exhibits to watch animals eat/play with pumpkins that are placed in their habitats.

Step 3: Stop at a nearby (famous & amazing) bakery for a special treat and let husband talk you into a dozen donuts instead of just a half dozen. ;)
Hmm. This recipe is missing something...
What could it be?
Oh, that's right! We're missing happy children!!
I don't know who these little hooligan children were that came with us that day, but somehow Craig and I ended up looking at each other like "what in the world were we thinking??"
Will was the worst culprit! Every thing that came out of his mouth was a whine followed by a tantrum. After refusing to nap at Aunt Kelly's house on Friday, I think the lack of sleep caught up to him and he was totally out of sorts. Sophie mainly just couldn't decide whether she wanted to ride in the stroller or walk. And I think she picked up a little of Will's attitude just from watching him.

But the Jumping Pumpkins thing was very cool and I really enjoyed watching it. On the zoo website, they had times listed for various animal habitats and when they could be seen playing with pumpkins. We had hopes of seeing a couple more exhibits, but only made it in time to catch the elephants. And they didn't disappoint!

When we walked up, the elephants were inside and there were two large and one small pumpkins set out for them. Upon release, "baby" Louie (who's just a couple/few years old) came right out and hogged the pumpkins. Apparently, just like human toddlers, Louie has some sharing issues. He didn't leave much for his pregnant (and slower-moving) mommy to enjoy. :)
It was very impressive to see how these massive animals can maneuver themselves and use all their resources to achieve a goal. Louie wrapped his trunk around the pumpkin stem and pierced the body of the pumpkin with his tusk to break it open. With another one he picked it up and banged it against the metal "tree trunk" in his habitat to break it apart.

Eating the pumpkin.

Isn't it neat to see how naturally playful they can be on their own doing and without a circus master whipping them around?

This was right before he hit it against the metal "tree trunk".

This is Louie's mommy. You can't really see what she's doing, but look at that bulging belly! I'll have to look up when she's due... and also what the normal gestation of an elephant is while I'm at it...

Sophie spent a good chunk of the trip bundled into the stroller with the muff attachment and a blanket over her.

Seriously, Will was ornery the entire time.

Here he was climbing up to see the lions over the rail.

Miss Independent kept saying "out" so that we'd let her out of the stroller and she could walk on her own.

The giraffes were not in their normal environment this time. I think mostly they were indoors but could walk out to this fenced area. Will was getting excited to dress up like them the next day for trick-or-treating. :)

Wow! All the animals we visited were right up close and personal with us!

I know this isn't a super clear picture, but this giraffe was trying to bend down to munch some weeds. I hadn't really considered before how difficult it would be for an animal that tall to make himself "low". He had to spread his front legs wide apart just to reach his head to the ground.

Sophie wasn't feeling too comfortable being that close to the giraffes.

But Will didn't mind. He loves pretty much all animals.

Baby Enzi is almost a year old now!

Heading home... finally! We didn't even eat our picnic lunch here. Craig and I couldn't wait to get the kids home, fed and down for nap in the hopes that Will would wake up refreshed and act himself again.

At least the donuts were yummy!