new year's eve

since we had been in the apartment all week and the kids hadn't really gotten to go anywhere with fresh air and open spaces in a long time with all the moving to-dos, i thought that we really needed to get out on friday after papa, nana, and derek left.  lucky for me it was the warmest day, by far, that we have seen in a while - around 50 degrees.  so we hit the akron zoo.  unfortunately, daddy had to work in cleveland and couldn't join us.

earl and shannon had sent us a zoo pass when maddux was born (so he could get in on the action too) so we were all set.  unfortunately, this zoo doesn't open until 11am!  i couldn't believe it.  i think that this one might be more of an afternoon destination while the milwaukee zoo was typically a morning trip for us.  any way it is a great zoo.  very different, but i think that it will be just as much fun to visit regularly.  we were the only ones not in our heavy coats but i was comfortable in just a light sweater.  the sun came out and it was actually a great day for the zoo, except for all the dripping snow melt.

madelyn coming down the overlook for the penguins.  she went up by herself because i had the stroller with the boys.

mason checking out the lemurs.  he had fallen asleep on the drive over and was still waking up.

madelyn listening to lemur talk on the phone.  this was pretty cute and they both liked it.

  

mason looking at the alpacas.  it sort of gives you a sense of what the zoo was like, big on aesthetics but smaller in size and variety of animals.

 

throughout the zoo there are little places designed for kids to play which was nice and will be even nicer on a dry day.  this one had a rope bridge.  mason was willing to go across but he was very slow going.  he didn't want any help from madelyn either.



madelyn wore her red purse and was anxious to spend the money in her red wallet inside it.  she was very proud to have her own money.  one penny went into a donation bin that has ramps for the coin to go down so that it will 'circle the drain' into the collection hole at the bottom of the bowl.  and then she found a penny press that could not be passed up.  i helped her find fifty-one cents for the purchase, select a frog design, and turn the crank to press out her penny.  she was obviously pleased with her first official purchase with her own money.



they had a special jellyfish exhibit that seemed to be madelyn and mason's favorite part.  i am not sure if it is a temporary exhibit or not, but it was rather impressive.  i saw more types of jellyfish than i have seen in one place before and it ended in a play area for the kids which is just one of the things i liked about this 'new' zoo. 

 

heading back to the car hand-in-hand.  madelyn talking to him about the zoo the whole way.

and that was the most exciting part of new year's eve.  we ate a little dinner and i think that we were all in bed by 9:30pm.  happy new year!  love.