family day at the zoo

since we had already been out to the lot/house, didn't have any other errands, and it was a sunny day, we headed to the cleveland zoo!  we have only been once (when we picked up nana from the airport in march) and our milwaukee zoo pass gets us in for free until the end of may so it seemed like the perfect time to check it out as a family.  and daddy liked the price too.

we didn't tell the kids were we were going.  we just packed up a lunch, loaded the car and hit the road.  it is only a 30 minute drive so they weren't in suspense very long.  madelyn can read the word "zoo" so she knew where we were right away and remembered coming with nana.

the zoo was very different with leaves on the trees!  when we came in march it was cold, most of the animals were inside and there were very few people.  this time it was sunny (in the 80s), all of the animals were out and there were a lot of people.  there was also a new elephant exhibit that opened this month.

mason is at that height where every railing blocks his view and he would step up to see what was going on everywhere we went.

maddux had a great day at the zoo too!

the giraffes were eating.  there are more than seen in this picture too.

the closest we came to a family picture.

both kids liked this spot where there were binoculars to watch birds and squirrels at bird feeders just behind the fence.

happy girl.

madelyn acted as our guide and chief map reader.

telling us what to see next and making sure we didn't miss anything.

she was happy to balance her sunglasses on her head while comparing her hand to the sunbear's paw.

when we came in march my camera died before i could get a picture of the baby koala so here it is with its mommy.

we had a very nice time.  there was a lot of walking.  matt was impressed that madelyn did not complain even once (because he and i were - maybe it's just our age showing).  i think we were there for about 3-1/2 hours.  what was most surprising is that mason (and madelyn) did not fall asleep on the ride home!  it was way past nap time and we were all hot and tired.  instead they just 'talked' and laughed the whole ride.  we stopped at mcdonalds to use free strawberry lemonade coupons and got the kids each a milkshake as a special treat (cheaper than zoo treats) for when we got home.

all in all a good day out with the family!  love.