bring on the beautiful weather!

we have been spending too much time indoors (and cramped) for my taste.  the forecast was looking good - highs in the upper-70s - and i could not resist. it didn't hurt that i had to ship my work computer back for some work and wasn't going to get much done at home. i packed up our lunch, shipped off my computer and we headed for a day at the zoo. we were there about 9:30 and the zoo doesn't open until 10 so we had some waiting to do.

mason was showing us the 'waterfall' in their fountain.

madelyn doing a 'happy dance' while we waited.

for some reason they were cleaning about half of the exhibits we visited, but the kids loved watching them hose everything down.  i had to practically drag them away!

being the loving sister that she is, madelyn helped mason check his shoes for a rock.

there is this 'dome' for kids to view a turtle exhibit.  i don't think that the kids get it, but they always stop to go inside.

can you find mason in the maze?  i was proud of him for doing it and not panicking when madelyn left him in the dust.

we always spend time in the botanical garden and madelyn likes the 'maze' with the caterpillar in the center.  mason is starting to look forward to this part of the zoo too, but they will not let me get a picture with both of them!

there is a little frontier town and it was open for the first time we have been there.  mason was happy enough to just play on the "chooch" (aka train).  the funny thing to me is that they both will sit in the passenger cars and wait for the train to head on up the track.

and maddux had a great time watching them run around - he would just laugh at them.  he dozed off and on a little bit after lunch.  i enjoy it when they get to the age where they can see the animals and appreciate the trip beyond just getting some fresh air.  love.