A trip to the zoo

We took a trip to the Wichita zoo.  The Sedgwick County Zoo is rated #7 in the nation! 

I decided to renew my Grandparent plus membership because it is worth it if you go at least 3 times in a year.  And I do.  And you can never see the whole zoo in a single visit.  At least with little people in tow. 

The tram leaves from the front gate at the top of the hour and we arrived at the zoo right at 10.  So we decided to take a ride all around the zoo first.

When we got to the stop by the boats, we noticed there were boat rides that day.  We love the boat rides!  They were scheduled to leave in 15 minutes, enough time to find a bathroom and take a peek at the bears.

After the boat ride, we went to the jungle.  In the past, the jungle has sometimes been too scary for the little kiddos.  But that day they were happy to go on the adventure.

The bats were so creapy and very active that day.  Crawling up and down the rope.  Soooo gross.

This pose by the penguin sign is a tradition that was started several years ago with the young marrieds and we just have to do it!

Here are a couple of pictures from 2009!  See how they've grown!

 Some children were tuckered out after 2 hours and ready to go eat!  Wish we had packed a lunch, but didn't think of it.  Next time.  You can bring your own picnic to the zoo.  So we will go back soon and plan to do that.

Also, every Friday through Aug. 3 they have Wet-n-Wild Days! They have sprinkler tents and the Sedgwick County Fire Department douses the kids with water.  We've never done it before, but that is on the "to do this summer" list!  I will use my grandparent card to use! 

Happy 4th!

Happy Birthday, America!

A walk around the lake

 While the Arkansas kids were here, we decided to take a walk around the lake.

 We had to laugh that this little baby came running to us.  Perhaps thinking we might have bread for him?

 "Don't get too close to my baby!"

 Emeri wasn't too keen on getting too close to the geese.  She doesn't like them much. 

 We had to show Emeri and Eli "our" swing that we love so much in the woods.

Then we saw this. 

Is it poisin ivy? Maybe. I took a picture of it and then we looked it up at home. It just might be! So the kids were promptly put in the shower and bathed. No one got the itchies, so that is good.