Dallas Zoo

We try to take a field trip to the zoo about twice a year.  We only go sometime in the spring (usually on the Homeschool Day) and then sometime again in the fall because no one wants to be outside in the summer.  Winter probably wouldn't be so bad but we never seem to make time to go then. So it was Homeschool Day again and we made a trip down to the zoo a few weeks ago.  (Like how I'm totally jumping around in the timeline here?) 

I hadn't planned on Josh coming with us but he apparently had planned on it so that was a nice surprise.  We all love it when Daddy can rearrange his schedule a little to join us in anything.  We walked into the zoo just in time for the Keeper Encounter at the Lemur exhibit.   

The kids were able to ask questions and we learned quite a bit about Lemurs.  They kept referring to them all throughout the day and comparing other animals to them. 

One of the really cool things about going to the zoo on Homeschool Day (anyone can go) is that they have tons of interactive exhibits all over the zoo set up.  The kids got to see and touch all sorts of things like giraffe skulls, porcupine quills, armadillo shells, giraffe tails, giant pinecones, geodes and alligator skulls. 

One of our favorite places is the Bug House.   It has been recently renovated and was even better than it has been in the past.  These leaf cutter ants are amazing in a creepy sort of way.  The ants are so small compared to their cargo that it looks like the leaves are walking around on their own.

We ate lunch in the huge picnic area and let Sawyer run around in all the leaves and sticks (aka boy heaven) for a while before we loaded him back up in the stroller.

After lunch we visited some of the craft tables they had for the day.  The kids made rubbings. 

And did some origami.

This table was actually really gross.  They had created some bird pellets and they were demonstrating how scientists dissect these in order to learn more about the pollution in that area.  (Bird pellets are made of undigested matter that birds then regurgitate.) The kids were supposed to break them apart to see what the birds had "ingested".  I'm sure they were just made of mud and nothing that actually came out of a bird but I seriously wanted to hurl watching my children play with them just thinking about it.  We did not stay long at this table.  Yuck.

And Sawyer got attacked by giant wasps. . . oh, wait.  :)

 

We made our way to the Reptile House, another favorite.

  

Of course we had to ride the Monorail. 

 

This kid is always goofy.  I love him!

We didn't have time to visit the giraffes or elephants but we were able to see the gorillas and chimps.  The kids couldn't pass up a chance for a picture with the chimp statue either.

 

I thought Sawyer might fall asleep on the Monorail but that didn't happen.  He did, however, fall asleep in his carseat before we were even on the highway again.  We wore that kid out!  The other kids took naps too.  What a fun way to spend a day!  Maybe we'll have to go back before it gets too hot.