to the zoo

all day long i was telling ethan, "we're going to the zoo tonight!". it was "member appreciation night" at our local zoo! behind-the-scenes tours, special extended hours, and up-close exhibits! while there were WAY too many people to appreciate all of those things, we did manage to see the penguins, seals, owls, walruses (a personal fav), reindeer, and an anteater! plus, we went for a camel ride! i think i was just as excited as ethan (i'll be honest-- finding out they had camel rides was what sold me on going!)! and i was so proud of him-- i wasn't sure if being up close to the camel would be scary for him, but he did spectacular and had such a fun time!

i love zoos. love them. even if they are dinky, i enjoy seeing farm animals, exotic animals, and typical zoo animals. our local zoo is, well, really local...only 4 miles away! there is a great assortment of animals, everything from polar bears to foxes, to tapirs and elephants, to iguanas and tigers! AND there is an aquarium, too! our zoo has a gorgeous view of the Sound, especially on a clear day, and is small enough to be comfortable but large enough to not be too routine. i love zoos.

to finish off the evening, we took ethan on the carousel. there was a huge line, but he was so excited about it and we were right there and it was already late, so of course we waited in line so he could ride! he kept saying "my turn, my turn" as other people were getting on and off. finally, "my turn" arrived and we rode on the carousel. what a fun night. it was even worth the way-past-bedtime grumpiness, ha!

he was having a blast. don't be fooled by his super-serious face.

levi was a trooper. and even got to wear daddy's hat. how cute are these guys?

me and ethan on the camel-- who's having more fun?!?!

linking up with rachel today. why? because my family and the zoo are some of my favorite things!