A Day at the Zoo

Is there any place in the world quite so fun as the zoo? I mean, where else can you go over and over and never get bored. (Alright, Target is another place, but only if you have money and no kids with you!!) But really, I love taking the kids to the zoo. A few years ago, my parents got us a membership so we could go anytime. That was quite possibly one of the best presents ever.
The zoo is great because even though the animals are always the same, they're never doing the same thing. And they're not your ordinary housepets, either, so even if they're just sleeping, it's still pretty cool. I may shudder every time we approach the tarantula cases, but I love hearing Garrett's voice..."Hey Mom!!!! Look at the creepy crawlies!!" (As if that wasn't the only reason we entered this section in the first place.) Paige is finally old enough to take interest in the animals, so the fun has grown that much more.
I think one of the reasons I like the zoo so much, is that you feel like the best parent ever, no matter what arguments may have happened earlier in the day. So you lost your patience with your child because he was singing the same line of a song really loudly over and over and over (not that this has happened to me, of course...purely hypothetical!) It doesn't matter once you've arrived at the zoo and seen the look of wonder on your child's face as they watch the lion pace around. Or you were embarassed by the outfit your child put together (try telling Garrett that red Spider-Man pants and neon green and pink Hot Wheels shirts don't go together) But once you're out in the sunshine looking at exotic animals, you're happy to take pictures of some crazy outfit.
And then something happens to make your perfect parenting illusion come crashing down. For example, (again, hypothetically), your child that you told the Internet was potty-trained, has an accident after you have tried 3 times to take her to the bathroom. She melts down because she wants her wet clothes off THIS INSTANT, whether or not she is in full view of the rest of the world. Meanwhile, her older brother starts hyperventilating because he thinks the change of direction to the restroom means that he won't get to play on his beloved play structure. So, by the time you reach the restroom, you have 2 screaming children, wet and smelly clothes, and steam coming from your ears.
But then you head back out to the playground, and suddenly you are mother of the year again. Ahhh, the zoo.....

Zoo trip