Shelly the tortoise

Our local zoo has a storytime every weekend and while we don't make it all the time, the kids really enjoy it when we do get over there.  They usually read a short story but the highlight of the visit is the animal they bring to introduce to the kids.  This week was a 27 year old yellow footed tortoise named Shelly :)

Another day at the zoo

The kids got to "meet" a Bearded Dragon at the zoo's storytime today. Only Iz was brave enough to go up and pet her, though :p  Last week, we were the only family at storytime but this week there were a bunch of families.  All the kids were posing with the bearded dragon so their parents could take pictures but poor Iz had to pass up a photo op because I left my phone in the car and didn't have my actual camera on me :p  So no pictures of today's trip to the zoo.  We didn't stay long because it was hot but we did remember the stroller so we went to the far side to see zebras and giraffes and the ostriches :)

Saturdays at the zoo

On Saturdays, our local zoo has a storytime session for the kids.  They read a book and then get to meet a zoo animal.  This week was Sammy the Star Tortoise--they got to pet him and learn all about what makes Sammy special.  The highlight of the visit?  Sammy pooped.   Yep, you heard that right--they most enjoyed the part where Sammy pooped.  Not his neat domed star shell.  Not the spines on his front legs.  Not his beak.  His poop.  *sigh* KIDS.

We spent a little bit of time walking around and seeing some of the favorite animals.  First and last stop on our trip was the koalas.  They were sleeping both times we were there but the kids were still pretty excited to see them in person

We were there during Zookeeper talks so we got to learn some extra facts about koalas and then tigers in the next exhibit.  The Zoo Educator at the tiger exhibit pulled no punches for the young ages of my children so now my five  year old knows that tigers will suffocate their prey with their strong jaws if they can't break its neck right away.  Now, my 12 year old was fascinated by this but perhaps the five year old could have lived with just petting the fur and looking at the skull and teeth :p

W's favorite is always the red panda.  It will run up to the glass and have a look at whoever is out there and then go back and forth.  W would stand there forever if you let him

The Busy Little B likes to go into the "Tortoise Tunnel" in the children's play area and peek at me:

W was on foot this trip instead of the stroller so we were limited in how long we could stay before he started to get tired.  We need to remember the stroller next time for the hike out to the Savannah exhibit so the kids can see the giraffes :)