Raef, Ryan, Caleb - Days 3 and 4

The weekend is here and that means Grandpa can play too.  The zoo has been requested and that means an EARLY morning.  We always want to be there when it first opens as the animals are more active and so are we -- before the heat drains us of energy.  Love this pic.

Waiting for the gate to open.  Dino climbing.

And Grandpa teaching.

We are the FIRST through today and make a beeline to the hippo exhibit.  Please, please, please let them not be still in the water already.

It turns out that they are, indeed, already out, but not still.  They are swimming around quite a bit.

However, we are so blessed today.  Little Adanna has decided to perform at the window.  No, not a real performance as she is not a trained circus animal, but just her own little hello to everyone.  I think I take about a hundred pictures and can't show them all here, but they are just too cute.

My money shot for today -

The next animals to bring the camera out are the meercats --- Hello.

Trying to catch the chimp in the tire.  Through glass.  Never easy.

In the aviary, the Yellow Weavers are busy constructing their nests.  I catch a couple at the "stash" post.

Grandpa never misses a minute to teach what he loves. 

Gorilla time.  Yep, babies are out.

Both moms and babies -

Wait for me Mom -

Onto the giraffes -- my camera was just not cooperating at this point and I missed a lot.  Here's what I have.  Caleb feeding -

Ryan and Raef feeding???

No elephant shot today -- jeep instead.

Lions -- a great presentation for the boys to watch and hear.

As the keepers work with two lions, Bahati is left out in the habitat.  She is not happy about it at all.

WOW!!!!  These guys are sure growing.

Onto Zoo North -- we have completed the Savanna side as much as we can since the monorail is not working AGAIN.

Oooooh, I've read that there are flamingo babies to see.  Sure enough.

Stopping in at the dinosaurs.

And a chance to feed living dinosaurs.  Raef and Grandpa didn't participate.  What's up with that?

The Underzone has new occupants.  There are tamarins and hornbills now.

My favorite --- the birds.  I do so love feeding them.

Raef made a friend and he definitely didn't want to leave.

If I could talk to the animals . . .

And that's the zoo.  It's home to rest for a bit and I even take a nap.  I know -- almost unheard of.  Raef and Grandpa tackle a game together.

14th - Another day with Grandpa.  What to do, what to do?  Grandpa, Raef and Ryan head for the coffee shop while I enjoy a few extra moments of quiet.  I bet you're wondering about Caleb.  Well, he opted to stay home and play his game for a bit.  Okie dokie.

Grandpa shares his new toy with the boys and body explorations begin.  OMG -- boys will be boys no matter what age they are.

Let's get out of here for a bit.  The aquarium is calling.  Well, at least the boys hear it calling.

Touch tank fun.

Ya gotta love this one's sense of humor.  He just cracks me up.

Off to the stingrays.

Psst - they are all over here with me.

Feeding

And the baby scores!!

My boys.

Oh my -- she is actually moving around while I'm here.

Out to the lagoon after our time with the fish.

Grandpa sets me up.  What a nice guy I've got.

My view.  Not amazing, but not bad.  It's overcast big time, which makes it cooler, but also grey-er and the water looks muddier than it really is.

If you find a plank --- you must cross it.

Grandpa trying to divert attention from the plank.  He doesn't want to go swimming.

A wooly mammoth, just for them.  This is Jumbo.  The cool thing about him is that he was modeled after a fossil excavated in Dallas.  Mammoths roamed Texas until 10,000 years ago.

"Gammy, let us out."  Or is it in?  They appear to be on the outside of the gate.

Time to go.

While at Central Market, we picked up several "new to us" fruits to try.  Ryan has the food book out and we are studying Mangosteens in preparation of tasting one.

Grandpa gets it open and it is exactly like the one in the book.  They are super yummy.  I want more.  These are definitely on our "treat" list.

I am making a pavlova for dessert and Caleb is very intent on it.

It's actually peaked everyone's curiosity.  And we're ready to sample it.  I have split it in half before adding the cream and fruit as I know we can't eat the whole thing tonight, the fridge is too full to store it there, and I don't want it to get mushy.  Problem solved by simply taking it in half.  We can eat this much.  It's a smashing success and everyone loves it so much.  Woohoo.  That's it for today.  We are finishing out the night with a movie marathon of Twilight 1 and 2 - Raef, Ryan and I.  No Grandpa.  No Caleb.  They are off to bed.  See ya tomorrow.