Lazy days of summer (Sort of)

As the weather warms up so does our calendar of activities to complete and places to go! And I don't mind one bit. I am a person that goes stir crazy after being home for ONE day and not getting out anywhere. I crave the outdoors. So does Zoey :) I was never home when I was pregnant with her and as soon as I could after she was born . We went for lots of walks in the early days (still do!) and on rainy days the library was our home away from home.

One of our new favorite places to visit (and probably a great place to beat the heat) is the zoo. As with our first trip to the zoo, Zoey still really, really likes the giraffes.

A great memory Brian and I have from living down in Southern California is one of our trips to the San Diego zoo. On this particular trip we got to see ALL the animals up and about doing their thing. The lions and tigers were on the prowl, the hippo was charging through the water, the monkeys and chimps were swinging from the trees hooting and hollering, the zebras and gazelle were running and chasing after one another, etc. It really was a fantastic experience and one that stuck with both of us because it felt more wild/charged and less zoo like. While it wasn't that wild/charged at the Oakland Zoo we definitely saw glimpses.

Tigers preening and prowling

Alligator (or was it crocodile?) sunbathing right by the fence!

Even the lion and lionesses were out and about (this guy actually seemed quite upset about something)

And the elephants were enjoying their morning snack and showing us some power throwing the branches around!

Zoey enjoys watching all the animals and getting to brush the goats (the sheep just run!) in the petting zoo. She also has fun climbing on the insects in the playground and running around. A sure fire way to ensure your child takes a good long nap :)!

Hope everyone has a great week and I will post pictures (and probably some stories) from our first camping trip of the season this year when we return later this week!