Funday Monday (a day late!)

Monday was a blast.  The beautiful, cooler weather prompted a day at the zoo.  A quick text to Nicole on Sunday and we planned a morning of it.

Although we've been one other time this year (about 2 months ago) and lots last year (when all the boys did was sleep), this was by far the best time so far.  They loved it and I already look forward to our next trip.

First our trip started with the ritual of stopping at the fountain.  Morgan and Parker tossed some pennies in and we tried to get a picture of the kids.  The best we got was a picture on the bench looking towards the fountain.

Our next stop was to see the farm animals.  I've never seen them while at the zoo, so it was time to venture that way.  I'd have to say, it was well worth it.  We saw some horses, cows, and pigs - pretty up close and personal!  The boys were in awe...

Then to the prairie dogs.  Nicole took Morgan and Parker to the little viewing area where they could pop up at a hill and see them even closer.  Logan and Ellis were so good with staying close to me when I got them out of the stroller to look at the animals when we stopped.  No complaints here!

Of course they wouldn't get close enough to Morgan and Nicole, but it was very cool to see them so active.

Ellis checking out the prairie dogs from the fence.

Then, we went to see the giraffes, lions, and gorillas (which I didn't get pictures of, but we had lots of close encounters with them too!), with other smaller animals on the way.  We stopped for a picnic lunch before Nicole took Morgan and Parker on the carousel.  Morgan was so excited to go on and so sad to have to get off!

Then it was time to leave.  As we left the carousel, it was obvious the boys were very tired, but still very curious and observant of what was going on around them.  We headed back to the front gates and the boys passed right out.  We got to the cars, packed the car back up and headed home...but not before a kiss goodbye!

The boys have been so kissy lately - it's adorable!  Ellis showing some love to Parker!

After we got home, the boys napped for a way too short amount of time, but were completely fine for most of the rest of the day.  Troy got some crazy laughs out of Logan, by merely throwing a ball at the wall and having it bounce back to him.  Seriously, anything that deals with a ball is awesome to them.

After dinner, they were starting to really get tired.  It was all catching up with them.  We headed outside to keep them busy, since they love to be outside.  They were a bit hesitant about their new sandbox the first time I showed it to them, but tonight, they really got into it and started playing in there.  

Luckily, they played all the way until bedtime and there was no hesitation to come in and go to bed.  And, they slept all the way until 7:10 this morning!  YEAH!  Hopefully that happens more often too!

Up tomorrow: a playdate with Cole (and Caryn), Luke (and Sheila), and Macy (and Jessica)!  I can't wait!