to the zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday. My ignorant ambition paid off; we had a really good time.

The only chaotic moment was when Andy decided to hide from me in the giant elephant box and I looked like a crazy lunatic yelling his name while the kids sat around eating cheez-itz.

Oh, and when Joey booked it down the cheetah stairs heading straight into the wild bamboo; and when I had to drag him by the ankles from under the fence while he's screaming "Funny Crane. Funny Crane!"; and when he tried to drink the eco-pond in Butterfly Garden.

Uh, and when Kacie performed her signature overly-dramatic I'm-gonna-die scream for the monkey watchers when I wouldn't give her the dirt covered water bottle, and everyone suddenly lost interest in the dancing gorilla to watch me abuse my child. "She's okay." I said politely. "Watch the dang primate." I said...politely. Very, very quietly.

I wish I had a peanut for every time someone asked "Are all those kids yours?" Then Joey could've at least had a handful of edibles to throw at the camels.

"Don't throw stuff at the camels, Joey!"
"Why?"
"Because it's rude."
"Why?"
"Because it hurts."
"Why?"
"Because you need to go play in the gopher tube. And I need a slushy."

I love a good slushy.

Oh, it's totally worth it just to hear Andy laughing at the naked gorilla scratching his behind; and to discuss gender roles and humility with Dani when she gets an overdose of girl power because the female lions are the ones to hunt & the boys stay home.

It's worth the tear in my eye every time Jakey hugs my leg & says thank you for such a fun day; he won't want to come to the zoo with me forever.

They'll all grow out of it, someday.

So we had fun, yesterday.