Friday's Zoo Trip

Fridays are a bit crazy for us. I have to work that night, so I usually make sure it's a day of rest at home. Every once in a while I'm feeling rested and decide that I really don't need any extra rest before working all night. It's rare, but it happens. Try staying up 24 hours, while exerting tons of energy running down hallways and taking care of six patients. It can be rough without extra rest. Anyways, I also have this thing calmed mama guilt. I'm home with my kids basically all week. I really try to take them out of the house to get fresh air, especially as they get older. Staying home gets boring.

Friday, Todd was going to let me sleep in a little. He was going to take the kids to the zoo. Our annual membership just expired, so I knew I needed to renew . I then remembered that I heard about free Fridays at the zoo for Lexington residents. I told him about it and thought it would be a great idea. It was bit cold and breezy, but nothing a coat and a hat couldn't fix. Not to mention, I knew there are plenty of indoor areas at the zoo with heat.

He got the kids ready, the best a dad can do haha. He then asked me if I wanted to come. I knew Garrett had not been to the zoo in a long time. I was thinking about how much he was going to love experiencing it now. I wanted to see his little face run around and look at everything. I also wanted to see Izzie show him, just like I knew her big sister self would. I mustered up the energy and went.

It was actually very pretty outside, even if it was cold. The sun was out with only a couple clouds in the sky. I thought the zoo would be packed. I'm not sure why. I guess it being free and all, but it was not.

We went into the aquarium part first. The kids got to run around and there was only maybe five other people in there. The new Komodo Dragon exhibit was pretty cool. They were so active and coming up to the glass. Poor things could have used a little more space to roam though. Garrett was experimenting with the glass windows trying to figure it out. I am pretty sure at first he thought the animals were going to come out somehow. He quickly realized that they were not. Izzie led us all, running from window to window, telling us where we needed to go. She would grab her brother's hand to lead him. I loved it. She is finally tall enough that we don't have to pick her up to see every single thing and she spots almost every animal immediately.

Even though we ate a good breakfast, Izzie decided she was starving. In normal Izzie fashion, she let the whole zoo know, "Mommy! My tummy wants food. My tummy is hungry!" Garrett was not going to argue with a quick pit stop to eat a french fry. Have you seen him lately? The boy eats everything!

After, we made our way around the rest of the zoo. Izzie wanted to feed the goats and giraffes. Garrett pretty much had a seizure when I picked him up to do the same. I was the bad mom who laughed. When we fed the giraffes, he warmed up a little to them. He got within a foot of their heads and would throw the piece of greens at them. Izzie was a professional giraffe feeder. I swear the goats and giraffes both stuck her whole hand in their mouths. She loves it. One of the giraffes, who appeared to be the biggest, was our favorite. He had an attitude. Todd tried to pet him without giving him food. I swear he about knocked Todd in the face with his head. He was not happy. His head was the size of Izzie. He was huge! She fed him the most. We could have stayed there feeding them all day.

It was a great day. I'm so glad that instead of getting some extra sleep I decided to go. Spending time with my children will always come first. There won't be a day that it won't. One of the most important things to me is them realizing how much Todd and I love them. It is not about the "things." It is about the time. I hope we all remember that.