Zoo-Riffic!

Sassypants and Mommy visit the Fort Worth Zoo!

Bridget and I were so happy to meet our friends Ashlee & Catherine and Junell & Landry this morning at one of the best zoos in America. Additionally, the weather has been absolutely delightful lately and today was no different. What an incredible treat!

One of my favorite things about the Ft. Worth Zoo is the Parrot Paradise. Let me remind you of Bridget’s first trip to this exhibit back in November 2010 (we are so thankful for Ashlee’s zoo membership! we met them their in 2010, too!)

Bridget was too timid to feed the birds back then, but man have times changed! This year, she ran right in (while I was still buying our food) and went straight up to some birds and was entralled. Once she had a feed stick in hand, she was a happy camper!

See the look of pure joy?? She and Landry were having a real time of it together:

Ashlee let me in on her little secret the last time: she’s deathly afraid of birds. Yet again, I was so impressed with her bravery! After we’d exited the exhibit, she said she thought it was time Catherine got to experience stuff like this even if Mommy was afraid of it. If only I could grin and bear it and let Bridget bungee jump or sky dive or repel…don’t think I’m ready to face those fears yet!

The sloth bear! He was adorable!

B and her white tiger. How lucky are we that we are able to provide such amazing experiences to our kids? Reminds me of all those kids I taught who’d never been outside of their square mile encompassing school/apartment/grocery store. Wow.

Speaking of new experiences: did you know that elephants, in addition to trumpet sounds, also make noises that resemble whale/dolphin sounds?? We were right next to the elephant pen when a raucous erupted and the elephants started trumpeting. It was over in a flash, and then they all started making these amazing whale sounds. It was unreal! I think we all overheard a very private elephants-only conversation today. Just nearly missed getting it on video…dammit…

Bridget, Catherine and Landry! And did I mention C and L are both going to be bigs? Ashlee is due next month and Junell is due mid-May. Exciting!

Silly Monkey!

Getting tired…which for Bridget is exhibited though insane running around and loud, screamy noises. Proud Mommy moments.

Catherine’s face slays me. I just love her!

Bridget is a budding photography buff:

Here’s my little on the way home from our first Fort Worth Zoo trip together. You’d better believe I kept her up all the way home this time to ensure a solid nap. Trained her well.

Great times with old friends! I’m so blessed to still have many enriching relationships that began in grade school. Ah, old friends. As Bridget would say: very special, Mommy. very special.