Zew? Zue? Zoo?

How incredibly frustrating this language of ours can be! How is Owie expected to learn to spell when there are just as many exceptions as there are rules? Oh well. We have all learned. He will eventually too.

Anyway...

Monday dawned cool and sunny. Picture perfect weather. We could not even consider staying inside. So we met our comrades DeAnn, Grant and Preston at The Dallas Zoo. We enjoyed it thoroughly! So much so that I even considered getting a membership, but I guess I have enough memberships already.

(Let me apologize for the lighting in these pictures. It was sunny...shady...sunny....shady...You get the idea. I forgot to make adjustments accordingly, but the memories are just as clear.)

We were greeted by a macaw. The Boys laughed and laughed at it strutting about. I think it was laughing at us too.

We paused for a picture outside of the bug house. I had never taken the time to explore the bug house before, but it was very interesting...and not too creepy. Our favorite part was the ant trail starting at the surface of the ground and travelling all the way into the depths of the earth. A few ants were busy transporting bright green leaves down into their hill. It was fascinating to watch as we easily tracked the ant all the way down the trail. We even worked in a Bible lesson: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise." Proverbs 6:6

Faces that are so dear to me

We timed our elephant viewing just right! A trainer was working with her, teaching the elephant some new tricks: how to hold a stick and pick up one foot at a time. Each trick was rewarded with a "nack-nack!" (snack) as Noah called out repeatedly. It was so fun to watch!

Owie and Preston were the dynamic duo today, although Grant was the desired lunch partner. It's funny how they switch it up every time and play in different combinations of little boys. Today though, Preston wanted to RUN. And if someone is RUNNING, O is usually right alongside. The zoo was wonderfully uncrowded, so we could let our guys have a bit more freedom.

Silly No-nos. He knows a few animal sounds: dog, cow, sheep, duck. However, when asked for a specific animal sound, the little stinker always answers "Woof!" with a little jump and a huge grin. He's telling a joke! We all die laughing. It really is funny. Especially the jumping part. And he gets so tickled that we are laughing at him. Love that Boy!

It was all fun and games hanging out on the crocodile...

...until the shoving started. I love Grant's face, as if he's reasoning with them: "Come on, Guys. There's room enough for everyone."

And then we headed home...for fabulously long naps!