Let's Go to the Zoo

Monday was the MLK Holiday, so all the kids had off school.  I decided we would do something "fun" that day in honor of the time we would have together.  I asked if the kids would rather see a movie or go to the zoo and see the new penguin exhibit.  Molly has been dying to get to the zoo because she LOVES penguins.  The boys agreed that was the best of the two choices.  It was decided.

Monday arrived and the boys decided they would rather stay home and play video games and hang out with friends.  So, we had a lazy morning while they played.  Then I announced we would have lunch and head to the zoo.  The amount of whine that came from their mouths was astonishing.  You would have thought I suggested they stand outside naked in the freezing cold while singing love songs to all the girls in their class.  It's the zoo for goodness sake.  I understand it isn't Valley Fair or MOA, but really why all the drama?

I had to endure a full 90 minutes of whine before I could get them out the door.  The result of which turned me into what some might call crabby, but what I think my kids might describe as psycho.  At one point I think I might of even yelled that word that no one is allowed to say in our house, "shut-up."  I even threatened to send them away to summer camp for the entire summer if every time we tried to leave the house, they complained like this.  I mean, it's the zoo.

About four blocks from the house and five minutes into my tirade, Colin announced that the zoo really isn't that bad.  They all started talking about all the fun things at the zoo.  Now I was just exhausted from the emotional roller coaster.  I couldn't even comment.

So it turns out we had a wonderful time at the zoo.  The penguins were adorable.  We touched sharks and stink rays.  We watched the bird show and got to have a great horned owl almost land on our head.  We had soda pop.  It was a great day even if it was just the zoo.

 waiting for the sharks and stink rays to swim by

flying in water

the bird show