Sunrise Safari

Every month in the summer the zoo does an early morning opening for zoo members. We decided it looked like fun. We pulled ourselves out of bed at the crack of dawn, grabbed some doughnuts and threw two sleeping kids in the car and headed to the zoo. It turned out to be amazing! All the animals were at their best and very active for feeding time.



I have never seen the tigers this active. Usually when we come they are asleep. They were running around and playing with each other. They liked to stalk the back fence and the kids thought it was great. This is Ella's tiger impression. And yes she is in her jammies.



The tigers quickly moved down to the water after their stalking round was over. We ran down to catch the action. Good thing because hilarious antics ensued.



The kids loved watching them wrestle each other and some random logs while in the water.



I think Rachel enjoyed it as well.



Ella, our fearless leader, with her map out and ready to direct us to our next location. Seth doing some serious lounging and sporing his latest "owie".



Rachel with the "raffs" as Seth calls them.



While we were checking out the giraffs the trainers were doing some "target practice". They would hold out a pink target and if the giraffe touched it they would give him a treat. Ella said "That's not a treat that's a carrot!"



Although Seth likes "raffs" he likes Grandma even more. Put down that camera and "hold you"! When he wants to be held he always says "hold you". I credit this to the fact that when he used to grunt to be held I would ask "Do you want me to hold you?"



Ella must ride the rhino and Seth must touch the ears.



Rachel and Ella get along great because they both enjoy overacting. Here they are pretending to be afraid of the snake on a log Ella is riding on the carousel. I have literally 10 other pictures on this carousel where they are exhibiting many other emotions.



Rachel couldn't help herself. The cheetah was calling out to be ridden.



Oh the "docdiles" how we love you! Yes Seth has moved from calling them "diles" to "docdiles". We think it is a great step in the right direction. Ella in her appropriate jammies that read "I like green things". Truer words were never spoken.



So the crocodiles were about as active as I had ever seen them. They didn't move from their general location but the one in the water started swishing his tail and splashing around. Good enough for us.



Seth spent like 15 minutes watching the baby "docdile". We were convinced that it was playing hide and seek with him. It would hide under a rock or a plant and then dart out moments later.



Notice the large lizard in the tree. We had been standing under it for a while before we noticed it. It was a bit of a shock. Dear lizard, thank you for not pooping on us. Sincerely, ME.



Ella was playing in this egg and invited Grandma to join her because "Grandma it's so fun in here!" We were a bit surprised when she did. But then it begged the question "How many more people can we fit?" The answer....






Had we been more ambitious and had it not been 400 degrees inside that egg, I think we would have gone for all of us at once.



Now we know where Rachel and Ella get their overacting gene from. I love how Ella and Seth just kind of stood there watching Grandma be attacked by that crocodile.



The shananagins continue. After Grandma put her leg in the crocodile's mouth everyone needed a turn.






When we arrived it was nice and cool but by the end of our adventure it had gotten very hot. Luckily we found this fan blowing cold water. Ella was hesitant at first until I showed her the beauty of the mist.



She took right to it.

The next sunrise safari is mid August. Anyone want to join us?