NC Zoo

Now that everything is a little crazy, and we trying to get ready for our move, we may only have one or two more trips to our beloved NC zoo... So, I figured it's about time I shared some of our zoo pics, and stories! This past year the girls and I would go to the zoo every other week, when we could get away with it.  The North Carolina Zoo is awesome! It’s basically a resort for the animals.  

The first time we went Serenity fell in love with the monkeys, mostly the Gorillas.  There are two little baby gorillas that are about Scarlette’s age Apollo and Bomassa.  For some reason Serenity does not like Apollo.  She only ever seems to wants to see Bomassa ha.  There are three female gorillas: Olympia (Apollo’s mom), Jamani (Bomassa’s mom), and Acacia. The male gorilla died just a few months after the babies were born.  Acacia is Serenity’s favorite.  Acacia LOVES little kids! Every time we go see the gorillas, she always comes over and interacts with the girls.  Serenity even named her gorilla stuffed animal Acacia!

Acacia saying Hi to Serenity

Olympia and Apollo

Acacia

Jamani and Bomassa

The Chimps are also fun to watch.  They have a huge exhibit, and they are always swinging on ropes and jumping from tree to tree.  BUT, since the chimps are not nearly as friendly as the gorillas, we don’t spend much time there. 

 

see... no monkeys visit the girls at this window...

The zoo also has baboons; in my opinion the most disgusting of the monkeys, but their habitat is partially indoors, so it’s fun to go in there when its chilly out.

Serenity getting no love from the baboons either...

 

The giraffes are the most annoying animals at the zoo.  They are rarely wandering in their habitat because they can’t handle the cold.  Unless its at least 65 degrees, they are inside by the heater.  There must be something good about them though, because they are Joey's FAVORITE by far!

 

The lions have a beautiful habitat.  The female lion is just SOO photogenic that I don't even have a picture of the male...

 

One day, when it was probably 35 degrees outside, I took the girls to the zoo.  I didn’t even THINK about it.  When we got there, it was closed!  The local news team was there and interviewed me about why I came to the zoo on such a cold day.  I told them “The zoo has polar bears, so I figured we’d at least be able to see SOMETHING.”  Looking back, I really don’t know why I would take them to the zoo in near freezing weather, other than it’s really nice to get out of the house sometimes and just take a walk.  Going to this zoo is basically like going on a gigantic hike.  It’s miles of trails up and down hills all through the mountains, it really is a work out, and really beautiful.  I guess I figured working out in the cold keeps you nice and toasty right?? … but I guess the warmest option for the babies probably isn’t sitting in a stroller. That being said... they DID look pretty comfy!  

 

Both babies really enjoy the Elephants.  Serenity, not even two years old, knows which trails lead to which animals already.  She gets so excited when she knows we are heading to the “elephantes!” When we took Aunt Liza to the zoo with us last week, she was so impressed with how Serenity could navigate her way through the zoo.

 

Over the past few months of being a season pass holder, we’ve been able to visit the zoo with tons of friends and family!    

  

I love this pic of Serenity and her little friend Charlotte!

I’m so happy that both the girls enjoy the zoo as much as I do!  It’s been so fun being able to take them as often as I can, and seeing their love for animals grow with each visit! 

Scarlette's first couple trips to the zoo... she looks so small!

 

Our last trip to the zoo...      

 

The best part of the zoo however, COULD possibly be how the girls pass out immediately after getting them in the car to go home...

 

I know you are all thinking (well some of you anyways), that there is a zoo in SLC, but I'll still miss relationships the girls have with the Gorillas here, and how beautiful all the habitats are! SLC's zoo honestly can't hold a candle to this one!! BUT... I guess we'll just have to get season passes to the aquarium! 


      Jess  

Couldn't leave out this guy.... HA

Disneyland Summer 2014

Our week trip to Cali included three days at Disneyland.  The first day, Rebecca and I took the girls all by ourselves, and boy was it fun!  We made the girls cute little Disney dresses and tutu’s to commemorate their first trip.  

 

Everyone all over the park was just tickled by the babies.  We even had multiple people ask, and not ask for that matter, to take pics of the girls lol. Even Cinderella couldn't resist coming and saying "HI" to the babies when all the other kids around us were trying to get her attention.  

Rebecca bought the babies the sweetest little parasols with their names on them, which are just SO cute!!  And useful too!  As awesome as the girls brand new double umbrella stroller is… it doesn’t provide much shade.  We opened up the parasols and propped them onto the stroller... it really helped shade the girls from the scorching heat.  They also proved to be a nice defense mechanism... 

 

Nap time was pretty tricky at the parks!  We had to get pretty creative to make it happen... one day we rode the train until they fell asleep, it actually worked pretty well...  

I did my best to get Disneyland Main Street pics... but apparently not everyone was loving it...

.... at least I got this iconic shot...

I did however score major mom points at a different place in the park... Serenity’s favorite part of the park was without a doubt Tarzan’s tree house.  The three days we were at the park we must have climbed that tree house over a dozen times!  She seriously LOVES Tarzan.  She watches the movie EVERY day, so this was a big moment for us!

A video of us in the treehouse

The next two day were just as awesome!  Tanner flew in and met us in LA.  It just so happened his sister Kenzie, and her family were in California for a Disney trip as well!  They got us a nice hotel room and we went to the park with them two days in a row.  It was a blast!  The cousins just adored each other, and it was awesome being able to take advantage of the baby swap passes and have some adults to tag team with and talk to!  Mackenzie and I even found time to sneak away and ride Space Mountain all by ourselves! We were pretty proud of ourselves!

 

We got to the park early the first day to see if we could meet Elsa and Ana at one of the special attractions… they opened the gates and we booked it over there, BUT when we got there, it was already a 5 hour wait!!! Crazy.  SOOO we skipped it and rode Dumbo!  I think we made the right choice... especially since there was no line!

 

 

Serenity LOVED having her Daddy there to play with at the park.  She showed him all her fav rides… the carrousel was definitely towards the top of the list! Not sure who loved it more.. Tanner or the girls:)

 

 

The TIKI room was also a big hit!! Serenity and Scarlette loved the birds and the singing. Neither of them could control their excitement during the show, it was so adorable. 

The Snow White ride on the other hand.... 

California adventure was WAY more fun than I remembered it.  There were so many fun rides I had always just skipped before.  Even though it was 106 degrees outside, and the kids were just OVER it, we had a lot of fun!  We bought a little fan that sprays water on you, and Scarlette loved it.

 

While Scarlette enjoyed the fan... Serenity discovered a new love for popcorn... and throwing things away lol...

 

...and all the boys LOVED they Toy Story Ride for it's video game-like qualities...

Richard and Spencer on the Toy Story Ride

That is… after we battled the babies for HOURS to fall asleep in the uncomfortable heat! 

Success!

Radiator Springs had some interesting things... We saw lightning mcqueen, and also the craziest sign in the park (notice the warning to pregnant women...) OH and for all those visiting California Adventure any time soon... or ever for that matter... the cars ride is AWESOME!

 

We ended our Disney vacation with awesome seats to the lights show that night! Everyone was so exhausted, but it was so beautiful, and honestly the perfect end to a truly wonderful trip! 

If there is anything better than being a mom, and being able to take your babies to Disneyland, I can’t imagine what it is.  I’m so grateful for the fun time that we had, and all the memories we were able to make together as a family! Until next time…

             Jess