Monkey see, monkey do

Today was a gorgeous day, so the girls and I decided on a whim to pack up and head to the zoo this morning.  I decided that I was going to forgo the stroller as both girls usually want to walk anyway.  The girls did a great job with this and loved being able to see everything.  We started with the birds, which if you know anything about Lyla, you know she loves her some birds, she calls all birds quack quacks and she went nuts!!!  We then moved on to the carousel.  Sydney eagerly jumped on the giraffe (her favorite animal) but Lyla was much more apprehensive.  Once the carousel started going to though I forced her to sit on it, ( I know, mean mommy) but she ended up LOVING it, the girls were giggling and reaching for each other, and they have this call and respond dance move they are always doing.  It is fun to see Lyla enjoy new things.

We then moved on the the monkeys, I have to admit, I loved it.  If you have ever been to the Richmond zoo, you know it is a more unique zoo, you are very up close and personal with most of the animals, which the kids love.  The apes were no exception.  They just finished building an observation house, basically a hut with a ledge on both sides and glass.  But the monkeys were enamored with my girls, they came right up to the window and put their face up to it and the girls did the same and they both just stared.  One, which was a tamarin, just sat and sucked his thumb and stared at Lyla.  It was fascinating and the girls loved it!  From there we went on the see the kangaroos, which were sitting within petting distance of the fence.  But Sydney was ready for her favorite part, the giraffes.  As we started walking, I saw two giraffes standing very close together, one was much smaller than the other and I thought it was a mother and child, turns out, it was a boy and a girl and they were getting it on.  The girls thought it was hysterical, but thank goodness they didn't ask any questions, because one giraffe, well let's just say he was well endowed, ewwww.

Sydney didn't care though, she was ready to feed them, so off to get some food we went.  She loves feeding the giraffes and I must admit, it is pretty cool too.  If you don't put the cup close enough they well stick out their tongue anyway and reach the food, their tongues must be at least a foot long.  Lyla wanted no part of feeding them, but she was happy to pet them anytime they were within reach, go figure.  Sydney screamed and giggled with delight.  

Lastly, on the way out, we found a talking parrot and the girls were in heaven, we sat and listened for close to 15 minutes, all the while Lyla just kept screaming...Rio...Rio.  At the point we were all tired and Lyla kept stopping in the middle of the path and sitting down and Sydney would run in the opposite direction.  I was really regretting my decision to not bring along a stroller, but in the end, we made it back to the car, and a quick stop and McDonalds, and I had some tired happy campers.  Such a fun day!!!