Potter Park Zoo

We have a small zoo in Lansing that we try to take the kids to once in a while.  We keep saying that we are going to plan a trip to a bigger zoo soon (Binder Park or the Detroit Zoo), but I want to try and go when Jimmy is just a bit older -- probably next summer.  In another year, everyone will be able to walk on their own and we can plan on spending more time there without it bordering on "nap time."

We made a spontaneous plan to go one Saturday morning and I'm glad that we did.  The weather was threatening rain (geeeezzz ... we haven't had rain in a long time and desperately need it), so the zoo wasn't very crowded.  I packed a picnic lunch and we ate there after walking around and seeing most of the exhibits.  Jimmy fell asleep on the way home (of course!), so we stopped at the grocery store and I ran in while he was napping.  It kind of worked out well.  He didn't have as long of a nap as he needed, but it took the edge off and saved me the trouble of running to the store later.  Win, win.

Jack was intrigued with the bald eagle in the background:

Inside the barnyard area on top of a stone turtle.  They barely all fit, but I did a happy dance after I was able to capture a group picture of everyone looking at the camera.  That is no small feat.  Trust me.

The goat almost ate Jack's map. 

Jimmy was hesitant, but managed to pet the goat with no major incident.

Sophia loved the peacock.

Samantha spent most of her time with this beauty and her baby calf.

These giraffe statues evoke so many memories for me.  Each time that we go to this zoo, I always take a picture with the kid(s) on them.  Next year, we'll have to settle for just standing next to them because the kids are growing so much.

Inside the tiger house ... and just look at Sophia's hand on Jimmy's back.  Both of the girls are like little mothers to him.

There was a glare off of the glass window, but doesn't the tiger almost look fake?!  I assure you that he was as real as can be ... and we were lucky to be able to see him outside, as well.

Yup, he was pretty incredible.

Sophia spied this white peacock and ran back to ask me to take a picture with her in it. 

The rhino was one of my favorites.

So huge.  And so powerful looking.

One of the last exhibits that we saw was the penguins.  It was made clear from the beginning that Sophia wanted to be sure to see them.  She LOVES penguins!  The exhibit was nice, but it was hard to capture them (see them in the background) because they kept ducking into the water.

The girls both wanted to try this jumping apparatus and we obliged.

They were lifted high up into the air and then they could jump or flip.

Sam did a lot of back-flips.

And managed to jump pretty high.  Sam loved it more than Sophia, but they both had quite a bit of fun.

A happy momma and her brood.

The camels.

The flowers were gorgeous in the pots all around the zoo, so I snagged the girls and had Steve take a quick picture of us.  You can see that the sky was a bit overcast (there were even a few sprinkles in the air), but it made for a nice morning -- not so hot!