Sunny Zoo Day and "Icicles"

Today was a "warm" Minnesota day (it was around 33). So, Salli and I loaded up the big ol' van and off we went. Word to the wise, don't trust Map Quest directions to Como Zoo...you end up in the 'hood.

First stop at the zoo was the Tropical display.

I was so excited to see flowers...even though they weren't blooming outside or near my house...they were still flowers.

This is a sloth. This sloth was on a tree in the room without a cage. Luckily (thanks to Diego) I know that sloth's eat veggies and are very shy and slow. So, it wasn't too scary to have a lose animal around the kids.

Sleeping sloth.

Here are the kids before going in the primate area. And yes, that is snow in the picture...you see snow is very common in Minnesota in March.

Here is a baby spider monkey riding on the mommy spider monkey. Apparently it was grooming time in the primate area. We were so lucky to see all species of monkeys pulling things off each other (and out of each other's nose) and eating them. We just hoped the kids didn't notice and start following suit!

The orangutans. Sam's favorite.

Like Mommy, like daughter. Here is Maddie and her camera. She has become quite fond of taking it on trips.....just like I always have my camera on hand.

And of course, the giraffe. What is Maddie doing, you ask? Why holding her nose of course. Wouldn't you like to know how stinky a building with 3 giraffes and zebra is. My daughter, was so obsessed with holding her nose and exclaiming how "stinky" it was that she missed all the animals.

The seals were very active....

We spent quite a bit of time watching them frolic (thanks for the wording Natalie) and play.

Of course we had to see the Penguins. Maddie loves penguins. She is close to being obsessed by them.

Here are my monkeys getting their picture made with the penguin!

Just as we were able to leave the aquatic animal area, the seal trainers came out. Of course we had to watch the seals do their tricks and get fed fish.

Don't worry Granddaddy....they even brush the seals' teeth!



We had a wonderful trip to the Como Zoo. Of course having friends to go with us made it all that much better!







Sam's first "icicle".....

Sam and Maddie have both been sick. Luckily, this is our first sickness since moving here. Going 9 months without a sick visit to the doctor is unheard of in our family. Of course, fevers and sore throats call for Popsicles. Or in Sam's case, icicles.

Sam first started off by licking the "icicle". Knowing it was close to bedtime and that it would forever to lick a Popsicle, I suggested that he put it in his mouth and suck on it.

Yummy! He wanted the green "icicle" and luckily there was such a thing in the box. I am not a lime fan, but apparently Sam is. When he was asked what it tasted like he replied, "wike ba-ba and pooh". "Ba-Ba" is his paci and "pooh" his pooh blanket that he sleeps with. Side note, the next day Maddie chose the green Popsicle since she wanted to know that "ba-ba" and "pooh" taste like.

The bad thing about sucking on an "icicle" is that sometimes they break off in your mouth...

And, as we all know...."icicles" are very very cold....especially with a large bite in your mouth.

And what are you suppose to do with a mouth full of frozen "icicle"? Why, you ask if you can spit it on your plate, of course. What can I say, all manners go out the door when you try and eat a Popsicle indoors!