Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas with the Animals...

No, the title doesn't refer to family!

Friday it was a 'balmy' 28 degrees (shut up Mike) at 5 pm so we headed out to the Northeast Wisconsin Zoo to enjoy animals, lights and a horse drawn sleigh ride. It was a much different experience than our other times at the zoo. Many of the animals don't stay out year round (smart!) but the whole place was lit up with lights. Despite the absence of animals outside, the zoo did have a children's area where they brought in an armadillo, a snake, a rabbit, a tortoise, a penguin and even Santa. We made Christmas presents for the animals to open and eat later and then were able to pet them. That was enough to make Jackson's night! And if that didn't do it, then the horse-drawn ride down the lantern lit path in the reforestation camp would have.

However, with all of those activities, the most exciting part of the evening for Chris and I was the giraffes. The zoo has two giraffes, a male (larger of the two) and a female. That evening they were in their enclosed facility awaiting visitors. We were able to walk right up to the chain link fence separating us. Being that close to them was unbelievable. In past trips we had seen them outside, a setting which minimized their size. Standing face to face with them really was awe-inspiring.


Who wins, the tortoise or the hare?


Making a present for the animals to eat later


The giraffe is thinking, "Dinner?"


I'm not sure who's more amazed, Jackson or Mom

Mom is thinking, "Please don't eat my child."



When will I ever have a picture with my boys next to a foreign chicken (standing on one leg) and some kind of a 'Brahma' cow under heat lamps?



Ready for our sleigh ride!




 He's still a little weary of Santa but not afraid to tell him what he wants as he pushes off his lap.

1 comment:

Me said...

Wow. I had no idea giraffes were that big. I would have loved to have been that close!