Too the Zoo

(Author’s Note: I am working on a hunt about Kevin & Brian’s Sheep hunting trip but I need an evening to corner Kevin and get a better idea about locations and stuff to go with the pictures…keep a look out for it this week though)

Before leaving to go Sheep Hunting Kevin had promised the kids a trip to the Zoo upon his return. The best laid plans always go awry it seems and Kevin had barely been home 24 hours before getting a phone call that he was needed. Seems all the rain that dumped on them during the hunt also dumped on the Ketchum/Hailey/Sun Valley area and the recent Beaver Creek fire. Needless to say, with the lack of vegetation, creeks were blowing out left and right and hillsides were coming down. They had several roads blocked any only one guy available to work.

As much as he didn’t want to break his promise to the kids and as bad as he felt about leaving again after barely being home a day, we all knew lending a hand was the thing to do. It’s the nature of the beast. So he went and worked a 16 hour day Sunday clearing mud and debris off of roads and cleaning out culverts. They barely put a dent in what needs to be done up there, but they got a handle on the very worst of it.

Monday he made good on his promise and we loaded up and went to Zoo Boise. Though Jack was almost more excited that we would be driving on the HIGHWAY!!!!!! I mean really, that road is chalk full of awesome semi trucks and goes by fields where tractors are working…not to mention truck stops! It really is a good thing that both kids find driving on the highway so exciting. Jack peppers Emilie with questions like, “What color is that semi?” or “What is he hauling” and they basically entertain themselves the whole drive.

I love the zoo this time of year. The weather has cooled a bit but isn’t cold and the kids are back in school so it’s pretty quiet and the animals are more active. Quiet enough that we caught a glimpse of the new Snow Leopard cubs and the baby Black Mangabey (a new world monkey). We even got brave and left the stroller at home since there wasn’t much in the way of crowds. Jack did just fine walking around…in fact he seemed more engaged without having the stroller to retreat too. Emilie needed carried a bit, but even she had fun trotting from pen to pen.

Jack pronounced the Spider Monkeys his favorite as usual. Emilie claims her favorite was the Warty Pigs, but I’m pretty sure feeding Julian the Giraffe was her favorite. Jack had gone first to feed the Giraffe and I was taking pictures when I hear a commotion behind me. Here comes Emilie, fistful of lettuce, busting past Kevin and under the chain. She just about tackled Jack in her excitement to get to the Giraffe. The Volunteer running the feeding station got a good chuckle out of Emmy’s antics noting that most kids her age are more nervous about feeding the large animal looming over their head. Not our Emilie though, she’s an animal lover through and through.

 

After perusing the whole Zoo we headed out to do some shopping while we were in the “big city” then took the kids out to dinner. I was once again reminded why we don’t take the kids out to dinner very often….at least not at places that don’t feature a play place. They are just to antsy to sit still. They’re getting there, but it’s going to be a few more years before family dining becomes enjoyable for all parties involved.