Zoo Day

We just needed to get out of the house. I made the kids leave all their electronics at home and could only bring books in the car for the trip to the Zoo. Thomas wanted to see the snakes. So the first stop we made was to the reptile house. Zachary didn't want to go. He said he would just stay outside. When I explained to him that he couldn't and that he had to come in with us, he asked if he had to touch the snakes. Luckily we didn't touch any snakes, because as Thomas kept pointing out most of the snakes in there were venomous. Zachary ended up having a good time and liked trying to spot the reptiles, it was a kind of I Spy game.

We had tried to come to the Zoo on Monday. But being Spring Break and all it was way to crowded. We could not find a parking spot anywhere. So today we got here a bit earlier 9:45 and found a parking spot in the overflow lot. Thomas had a great time reading all the facts about the animals. We even watched a Condor eating a rabbit, actually several rabbits.

We made it to the petting zoo. Cassidy and Thomas went right in. Cassidy walked around just to see what was there, then waited outside the fence. Thomas went right in, found a brush and started following the animals. Zachary on the other hand did not want to go in. This is his face, pleading with me to let him stay outside. Then as he was walking toward the exit, he found a brush and I guess changed his mind.

 It seems brushing the pig is less intimidating than petting it. Zachary finally got up the nerve to actually brush the pig.













 





Zachary got braver and went over to the pig whose head can be seen. The other pig has his head buried near the fence. Zachary talked to this pig asking if the brushing felt good. A few times the pig grunted when Zachary was brushing it, so Zachary was wondering if it was its happy sound.
























 
 For all his talk about not wanting to go in, when it was time to leave, he didn't want to go. So we walked around a little more to see the animals that were actually standing and interacting with the children. He laughed when this goat tried to eat my sweater.

Thomas got very brave at the end, and started pulling softly on the goats horns. He is overcoming his fear of dogs too. He will not approach dogs and pet them. Before he would avoid all dogs and run to my side. (That is what Zachary does now.)

  

We ended our day with the Hippos. The kids really wished I had brought their sunglasses. I think summer is around the corner.

Concrete Frames

Finally, after a very long wait. Our house is started. They put up these concrete frames yesterday and we will be meeting with the builder supervisor next week to finalize details before they pour the concrete. 

San Antonio Stock Show

 It was dollar day at the San Antonio Stock Show and the kids were out of school, so we went. We walked through the pig pen, with hundreds of pigs. Stewart and I couldn't believe how big the pigs were. Their thighs were so big they could barely walk. They looked very different then the pigs we raised as kids. It did bring back good memories of FFA in High School. I raised two pigs, showed and sold them at the Utah County Fair. I remember mucking out their pen, and attending early morning driver's education class smelling like pigs. 

We watched some donkeys pulling buggies, but no horse shows. We were all fascinated by the dog show. The dogs had to herd sheep around a course. It was pretty cool to watch those dogs work the sheep.

 This is "Elsie" Blue Bell Ice Cream's calf, or so they said. It was soft and it licked Zachary's hand. We started watching a demonstration on milking cow's but it was too boring. So we moved on. But at least we were able to get a few samples of cheese before we left. 

 They had several tents where the kids could learn about animals, produce and dairy. We were able to get a sample of some ice cream. We got celery, bandanas and gathered produce from the HEB tent. Thomas and Zachary played a produce matching game. Thomas was fascinated by the chicks. He loves baby animals. He asked me if he could try to pet them. I said he could, but they might bite you. Well one did, I think that was the highlight of his trip. He said it didn't hurt and the chick was so cute.

We found the perfect horse for all the kids to ride. Shorty, only Zachary needed a hand up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cassidy even took a turn on Shorty. We had a fun day. Zachary was especially excited to come back next week on a school field trip. He wanted to show all his friends around.