Bad Zoo Juju

So the zoo apparently has an issue with me.  Last time I offered to bring Michael to the zoo I packed everyone up and arrived just to find out that the zoo was closed on Tuesdays....I know, weird.

  Our zoo pass has been burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to try it again today.  I asked Michael if he wanted to go (of course he did), I asked Colin and he didn't respond (took that as a yes),  packed everyone up, got snacks ready, put the stroller in the back of the car and went to start the engine.  Nothing.  Tried to start it again, same result.  To make a long AAA (translation-Triple A) story short, we arrived at the zoo 3 hours later along with everyone else and their brother from another mother.  Oh and to top it off it was HOT.

First mistake- Didn't take the double stroller.  More on that later.

Second mistake- I bought Michael some animals at the beginning of the visit.  This triggered his OCD.  All he could talk about was how he wanted to go home immediately following our visit to the zoo so he could add them to his small animal collection.

Third mistake- I failed to pack enough snacks.  One would have thought that 2 bags of goldfish crackers, 2 granola bars, and 2 boxes of raisins would be enough for 2 boys who had just eaten lunch.  Wrong.

Despite my mistakes and the late start we did have a good time.  Most of the furry animals were hiding in the shade or sleeping but we did get a glimpse at some of them.

Polar Bear

Muskox

Arctic Fox

Oh, did I mention it was hot?

We retreated to the aquariums to cool off.

My favorite part hands down was the shark tank.  I took Colin out of the stroller and he was in heaven.  He kept on looking around at all the kids and giving them the "Can you believe this!?!?" look.

Tried to get some pictures of them together but they kept on acting like they didn't know each other.

So I tried to settle for some solo shots.

Those didn't work out either.

 I threw in the towel and let Michael play.

But the fun didn't end there...

Somewhere between Michael getting stuck in the above sea anemone and the exit, he "hurt his foot."  Therefore I was left to carry a 40 pound 4 year old on my back while pushing a stroller one handed all the way up to parking lot B (for Budgie) in the 80 degree heat.

The end.

Just joking, there is more.

Once I got everyone packed in the car, I took out the bottle of water I had been saving.  I took a look at the bottle and a look at my 4 year old.  I thought I would be nice and motherly by offering him a sip, then watched as he gulped the ENTIRE thing down. 

Motherhood is no joke. 

 For reals.