San Diego Zoo

Our favorite day of the trip was the San Diego Zoo.  WOW - such a fun zoo!  It was shady and cool on a hot day.  All the animals were visible and the zoo docents were so amazing and excited about their jobs.  Even though we walked a ton, we were able to see everything we cared about, and it didn't feel like we walked that long.  Probably because it was so clean and shady.  Remy and Kasen LOVED looking at all the animals and cages - everything from the giraffes to the small little snakes.  

Kasen loved the rhinos, monkeys, and zebras.  He also was cute to say all the animals' names and kept saying "donkey" or "rhino" all day.  

Remy just loved all the animals as long as they were behind the fence - which they were...except the peacock.  She really got excited about the habitats that had a glass wall she could go upto and get a really good look.  Remy also LOVED the sky ride and bus that came with our passes.  

Here we are with the polar bear statues

Remy and Grandma in the polar bear cave

lunch time nap

Remy and Deven on the skyride.  When Kasen saw it earlier in the day he said "FUN!" Then when we went it was Remy who loved it more.  She kept waving at all the people that would pass.

We had to go back later in the day to see the elephants again - because the first time the kids were sleeping.

Ape habitat - this ape, Karen, was eating some kind of green berry.  Kasen was fascinated and kept telling her, "another one, another one" when one would fall out of her mouth.

Zebra!

Giraffe!

Rhino!

At the end of the day we let the kids chose their very first souvenir.  We went into the little gift shop and let them loose.  They walked around and were so excited about EVERYTHING.  Each toy would trump the next.  Kasen saw the little pandas on a shelf and got excited, yelled "panda" and grabbed one off the shelf.  Remy then saw what was behind what Kasen had just grabbed - a purple panda.  She dropped whatever she had, came running over grabbed it and exclaimed, "PURPLE PANDA!"  She was so excited and sold!  I guess we can get her to get anything as long as it is purple.  She carted that thing around the rest of the trip, and it was hard to convince her that the pool was not a good spot to let "purple panda" play.  

Kasen was a little trickier - after many many choices in and out we slowly convinced him to get a cute little rhino.  He was excited, and on the way down to the check out saw a wall of hanging monkeys.  It was all over.  As much as I tired to get him to get the cute little black or brown one, he wanted the funny little tan color.  He kept hugging it, and loving it (and still does), and was so excited to show his Buddy (grandpa) and cousins.  

Here he is with his monkey

Remy with her purple panda.