You Gotta Love a Theme!

For Aiden, the theme of July was zoo month! In the beginning of the month, he attended two different camps for two weeks where he was able to interact with all the animals on a more personal level. Usually when we picked him up that meant we were staying for a while.


Audrey loves going there, too. However, her M.O. is a little different than Aiden's which is to see every single animal in the zoo. Hers is to run, run and run some more! Her favorite is the tigers in their new habitat while Aiden's favorite changes all the time. Lately it has been the elephants and baby Scotty.



Both of them love the goats. Audrey was a little apprehensive at first, declaring " I don hap too," but quickly warmed up to the idea when she saw big brother doing it. Outside the goat area is a great beat-up VW van for the kids to play in. Audrey loves to be in the driver's seat...sounds kinda like Pop, huh?




And just when I think MY kids are big, I see them next to the gorillas.



This year the zoo has added a splash park called Glacier Run. Both Aiden and Audrey had a blast! Aiden's only complaint is that he misses the otters. Have no fear, though! They will be back soon with a brand new home, along with the polar bears and seals.





On Friday night Aiden and Travis got to spend the night at the zoo! Aiden got to pet...

a chinchilla

a snake

and a lizard.

That night they went on a walk and got to see the animals all riled up and ready to eat. The wolves and snow leopard were pacing, not something you get to see during the day!




They tie-dyed shirts,

created their own bookmarks with animal stamps

and decorated a box to contain the lion's breakfast. In the morning they watched the lion's rip open the boxes to reveal their meal: meatballs!

Aiden loves all the "behind the scenes" activities he's gotten to be involved with through the zoo programs this summer. I imagine more is in his future, as long as it is not with the roaches or the snakes!