Raisins vs. Pandas

So, yesterday I took Eleanor and Rose to the National Zoo with two of my friends and their two-year-olds Adam and Isabella. Normally I can't stand zoos - they stink and most of the animals seem all mangy and sick, and it makes me feel yucky to see all the animals caged up instead of running free in their natural habitats. However, I love the National Zoo! It's beautiful, the animals look healthy, and there is all kinds of funny signage. In the bathroom, for instance, there is a sign that says "It's okay to spray urine... if you are a lobster." It goes on to explain that lobsters greet each other by spraying urine. Sounds good to me!

Our visit to the zoo yesterday was, by far, the best I've ever had. We got their early... a tip to other parents: if you get there by 9:30 you can get into the animal houses just as they are opening at 10:00. All the animals are having their breakfast, and they are all happy to see the trainers or to be let out into their outdoor environments. We saw the baby elephant getting its bath and eating carrots, and we saw the hippo lolling in the pool while the trainer cleaned its cage. And, the most fantastic thing was that we got to see the mother and baby panda up close because they were inside (rather than outside and way up in the trees which is where I have {barely} seen them before). It was amazing to see them playing and wrestling just about eight feet in front of us!

So, that was my experience at the zoo... and you'd think that the kiddies would have loved it.

Well, they did love it, but for different reasons. In the Elephant/Hippo area there were ramps... wahoo! In the Orangutan area there was a man fixing something in one of the empty cages... neat! And, in the Panda habitat... well, what could have been better than Adam's raisins!

It is crazy how we try so hard to find amusements for our kids, when all they need is a box of raisins and some ramps.

On a completely different note - Cap and I have been thinking that it would be fun to add a recurring series on this blog called "While you were sleeping." Since Eleanor will only take a nap these days if we're driving in the car, we have had quite a few junkety junkets while she and Rose have been in slumberland. Two days ago, for instance, we took a drive out into the Maryland Agricultural Reserve (or is it Preserve?) and we forded a river in our very low riding Scion XB. And we saw cows! When they woke up we were at home in our driveway, with no idea of the adventures they had missed. So, stay tuned for more episodes of "While you were sleeping."