SnyderLee Love: First Trip to the Zoo

So we were feeling adventurous a few weeks ago and decided to explore Racine, a little city north of here. Ok so we weren't feeling as adventurous as we really just couldn't afford the gas to spend the day in Chicago...but we do love exploring! When I found out there was a zoo OF COURSE we HAD to go! (If you know anything about me you know I LOVE zoos! I even used to work at one & it was the best job of my life...besides being a mom that is! I digress...so we went to the zoo in Racine.

the zoo is right on the beach! guess if the animals escape they better know how to swim!

I guess it's about 35 minutes or so away, but it's such a nice drive through the countryside to get there it doesn't seem like a burden (unless the babies are crying...that was on the way HOME luckily). Once we got inside Cohen started crying to eat, of course! I thought I had found a secluded spot to nurse in a little building but it seems like once I got the cover on and the baby latched everybody in the whole zoo suddenly entered! Talk about awkward! Luckily there was a tank of fish I could stare at and pretend I wasn't nursing my baby under this little cover with 15 complete strangers standing all around me staring in my direction (the fish tank was a good distraction for me, but unfortunately it was pretty much the only thing to look at in the building, and since I was right in front of it, they were all looking at me)!

After that whole ordeal things went a bit more smoothly (if you don't count the 2 other feedings and 2 diaper changes thrown in, lol) and we got to see a few animals.


Cohen in front of the exhibit of his fellow Gorillas

Notice the capacity for complex facial movements


the depressed penguins :(

The "easily ridable cows" (no that is not the scientific name). so dubbed by Cameron, as they have "big horns to grab onto so you don't fall off".

I admit I was pretty disappointed with the selection. It seems they had some cooler ones, but they were rebuilding some of the exhibits. We were, however, very much entertained by the meerkats (all 5 of them). Not natures finest specimens, but very enjoyable to watch in this instance. There was one little meerkitty who was standing watch who decided to be lazy and fell asleep at his post. It was pretty hilarious actually as he started to slide down the hill.

Before he fell asleep, vigilantly standing guard! who knows when some passerby might threaten to destroy his clans peace by throwing a piece of trash in the exhibit!

The main exhibit, however, appeared not the be the animals, but US! I guess the sight of a man carrying two babies in a front pack is unquestionably an interest since EVERY person we passed awwed and oohed and told us how cute it was!