More Zoo Fun... or Terror on the Carousel!

 

Cousin Lucas went home today.  Ruby will miss her little friend and tormentor.  We had so much fun taking Lucas to the zoo while he was here.

The kids checked out the animals and made appropriate animal-sounds at them.  Very fun.  All three know their animal sounds well.

We went for a ride on the carousel which was very fun until the carousel actually started to move.  The kids were so excited to ride the beautiful animal carousel at the zoo.  They held on to their tickets and picked out their favorite animals to ride on.  Luckily we got a few happy pictures before the terror began.  As soon as the carousel lurched into action Ruby and Lucas simultaneously freaked out.  I was standing next to Ruby so I plucked her off of the tiger and headed for the stationery swan just behind us.  Betsy grabbed Lucas and moved him to an animal that wasn't going up and down.  Alli was left alone atop her rodeo panda.  I think it was more the being alone that upset her, but she too freaked out.  I didn't want to leave Ruby alone on the boring swan lest she try to follow me to Alli on the speeding carousel.  Grandma saw the panic in Alli's eye and heard her desperate cries for help and she came to Alli's rescue.  Like a speeding bullet, Grandma ran alongside the carousel and leapt up onto the revolving platform to Alli's rescue.  The ride operator was quite alarmed and he also dashed to the carousel just to ask if we were okay (and maybe to collect ticket fare from Grandma?).  Alli was swiftly snatched from her panda to the safety of the boring-bench-only swan... where we all calmed down.

Next time the kids ask for a ride on the carousel, I can give an easy answer. 

We saw the first baby ducks of the year.  This wood duck had seven little fuzzy squeakers.

We also saw baby pigs that were two days old.  Sorry, no pictures (the lighting was bad and I didn't want to disturb the tired mama pig).

The kids were so tired that they all arrived home asleep.

Awesome. (Okay, so Alli wasn't quite out, she opened her eyes when we said she was alseep, but she posed for this keepsake picture.)