exotic animals + free = nat'l zoo {6.8.09}

Our fun friends (and Van's favorite babysitters) the Morrises offered to take Van and I on a zoo outing, and I'm never one to turn down the zoo! I'd been with Van on a couple previous zoo trips, once to the National Zoo and once to the zoo in Phoenix, but this was the first time he seemed to notice that there were actually things that were alive and moving on the other side of the fence. So we had a lot of fun watching his little curious mind at work, trying to figure out what the moving furballs were and why he couldn't touch them. He was so great, as always when we head outdoors. He especially liked the misters (mist machines...is that how you spell mist-er? That's not referring to Mr.?) that keep zoo-goers cool in the summer, and I loved the hairdo it gave him.

Thanks Ash & Nate for taking us and spending all day with us! (a lot of these photos were taken by Ashlee since photo taking + baby carrying is a bad combo. Nice work Ash!)



I love how excited he looks here. As a side note...when did my hair get SO dark???






Ashlee & Van checking out the sea lions below


Nate & Van coming through a mister



el elefante


post-mist-machine hair


Van clearly doesn't love to be strapped in. Or use things the way they should be used. He's standing on my legs for a better view, and trying to escape as always.


These turtles remind me of Lincoln in days past, his days of little turtle innocence. Before he was a big mean turtle. I keep joking to Jon that we need to donate him to the zoo to join his friends or throw him in the river, but my ideas aren't flying too well.