Lions and Tigers, Oh my :)

The Children's Museum had a critter fest this weekend.  Zebras, a camel, goats, pigs, an elephant, alligators and crocs, snapping turtles, lions and tigers all showed up.  It was fun to see the different animals and realize how low on the food chain you are.  We also had the Virginia Grandparents in town for the weekend, so we thought we'd show them how exotic Lubbock is... 

Tristan liked watching the zebras.  He kept mooing at them though.  Suppose we ought to work on our animal sounds a little more.  He was also only interested in the cats for about five minutes.  Then he wanted to go hang out with the people who bought cotton candy and snow cones in front and behind of us.

The cat show was pretty neat.  We weren't sure we would even get in the show as they don't "sell out."  They just cram people in the arena until they can't fit anymore, and then everyone else has to wait 2 hours for the next show.  We were skeptical about getting in, but we did.  and we got pretty good seats.  The cats were pretty cool.  They all had to sit on their chairs until the trainer allowed them to get down.  Secretly, I wanted one of them to smack the trainer with a paw.  I had seen the cats a couple days ago in their trailer outside the museum.  The owners/trainers were incredibly grumpy and not the least bit friendly.  Of course, I am sure they tire of hearing the same questions over and over but hooooly moly it was beyond that, just very unhappy people.

But the cats were cool.  They honestly just seemed like oversized house cats during the show.  You forget that they weigh around 700 pounds a piece.  Oy.

Again, Tristan was in love with a balloon and would have played with one all day had we let him.   He sure loves having 4 adults at his beck and call, cheering for everything he does.   Grandpa gave him a ball tonight and you should have seen the act Tristan put on for us.. singing, dancing and squealing over how fun that ball was.

 

It's been a long time since I have been to the zoo, in fact, I think it's been since Jeff and I were engaged.  I forget how neat elephants are.  Of course, seeing this poor guy stuck living life under a tent and having to give rides all day kind of made me sad.  I wanted to grab his harness, throw the seat off him and tell him to run away.  Except we were next to a highway. Kind of counter productive on the rescue.

Some of the less exotic but more adorable and squeezable critters... aw.

Tristan loved the fish.  He watched them forever and would follow the really colorful ones for a while.  He is getting to be such a big kid!

Jeff took a big step today-he voluntarily touched a snake.  I never thought I'd live to see this, especially not after the "Snake incident" a few weeks ago.  But he totally poked the snake all on his own.  I have never been bothered by snakes, but something about this snake so close to my baby bothered me.  I know it's pretty friendly, but what if it decided to up and take a bite of my baby?  Suddenly snakes bothered me.
It was a pretty fun and busy day for all of us.  Tristan adores his company and I have a feeling he and Chunky both will be bummed when they leave us!