At long last!

We have been trying to cram as much fun as possible into this past week since tomorrow we start into our "routine" of my grad school classes for the next 4-5 weeks! In fact, we have had so much fun that it will take several posts to tell :) We still had zoo passes since our failed zoo attempt before, so we made a visit to the birthplace of Tristyn Baylee Oswalt...otherwise known as the Big Easy.

After a quick stop at FBC Laplace to see some old friends, we finally made to Audubon Zoo....just as clouds were looming overhead. Still...Trissy sported her shades and took in the sights!

Here she is with daddy checking out the elephants!

Side note: The Wheel of Fortune crew was there filming some b-roll and *we think* that Pat and Vanna did a little segment too! They were all set up near the elephants, but we didn't stick around to see the action.

Here's our favorite attraction- alligators! Except this one didn't move....the. whole. time. T waved at the log mistaking it for another alligator. yup. Exciting day at the zoo.

In all actuality, the looming clouds opened up after about 20 good minutes. Thankfully, I was having a shining moment of mommy-preparedness that day and had packed us umbrellas and rain jackets! So, we put on our gear and kept trucking.

Check out those glasses pushed back on the head....this kid cracks me up.


We took a break from the worst of the rain at the Swamp Cafe and in the Louisiana reptile and white alligator area. We ate a yummy lunch and then T showed off her best wave to the white alligator while daddy looked on. In reality, she probably liked climbing the steps more than seeing the gator, but hey...who's counting?

One the few Trissy and mommy pics of the day...

Checking out the giraffe! Along with the black bears, they were her favorite.

"oooohhhhhh!"

Pointing at the wildebeest. "moo," she says. Oh well, we'll work more on animal

identification later.

Our petting zoo experience was not quite as rich as the Raney's and Pourciau's. I think after the rain, most of the staff had given up and we only got to see a snake. There was literally NO ONE else in the petting zoo when we went in (which you would usually think would be good) but in this case, it was giving the oppressed goats a chance to run around wild. No goat petting for us.

We did get close to this pot-bellied pig, who scared Trissy when he grunted really loud and looked like he might like to eat us for lunch.

Then we went on the Carousel and we were the only ones riding! It was really fun to watch Tristyn. She LOVED it!! She chose a Panda Bear (something about bears huh? :) and wanted to go again and again after she and daddy got off!

Here's a view of what our stroller looked like after the long day.

We let the peanut burn off any remaining energy on the very wet playground. By that point we were all pretty wet and disgusting and the Louisiana humidity had set in. But still managed a sweet smile :)

And quick slide or two!

And of course a wet, humid, sticky family self-portrait!

We had a wonderful first family day at the zoo, and want to go back again soon!! :)