Zoo Atlanta Homeschool Day

Quick picture before our trip

Tuesday we took our first homeschool field trip of the year to Zoo Atlanta. After being rained out of our scheduled apple picking at a customer pick orchard in Ellijay the rain threatened to rain us out of our zoo trip too. But God was good to us! Just a day before the rain was forecasted to be 50% heavy rainfall for our zoo day but by the that night the biggest rain was supposed to be a drizzle and heavy fog. It turned out to be perfect weather for our trip.

Posing in front of a statue in memory of Willie B.

Zoo Atlanta has a homeschool day every first Tuesday of the months from September to May and they discount their tickets prices to make them very affordable. We even got to go on the endangered species carousel (which we the kids and I loved at the end of our long trip) and a train ride (which was more concrete tunnel than scenery-I'll be skipping that next year). Most of the animals are hard for little kids to see at this zoo because their habitats are higher than we are and they have more areas to hide and escape from viewers (particularly rowdy yelling kids that taunt animals-I am so thankful my kids are well behaved). But there was the really neat Exotic bird and lemur sanctuary that was quiet (because the lemurs were having a siesta). We got to see a hammerhead bird couple making a nest out of mud and sticks right on the railing next to people. They kind of look like miniature pelicans...kind of. That was cool. Also the lovebirds were gorgeous and making a nest as well in their tree house-so romantic, ha! There were amazing colored birds like the superb starling (gorgeous colors), there were adorable golden lion tamarins, the mandrilles (Craig's favorite for reasons won't mention but that he and Brendan got a kick out of), and the adorable meerkats (one kept checking Craig out it was hilarious).

In front of the gorillas (the babies were adorable imitating the big bossy/territorial Daddy's by hitting their chests and heads and knocking each other over)

Brendan is much more interested in the gorillas than the picture being taken (plus we are half way through the zoo now and he's getting tired)

Daddy attempted to take a picture of us on the carousel (can you see Brendan's little feet)

So I asked the kids that night during bedtime stories what their favorite thing was about the day. Brendan excitedly said the carousel and then the train. Trinity said the ring tailed lemurs and birds. Brendan's least favorite was the elephant (he was eating and then wanted to go inside with the keeper right when we got there). Trinity's was the ugly naked mole rats. We had a great day and Annaliese was awesome!! Even after getting a little lost in some ghetto areas on the way home (and me freaking out but acting calm to navigate us home) we had an awesome time and I hope we can do it again next year God willing. And again did I mention how awesome my kids behaved? I saw many children there that I am so glad were not mine (running away from their mom's and laughing). Is that mean? I don't know -all I know is I was so thankful for my kids after that trip!

And today this is Brendan dressing up like one of the zoo animals (I guess it's a red panda?)