Birthday Trip

As mentioned, Hunter turned 6 last week.  In our house, we only do a "big" party every 3rd year... for example, you get a "big" party on your 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th birthdays.  This means I only have to do 1 big party each year.  Since Ashton turned 4 this year, it was his year... Next year, Hunt will be 7 so it will be his year and then Shep the next year when he turns 4. And it just rotates from there.

I told Hunter that we would still do something fun for birthday, he could either take a couple friends to the movies or our family would go the big zoo in Columbia (we had never been).  He decided on the zoo.

So, this morning, we packed it up and drove the 2 hours to the Riverbanks Zoo.  We had a great time!  The zoo was wonderful, the weather perfect, the food was good, boys were well-behaved, and the crowd was non-existent.

I guess I could tell you all about it, but pictures are really worth a thousand words... Be prepared, there are a lot of pictures... but you guys wouldnt expect anything less.

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The Animals

Grizzly Bears

Gorilla

 

Bat- Mom, Hunter wanted to take this picture just for you.

  

Elephant drinking water through his trunk

 

The Lions and Tigers

 Flamingos

 

Penguins

 

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The Boys + some animals

Hunt and Ash with the kangaroos

My boys, somehow Chad managed to miss all the elephants in the background

 

 In typical man fashion, Ashton took over the map

 They got to feed and pet his giraffe... his head was huge!

 We ate at the Kenya Cafe... good food.

 Shep and those baby blues

 The birthday boy

 Smash waiting on his food

 Posing beside the alligator pond

 Though Santa did not come until the evening, we stole his chair for a quick picture

 Ostrich making an appearance

 Feeding goats

 again

 and again

 

 Hunter watching the shark

 

 Family shot

 

And Dad, this one is for you.  If only I had your name for Christmas... you would be receiving a pile of COMPOOST.

 

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It was a great 1/2 day trip and the boys were great.  

Happy Birthday Hunter bug!  We love you so much!