The Armstrongs: Family time at the ZOO!

We took advantage of a "free weekend" (no home football game) and took Turner to the Montgomery Zoo. We had originally planned to do this Labor Day weekend and I am so glad I have a wise husband who suggested we wait a few weeks. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and we had the most fabulous time! Tootsie met us there and we spent about 3 hours roaming and watching Turner marvel at real-life versions of the animals she's only seen in books! There were so many great pictures, so this blog entry is loaded with pics...but I will let them tell the story of our zoo experience!

Checking out the stuffed animals in the gift shop with Daddy...trying a little experiment to see how she'd react. (That's for another post....our sudden, irrational fear of all things furry, costumed, masked, etc. )

Running to meet Tootsie

These were the first animals we saw. Turner immediately shouted, "Hey chicken! Come here chicken!" Ummm...not exactly a chicken.

Turner decided she wanted to get up close and personal with the birds.

Daddy explaining why we can't go under the ropes.

So, she decided to just rest her head here and watch for a while...

The most frequent phrase of the day - "I touch it?"

This little baby spider monkey just captivated all of us. We watched his older relatives teach him to climb, then he decided to put on a show and suspend upsidedown with only his tail. He was too precious.

Taking a break, "hanging out" on the fence. (Notice, her feet are not on the ground.)

In the reptile house staring face to face with a monitor. Turner is a little obsessed with reptiles/snakes right now (they saw a snake skin while out walking at daycare) so this was too cool for her!

This was Turner's preferred mode of transportation and preferred speed pretty much all day!

With her Tootsie

Riding on Daddy. Notice her hands in his hair? This is what she does the entire time she's on his shoulders...that is when she's not sticking her fingers in his ears!

Checking out the cheetah as he prowled back and forth.

Turner loves to drink out of her Daddy's water bottle. Such a big girl!

Playing hide and seek in the bamboo.

Smiling for a photo op, trying to learn how to squeeze herself through the bamboo stalks.

Checking out the elephants from the underground lookout

Watching the elephants take a swim. I never knew elephants could/would completely submerge themselves until yesterday. That large one put on a SHOW swimming and playing in the water!