Monday morning, July 28th, Audrey and I went along on Ryan & Joy's annual trip to the Omaha Zoo. They have done this for years to celebrate Joy's last day of summer school teaching. If you are going to a zoo with Joy; get lots of sleep, wear comfortable shoes, take sunscreen and don't whine! We got up at 5:30 a.m. - so the girls look pretty darn chipper as we leave at 6:30!
Are you riding with me, Nana??
Our first stop at the zoo was the rainforest dome with a great walking path, both high & low, through the rainforest.
I love the faces on these monkeys!
Audrey found a swing as we worked our way up the rainforest dome. Doesn't she look great!!
Katie trying to reach the water
The girls on a balcony area in the rainforest dome.
I gave up my camera for just a minute to prove I actually did go to the zoo. I love the way Caleb is getting a kick out of Audrey.
On this particular shot I did NOT give up my camera - it was stolen by our most precious youngest son! Thought I wouldn't post it didn't you!!??
I love giraffes - when I had llamas their movement reminded me of the swaying walk of a giraffe. After watching this guy watching us I think I know where Wal-mart got the idea for their domed cameras to catch shoplifters. His brown eyes were huge!
Wasn't God having fun when He created the earth and everything in it?
This really is a beautiful zoo as this long shot shows
Tortise standing seemed to be the order of the day
"After your de-fleaing would you care for a warm mud bath and herbal tea?"
The fish beat the swans to the food almost every time
....and then, Mom, I saw a monkey and an elephant and a . . .
Babies are always cute - even if they are baby sea lions
This fellow just stood around looking intimidating. Katie informed her daddy that she wasn't afraid of the rhino or the lions but she didn't like birds!
....and then, Mom, I saw a monkey and an elephant and a . . .
Babies are always cute - even if they are baby sea lions
This fellow just stood around looking intimidating. Katie informed her daddy that she wasn't afraid of the rhino or the lions but she didn't like birds!
The next few shots are from a wonderful exhibit called "Madagascar". If you've seen Disney's animated movie you realize just how talented those animators are - dead on with everyone of these guys.
It's nice to be able to rest on your own warm and fuzzy tail!
This boy NEVER needs to floss!!! He is eating the thorns
Caleb playing 'catch up' but not too hard
Audrey & Katie were showing us how flamingos stand on one leg
We went into a wonderful parakeet house. My paternal grandma always had a parakeet (one tried to nest in my hair once) and I always enjoyed watching them. There were some beautiful colors - white, green, blue, yellow and various combinations
They had feeding sticks available but it was a 
Audrey found a beautiful yellow parakeet to feed
Have we met??
Caleb playing 'catch up' but not too hard
Audrey & Katie were showing us how flamingos stand on one leg
We went into a wonderful parakeet house. My paternal grandma always had a parakeet (one tried to nest in my hair once) and I always enjoyed watching them. There were some beautiful colors - white, green, blue, yellow and various combinations
They had feeding sticks available but it was a toss up if the guy you wanted to feed had just eaten his weight in seed already.
Audrey found a beautiful yellow parakeet to feed
Have we met??
They are discussing how to overcome the giant . . .
I think the favorite part of the zoo for the kids was the misters they had placed all over.
Look - spider girls!
This guy just looks like he could put you in 'timing out' as Katie tearfully calls it
This huge gorilla was sound asleep in a plexiglass tower area. You can tell his size from Ryan, Joy & the girls behind him.
Then we have the babies - not nearly as awe inspiring but
Then we have the babies - not nearly as awe inspiring but everyone had to stop and watch
Several exhibits had huge bubble windows into the animal areas. You could climb in and see all around. Ryan & Caleb are enjoying the one in the gorilla area.
Playing on the sculptures outside the monkey house
A couple of beautiful cats - a white tiger and and malaysian tiger (I think). Obviously very impressed with us!
The zoo had moved the orangutans outside. Consequently few people walked through the display which still had a few smaller monkeys in it. This little one was SO excited to see us that he put on quite a performance. He stayed about five feet back from the glass until the girls walked away and then he raced to the window watching them. They returned and he sat right there, grieving at his lonely fate, and would not make eye contact with them.
Below is one of the two monkeys annoying the heck out of a huge male orangutan. The two of them swung around the entire enclosure in great looping swings and came to a stop in front of us to check us out before returning to their death defying game with the orangutan.
This one has just tiptoed up behind the orangutan and yanked a handful of hair. When the big guy swung around this clown waved his hands in the air, screeching the whole time. I swear he was screaming "I'm not afraid of you!!" Probably not the brightest monkey in the zoo but he was keeping himself entertained.
A very serious looking eel - not that I've ever seen a happy one!
This guy was just hanging around up next to the glass so I had the girls stand on either side of him - Katie wasn't going to let him get away with anything!
Makes me think of the sufer dude in finding Nemo
This three inch fish looked like a piece of pastry -
Do not call this one a sea horse - he is a sea DRAGON!
This next shot we entitled 'small boy with sharks'
Our last stop was the desert dome - it was fascinating but you'll notice I don't have any pictures of tarantulas (and never will)!
These merecats were a hoot - they would take turns banging their fists on the closed door to the interior den. Ryan said it was because their shift was over and they wanted off work.
Audrey loved the owls
We were ready for our long ride home (two hours) and had everyone settled in with hamburgers and then tootsie pops. These next three pictures sums up the ride home.
Going . . .
Going . . .
Gone!!
Thanks Ryan & Joy for including Audrey & I on your annual pilgrimage to the Omaha Zoo - we had a wonderful time!!
Several exhibits had huge bubble windows into the animal areas. You could climb in and see all around. Ryan & Caleb are enjoying the one in the gorilla area.
Playing on the sculptures outside the monkey house
A couple of beautiful cats - a white tiger and and malaysian tiger (I think). Obviously very impressed with us!
The zoo had moved the orangutans outside. Consequently few people walked through the display which still had a few smaller monkeys in it. This little one was SO excited to see us that he put on quite a performance. He stayed about five feet back from the glass until the girls walked away and then he raced to the window watching them. They returned and he sat right there, grieving at his lonely fate, and would not make eye contact with them.
Below is one of the two monkeys annoying the heck out of a huge male orangutan. The two of them swung around the entire enclosure in great looping swings and came to a stop in front of us to check us out before returning to their death defying game with the orangutan.
This one has just tiptoed up behind the orangutan and yanked a handful of hair. When the big guy swung around this clown waved his hands in the air, screeching the whole time. I swear he was screaming "I'm not afraid of you!!" Probably not the brightest monkey in the zoo but he was keeping himself entertained.
A very serious looking eel - not that I've ever seen a happy one!
Everyone is checking out a wall in the aquarium with all kinds of wonderful creatures on it. There are so many kinds of sea anemones it is amazing. Notice the blue starfish.
I've always had a fascination with jelly fish - they are so ethereal looking yet can be so deadly. The zoo has a wonderful floor to ceiling column of them.
I've always had a fascination with jelly fish - they are so ethereal looking yet can be so deadly. The zoo has a wonderful floor to ceiling column of them.
This guy was just hanging around up next to the glass so I had the girls stand on either side of him - Katie wasn't going to let him get away with anything!
Makes me think of the sufer dude in finding Nemo
This three inch fish looked like a piece of pastry -
Do not call this one a sea horse - he is a sea DRAGON!
This next shot we entitled 'small boy with sharks'
Our last stop was the desert dome - it was fascinating but you'll notice I don't have any pictures of tarantulas (and never will)!
These merecats were a hoot - they would take turns banging their fists on the closed door to the interior den. Ryan said it was because their shift was over and they wanted off work.
Audrey loved the owls
We were ready for our long ride home (two hours) and had everyone settled in with hamburgers and then tootsie pops. These next three pictures sums up the ride home.Going . . .
Going . . .
Gone!!
Thanks Ryan & Joy for including Audrey & I on your annual pilgrimage to the Omaha Zoo - we had a wonderful time!! Videos from our day at the zoo
This parakeet at the Omaha Zoo doesn't have time to hang around and chat. He has a very special piece of wood to arrange & rearrange & rearrange - well you get the idea. I didn't know birds could have OCD!
