Because we didn't get enough in San Diego

Brendan decided he wanted to go to the zoo. So, we packed up and went to the zoo. Why not? They have so many cute new babies there. There are new baby tigers, an elephant, a giraffe, a monkey and white leopards. Those animals must really enjoy that mountain air. The crisp October air was very nice and it was good to get out of the house.

I had my hand sanitizer at the ready because I am so paranoid about this swine flu. I mean stay-inside-my-house-until-February paranoid. Good thing I have some food storage. We did get our flu shots and I am trying to get our H1N1 shots too, but I am so worried about Addison getting sick. She can't get any shots until next month. Brendan starts school back on Monday from being off track. Hopefully the kids who are sick have already gotten it and are over it now. That, or hopefully their moms have the kind decency to keep their kids home for a few days. Did I mention that I am paranoid?

The cute baby elephant. Brendan decides this is the time he really needs to go pee.
Here is the cutest baby that was at the zoo. Yes, we know it says to not feed the animals. However, this giraffe was eating all the leaves that were falling off the tree anyway. We just thought we would help him out. Her tongue was so long, sticky and it curled up like a party favor on its way back in.
Brendan insisted they go inside the gopher holes. I was on the outside hyperventilating as I worry about all the germs that are lingering in the cave of death. Time to go home and shower in sanitizer.

Allergic reaction to lion scent

During our stay in California we drove down to San Diego to go to the zoo and Sea World. Brendan had been looking forward to these particular two days moreover Disneyland. In fact, on day two in wonderland Brendan was pouty and kept saying that he just wanted to go home. He didn't want to stay at Disneyland anymore. When we asked him what was wrong he finally came clean, "We just have been here so long and we haven't even been to the zoo yet!" After telling him that we would be there tomorrow he perked right up and kept saying "Tomorrow is going to be AWESOME!" We had to keep reminding him that TODAY was pretty awesome too. He had a lot more fun, which- so did we.

We drove down early Friday morning and went to the San Diego Zoo. Kids are free in October so that was a bonus. We got to see everything we wanted and more at this zoo. There were two particular animals that Brendan was excited to see... the hippo and the crocodile. These are two animals that we don't have here at our zoo. There are actually millions of animals that we don't have at our zoo. Okay, maybe not millions- but you get the idea. Our zoo is pretty pathetic compared to San Diego's.

Another animal we don't have is a lion. At this zoo they had the king of the jungle and his woman. This exhibit had a netting kind of fence that walled off the animals along with the metal hand rails out a few feet from that. This lion was walking back and forth along the mesh, rubbing up against it like a cat to your leg. Jason and Brendan stood on one end of the fence while I went to the other to try to get a picture of the lion's face as he walked towards me. There are about 10 other people there watching this lion with us, so a bunch of us went to the other end to get pictures. As the lion was turning to head back away from us, he lifts his tail and *squirt* - out comes a spray of what I thought was pee. Of course, pee does not come out of under his tail- but that's what I thought of at first. We all jump back 10 feet to avoid this spray, which did not get on us. Pretty amusing, right? Well, he did it AGAIN the next time he came down. We still managed to dodge his marking, but I'm sure I won't be wearing a fushia colored shirt the next time I go and visit him. The funny thing about this is that I actually have a picture of the sign that is in front of their exhibit which warns people to stay 7-10 feet away. Notice how he is rubbing up against the mesh fencing.

A few hours after we leave the lions my throat starts to swell up. I could still breath and swallow, it was like someone karate chopped me right in the adams apple. I couldn't think of what it could possibly be- then it hit me. I must have inhaled some of that spray that was in the air. There was nothing else it could have been. It actually didn't go away for about 4 days. So now on the next doctor's forms that ask what my allergies are I can write down "Lion's Scenting." I don't know how it would be applicable to any situation, but darn it- there it is.

My cute baby giraffe. This hippo was the size of a Smart Car. Not kidding.
The cute little 4 year old boy. He climbed this tree, turned around on it and layed his back on that branch to chill out.

These guys were a hoot to watch! I wish we could have stayed a little longer. We would have, but so much zoo, so little time!
This was the two year old girl. She was pacing back and forth the whole time. She just wanted to be sure that everyone got a good angle of her. Such a show off. She was so cute!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

Been there, done that. Not doing it again for AT LEAST another 6 years.

This is about how close he would actually get to a live character.

A break in between Disneyland Days. Newport Beach. Heaven.

Out to find my happy place

We got to sunny foggy California early Monday morning. Because we couldn't check into the condo until later we drove around until we found a beach. We found Huntington Beach not too far away so we stayed and got our feet wet. Unless you're my mom, who fell in when the undercurrent whooshed back into the ocean. Did I mention we didn't get to our condo for another 6-7 hours? And that it was overcast? Jason, Brendan, my niece Reba and Mom walked up the beach a ways and Dad and I picked them up on the other end. They saw a school of dolphins off the coast just a few yards away. Brendan had a blast at the beach for his first time and squealed like a little girl when the waves would crash up on the shore. It was the best watching him experience the ocean for the first time. There were several surfers there lining the waves further out. Monday morning surfing. Don't Californian's have to work?? I would surf too if I lived there. Just not at the end of September. BURRRR

Brendan's first airplane ride. "THIS IS AWESOME!"

Brendan's first visit to the ocean. "THIS IS AWESOME!"

Playing in the sand with Reba. "This is SO much bigger than Grandpa D's sandbox!"
We got to go swimming at the condo while they held our luggage before we got the rooms. This way they got to wash off all of the sand! Luckily the haze wore off and it was sunny outside.
Monday night we went to the playoff clincher game for the Los Angeles Angels against the Rangers. Brendan's first Major League ball game. You guessed it- "IT IS AWESOME!" We left after the 7th inning strech because the Angels were up 11-0, and because it was 11pm and Brendan was half asleep.

Yeah, we caved and bought the foam finger.

"Mom, now I need a new Light Saber."

As if 5 aren't enough.

The first day we went to Disneyland we went to the Jedi Training Academy and Brendan wanted nothing to do with it when the "REAL JEDI'S" came out for the show. Three of his cousins did the training and got a Jedi Diploma for taking the course on how to be a Jedi. After it was over Brendan turns to me and says "I am FOR SURE doing that on Thursday."


I would be totally afraid of this real life Darth Vader if I were 6. They also had Darth Maul come out and fight. I didn't want to be the one to point out that Darth Maul wasn't around for Darth Vader to be his Master. But- whatever.

Here is cousin Reba fighting with Darth Maul.
Make sure your speakers are turned up so you can hear it.

I will post more about our awesome trip later. Right now I have a DVR full of shows to watch. I mean, PRIORITIES PEOPLE!!