New Zoo Exhibit

We got a Zoo mailer that the new Serengeti exhibit at the Oregon Zoo was having its grand opening this weekend and that Zoo Members had a free previewing today. They were featuring Lions, Cheetahs, Wild Dogs, and Zoo Member gifts. We didn't have anything planned and thought it sounded like a great plan. This will probably be our last visit to the Zoo this season before Jim starts school and the baby comes. It was opened from 9-4, so we thought we would try to get there by 9:30 and out by noon, before school was out and the masses arrived. Boy were we wrong!
I was so proud of us we were right on schedule, as we rounded the corner towards the Zoo off ramp we about died! The line to just get off the freeway to the Zoo was backed up about 1/2 mile on the freeway. We kept thinking there is no way this is for the exhibit, its a Members only day...yeah it was all for the zoo. There was no parking in the main lot by the time we were able to circle. We dropped Kevin off to stand in the ridiculously long line that wrapped along the fence and half way down the parking lot, we tried once to find something the Jim dropped me and the boys off at the entrance so we didn't have to walk from the overflow lot.
Once we got inside it wasn't terrible...we didn't rush to the new exhibit since we figured that was most peoples plan. The new exhibit was fun, we saw the lions, cheetahs, and dogs, they had other great climbing features and fun tunnels to run around in...they gave out bags featuring the predators. We had a great time, the boys were awesome and listened perfectly! We ended our day with the train ride...and no melt downs...and that is saying something!

The bald eagle was perched right about the trout, salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon exhibit, he was beautiful.

Sharing a peek at the Otter sleeping...

Peeking at the Otter sleeping, I love the Otters!

Eating Dippin' Dots...starting to get hot...90 degrees today!

This is Connor telling daddy he was tired and it was time for nite nite. I love being married to this guy- he is pretty awesome!!

His half smile.

Preston wanted to leave already, he was pretty serious about it.

Can you tell I am tired?! I think Kevin had a great time...he was a huge help, extra hands are always a great thing!

Connor loved watching the tracks, he kept saying "tracks mommy, tracks!"

Connor kept telling me it was like the Polar Express! We will have to come back for the Zoo Lights--he will love that!

Preston was so tired...usually they eat lunch and nap on the train...today they ate their lunch but no naps!

On the train Connor decided he needed to look cool, the sun was just too bright!

At the Forestry Center across from the Zoo there is an awesome 1909 original forestry train. The boys always beg to go see it but we are usually so exhausted that don't want to trek across the parking lot to climb on the train...today was such a great day we thought why not?! They LOVED every minute of it.

As you have probably noticed there is not one picture of the new exhibit! It was so crazy busy and we were more concerned with keeping our eyes on the boys that we didn't take a picture...I can't even believe it! Ah, well there is always next time!