Monkeying Around

Okay, we're back! Things have been busy in the Overman house; sick kids, sick Daddy's, trips to the mountains and half marathon training to name a few. While we were in Ohio one of the things on the top of my list to do was the Toledo Zoo. Not only is it a very nostalgic place for me, it is literally one of the coolest zoos in the world. With over 800 species it's one of the most complete zoo's today and has a great mix of historic meets present day- I love it!

What I really wanted to see was their new children's zoo. As a child this area was my favorite thanks to its great petting zoo.

This new exhibit lived up to its predecessor and was amazing. The kids could have stayed there all day if it weren't for the 100 degree weather!

I have to explain Johanna's outfit for the day. Giraffes being her favorite animal I got her this shirt at our visit to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. When I put it on her I thought,  hmm this shirt is so big, is it really a dress? So since the day was so hot I stuck some bloomers underneath and sent her off. Later that day when Jeff saw her he asked, where are your pants, Peanut? Now looking back at pictures, yes, clearly it was just a shirt...Ha!

My Cousin Erin and her adorable kids Preston and Carter came along with us to the zoo. It was so great seeing them I really wish we all lived closer to be able to do this stuff much more often. Carter is such a sweet boy and really hit it off with his cousin Johanna. We love you guys!

One thing I love about the Toledo Zoo is that its really catered to kids, everywhere you look there was something set up for them to touch, feel and explore. It's like the Disney World of zoos!

Like our zoo, the Toledo Zoo has recently updated their Asian exhibit. They had peek holes into the water to spy on lazy hippos. But best of all they had a little 2 year old elephant names Lucas who was too cute for words!

To beat the heat we made a break for the air conditioning in the Children's Discovery area. Amazing! As you walk in you are overwhelmed by life sized trees everywhere. It was really quite magical. There were different animals to touch and see such as guinea pigs and birds.

There were honey bees buzzing around along the wall in glass enclosers where the kids could climb around and pretend to be bees themselves in the giant honeycomb.

And what's cooler than secret doors?!

Leo even got into some of the action.

Max, Carter and Johanna pretending to be spiders.

 There was a room to the side where the kids could be movie stars! Max was really getting into it and put on a great show dancing around with the different stuffed animals. We sat back and watched on the televisions.

 What I really loved was their African exhibit. The whole thing is set up to look as if you were in a small native village. And although I loved the old train the train that replaced it is definitely worth mentioning. It was its own safari expedition.

 As we rode around we got to see the different animals grazing in the prairie.

Johanna was fascinated by the ostriches.

See you next time zoo!