Memorial Day Weekend - Toledo Zoo

Jonathan and I decided to take a day off work before and after the Memorial Day weekend in order to have a little extra time at my parent's house. We usually go to Toledo for the holiday so we were looking forward to an extra long weekend spent with family hanging out at my aunt's pool. Well, unfortunately it was freezing cold (50's) and raining almost the entire time we were there so there was no pool happening. We did spend Friday at the Toledo Zoo. It was sunny and cool and really a great day to spend outside. I love going to the zoo and it was extra fun with Adalyn since she really got excited to see the animals.

The animals were all out and active and so much fun to watch. I have a feeling it was because it was sunny and cool. When it's super hot out the animals just lounge in the shade to keep cool. The zoo has a bunch of baby animals right now and Adalyn loved them! I didn't take pictures of all the animals, but the first animals we saw were the polar bears including twin cubs that were so much fun to watch playing together. Adalyn did NOT want to leave them. They looked like teddy bears and they were rolly polly and would jump in the water for a swim and then back out to play with their ball and then wrestle with each other. Adorable! Please go look at the cuteness on the zoo's website. <= click. Seriously. Can I take one home please?  But we finally persuaded Adalyn to let other kids have her viewing spot so we could move on. We decided to take a train ride through Africa to see the zebra and giraffes (and some other stuff too).

 (Love the half smile.)

After our train ride, we went to the Australian Walkabout and fell in love with the Wallaby's. Oh my. They are like tiny little kangaroos and we were able to walk in their habitat to see them up close. One of them had a baby in her pouch and then there was a zoo worker that was carrying another baby in a man made pouch. One walked right up to Adalyn and was about the same height. Of course it hopped away right when I took the picture so it turned out blurry.

How cute are my parents holding hands walking through the zoo? :)

Then we walked over to see the monkeys, orangutans, and gorillas. There was another little baby. (See a theme? Baby animals are so stinking cute!) This little baby was holding on to mama and then would jump off and swing and then go right back to mama. Adalyn LOVED it. (It was super tiny.) Yes, she was throwing it kisses.

 Of course I didn't get a picture of it facing us. They really liked this little ledge in the shade. So cute!

 He was such a good boy all day!

 This guy was cracking us up. He had this blankie that he carried all over with him. Then he laid it out on the ground, grabbed an orange and just laid there sunbathing eating his orange. So funny!

 We were watching the gorillas and this guy was laying up against the glass pretending to sleep. As if he was trained to do so, as soon as I lifted my camera up he showed his teeth like he was smiling for us. So funny when the animals put on a show. 

 Adalyn liked the gorillas!

 This was the BIG guy in the exhibit and after we were giving the last gorilla attention this guy came charging at the other gorilla and made him move and took his seat. Then he just sat staring at Adalyn. So fun to be so close to these huge animals and to even get to interact with them like that.

 Then we headed to the elephants. (Yes, there is a pretty cute baby elephant too!) The trainers came in to work with the elephants on listening activities. We got to see their training up close. It was awesome!

 Cayden slept through the excitement.

 We always get a picture on this elephant. It has been there for decades and we have a ton of pictures of my brothers and me on this thing so of course we have to make new memories on it. Cayden was still sleeping. Maybe next time he'll get in the picture.

 Watching the penguins swimming. Daddy's favorite.

We had such a great time at the zoo. I could have lived without needing jackets in May but it really was nice weather for walking around. Both kids had a great time and were asleep in the car before we got back to Nana and Papa's house. We definitely picked the best day to go to the zoo since every other day had rain! Hopefully Adalyn will have wonderful memories of this zoo like her mommy does!