The Zoo

So we took Sydney to the Zoo on Saturday. Lucky for us it was teddy bear Saturday and you got 2 bucks off if you showed your teddy bear at the door. I was so glad our hours of digging through her toys for a stuffed animal really paid off since we got to the gate and the stuffed animal was still in the car. Not that the 8 acre walk back to the car in 110 degree weather wasn’t worth the savings, but technically all we had to show for our hours of searching was a stuffed puppy anyway. We paid the 2 bucks.

Once we got inside the zoo Sydney was more interested in the rocks and the water than in any of the animals. Maybe because between the dog and the bird and Shawn’s 22 year-old brother we have lived in the equivalent of a zoo at the in-laws for the past year. She is used to it. But when we tried to drag her away from the rock she was fascinated by and come look at the rare albino alligator she was not a happy girl. Same thing when she had to be drug away from the penguins because we wouldn’t let her go "schwibbing" in their pool.

The Carousel was much better—she thought she was begin tortured by the ostrich she was riding and screamed the whole way around—all 54 times. Since when are Carousel rides that long! The crowd we passed on each lap was growing as they watched the screeching child cling to life lap after lap without ever giving up on the earsplitting howl. After the tenth trip around with Sydney’s lungs holding out perfectly the spectators began to give us the "ohh, too bad your kid doesn’t know how to have fun” look. One lady even came up and offered her a gummy bear as we got off the ride because “she had been so brave.” Great. Now Sydney equates the carousel with a trip to the dentist. Tickets to the Zoo: $16.00. A ride on the carousel $4.00. Creating lasting aversions to family outings by the time she turns three: priceless.

Maybe next year.