A Zoo and an Ice Cream Cone Walk

It's finally warmed up here and my maternity leave is getting close to ending. I want to take Meadow to as many places as I can before I go back to work. 

On a whim we decided to go over to the Minnesota Zoo. With the warmer temperatures I figured it would be busy on the weekend so we went on Friday afternoon. 

We first checked out the sea life area. 

Meadow loved looking at the star fish, but wouldn't touch them. Theo really enjoyed watching the big fish in the aquariums.

Meadow didn't want to stop looking at the tidal pool.

I kind of want to go back just to hang out in this area.

We were heading over to the baby farm animals when Theo needed a diaper change and feeding. 

In between, Meadow grumpily complained about walking through the Russian Grizzly Coast exhibit. Theo's sudden urge for mama's milk gave us a chance to sit down, eat some snacks and regroup.

She complained some more until we finally got to the farm animals.

The kids in the chicken cutouts were hilarious.

You had to be there.

By the next farm cutout Meadow was being a diva.

The zoo still closes early this time of year. We only had time for one more exhibit. We decided on the monkeys and other small jungle animals.

It is the biggest exhibit at the zoo.

The flamingos are cool to watch.

Then it was time to head home.

I like that Meadow can entertain him if I need to step away.

At least when he's not crying.

She's already starting to pick on her younger brother.

I think we all do this with his chubby cheeks.


Before dinner Meadow introduced Theo to all her Disney princesses.

I picked out an egg noodle and ham mac and cheese. It's Meadow's favorite food. Unfortunately, I didn't read the directions very good and cooked the noodles per the package's directions. It ended up soupy, which is a no-no in Meadow's book. 

A few days later we walked to uptown. I had taken the kids to the library the day before. We took the bus there and accidentally ended up walking back home. I didn't realize Uptown was not that far from us.

You could even say it's close.

We walked over to LaLa Homemade Ice Cream. It's one of the few ice cream parlors we haven't been to in Minneapolis. It also happens to be one of the closest one to our condo.

Our old neighborhood was in an ice cream desert. Unless you count Dairy Queen. 

I'm sure we will be back many times this summer.

We could've got Meadow the kiddie scoop, but I thought it would be too small. Next time.

We walked a bit further into Uptown proper and stopped at Calhoun Square to feed the dude. I guess there is a use for half-empty urban malls.

Meadow held him for me so I could use the bathroom. I have to say the 4 year age gap was a good idea, for now anyway. We'll see as they get older. 

On our detoured walk home we stopped at Bryant Park and let Meadow play at the playground.

I walked over to Cub to get a few groceries and then we took the 4 bus back home. It was a good day.