Monday, March 08, 2010

The Early Bird Gets the Panda

We went to the National Zoo yesterday with my parents. It was a gorgeous day! It started out cold, but warmed up nicely. We got there around 8:30 a.m. which was totally the way to do it. We really almost had the place to ourselves for a while. By 2 p.m. it was packed and annoying and full of strollers and screaming kids. But the early hours were just wonderful. The pandas were out eating bamboo just a few feet from us! By 10 a.m. they were way at the back of their enclosures.

We saw three orang utans go across this "O-Line." It runs from one zoo building to another and is 45 feet up in the air...with no net underneath! The orangs just climb across it....or just sit and hang out, like this one.

Here is Becca volunteering for a demonstration, Andrew desperately trying to join her and me frantically pulling him back. We put on our own show, you see.


Can you spot the panda in this photo?

I finally, finally figured out the key to travelling with my kids without dying. I go to bed at 8:30 p.m. That way when someone wakes up at 4:52 a.m. I don't fantasize about jumping out a window. It only took me 4 years to learn this. (Although, he did go back to sleep and they actually did really well having a slumber party at Nana and Grandpa's. I can't complain.)

4 comments:

Bevo said...

Now I understand how black and white can be camouflaging.

It was a fabulous day!

Dad said...

PLUS driving is best in DC early on Sunday mornings.

Angie said...

I think all activities with children are better in the morning. I never understand when someone wants to meet somewhere for the day, starting at 11. The day is nearly over then.

Jen said...

OMG, Andrew is So Big! That last picture! I wouldn't have known it was him! Yes, I am a slacker and haven't been online in forever, but still!