cHimP-LiKe...

We spent the day at the Ft. Worth Zoo. I am not sure about my kids, but my favorite animals were the chimps. How amazing is it that they are so human-like yet oh so hairy? They were putting on quite a show for us today.

Picture this:

3 adult chimp and 1 little chimp just chillin’. Then all of a sudden, little chimp starts acting majorly hyperactive, swinging and running chimp-like all over the habitat. Out steps big chimp #1 and grabs little chimp’s wrist, wrestles him to the ground and then sits on him. No joke; Big ol’ chimp bootie on little chimp for a full on 30 seconds! After that scenario repeats itself a couple of times, big chimp grabs little chimp and puts him in a certified WWF headlock and proceeds to tickle little chimp, who laughs all loud and chimp-like. Then, picture a game of ‘you can’t get past me!’ with little chimp laughing when he gets smashed against the wall and big chimp mocking little chimp with a noogie and a chimp-like victory dance. All this is followed by a hug, cuddle, and a little picking the bugs out of your hair and eating them because I love you.

Seriously, I saw it all. It reminded me so much of life at our house (well, we don’t eat the bugs we get off each other though) that it made me wonder. We had a great time. Perfect weather, great company, and me wondering just how sure I am that chimp life wouldn’t be better than my life. Just think. All the play and no responsibilities!? The hair would get kinda itchy though, and I bet they don’t feed them chocolate in there. Never mind.

** I shouldn’t be allowed to type on my computer past 11 p.m.**

This is what I should have written about the zoo. I love stealing from other people's blogs! Thanks, Jen!

• What was cool is that we even had Diego as our tour guide (see my Mom in her safari hat).

• My sit and stand stroller can easily push along 4 kids.
• Jeff and Ruth really are the cutest couple of the year!
• Jami and Ava couldn't stop dancing - especially at the penguin exhibit where they both had "Happy Feet" and Nolan joined in.
• Nolan loved the monkey's... probably because he acts like one half the time. With all of his grunts - I figured I could just leave him there at the zoo and he could quite possibly fit in.
  
• My Mom truly loves being a Mimi. I love watching her with her grand kids, and thinking about the joy that she must have gotten out of raising us. I try to remember that when I'm pulling my hair out in my current stage of life. I love how she's always there to help and assist... and puts aside any of her own plans, desires or wants just to be with the kids. It means a lot to me...
• Nolan actually held onto my Mom's hand for a while... the kid hates hand holding and LOVES to explore. After I was buckling Nolan in for the 50th time, Damian was like "Plip, there are like 6 adults here that can help look after him that you don't need to have him in the stroller all the time." I said, okay - watch this. I got Nolan out and he just took off... D was so great to tag behind him... and even take him into the bird atrium with him. It's the cutest thing to see your brothers with your kids.
• Jeff had fun taking the kids in the little underground dome thing to show them all the snake food - aka mice.
• Ava told us that penguins are now her favorite animal - kinda figured that after wanting to rewatch "Surf's Up" over and over... she loves her some Cody Maverick!
• Damian had Eden do a pull-up on a tree branch - so naturally Ava had to join in and do the same. I think she'd jump off a cliff if Eden or Carter did... she just adores her cousins!
• As we were leaving Ava and Damian were "racing" to the front of the zoo. It was so cute to see them together and cute to see Ava running her little bootie off!! She did pretty good, maybe she'll be a runner like her Daddy and like her Mom once was.
• Damian pointing out the crocodile that rides the short bus.