Lions and Tigers and Bears… oh my!

Every year, it’s the same story. Our oldest child seems to not realize that the true meaning of Labor Day is to NOT labor and asks us what we’re doing. And “sitting like a lump and watching movies on TV” isn’t an appropriate response in his eyes. No, he wants to go somewhere and do something. I suppose this is because one year my lovely husband thought it would be fun to pack a picnic lunch and drive to a state park (in another state, no less). Now he expects it every year.

Considering the weekend we had (filled with lots and lots of SHOPPING), I think we both would have been happy to hang out at home and perfect our vegetable impression. But what the heck. It couldn’t kill us to leave the house. Could it? We decided to go to the “Animal Ark“, which is a wildlife reserve here in town (I say “here in town” and then I have to laugh because there is nothing “in town” about this place). We’ve never actually been there, all the years we’ve lived here, which sorta makes us total losers because everyone who lives here has been there at least once. We could take a picnic lunch and sorta make a day of it. Why not?

Road to nowhere. Or, actually, to the Animal Ark. Can you believe there’s another car on this road with us??

We used the Jeep jogging stroller for Liam since we knew it would be rugged enough to easily be able to push around the park. Kile carried Evie in the hip hammock. She was pretty happy there but we were BAD PARENTS and neglected to bring a hat for her. Or for Liam. And no one had sunblock on. GAH. Call CPS right now, folks. I felt like a fraud. What kind of idiot plans a day out for the kids and doesn’t bring hats or at least sunblock? ME, that’s who.

This could be a lynx. Or it could not. Do you see it?

That’s one lazy mountain lion. Damn but if he doesn’t make it look good though.

We saw all sorts of awesome animals. There were tigers (sleeping), bears (also sleeping), wolves, coyotes, foxes, owls, turtles, racoons, bobcats… Plus I think we all learned quite a bit while we were there. Various employees would walk around the park and talk about the animals with us. They all seemed to know each of the animals by name and know their entire history and how they came to be at the Animal Ark and why they weren’t suited for the wild (Yogi the bear had been declawed as a cub by someone who wanted him as a pet. They changed their mind and released him in the Sierra mountains. Luckily, someone found him and he came to live at the Ark).

It’s a LOOOOONG way back to town.

Our picnic lunch went very well. At least, that is if you consider Liam dismantling his entire peanut butter and jelly sandwhich and getting the gooey goodness all over himself “well”. The weather was gorgeous, cool and sunny with a refreshing breeze. I just love it when the weather turns cooler.

Liam was intrigued with this fellow. He was in turn intrigued by Liam’s fingers.

Seeing all the animals was very cool and I hope we have occasion to go back someday. They have events there where you can howl with the wolves, watch the cheetah run, watch the animals get pumpkins stuffed with treats, etc and so forth. The entire facility was very well cared for and the bathrooms were the cleanest bathrooms I’ve been in for a long time. There was a lot of pride here and it showed. Plus, the animals looked very happy and content.

We see a lot of these coyotes near our house. Keep the cats inside!

This gray wolf wasn’t so gray. She was gorgeous though and rather large!

Finally, we had to call it a day. Evie was snoozing in the hip hammock (and I was concerned about her getting so much sun, even though Kile tried to shield her head as best he could). Liam was fading fast.

Konked out.