The Bronx Zoo

Last week I embarked on a big adventure.  I took all four of my kiddos…on the train…to the Bronx Zoo!  My friend Maggy and I have zoo memberships which are getting ready to expire.  We wanted to go to the “big zoo” before that happened!  I could not have done this alone.  We planned to go on a Thursday so that I could bring Symphony (my mother’s helper) along.  Maggy brought two teens from her church also.  We were quite the entourage as we trekked down the subway steps with four children, two babies, and three strollers in tow.  It was even more of a sight as we loaded onto the train car as fast as we could, clogging up an entire doorway  with the strollers.  But we made it!

  
The twinsies did great – and looked cute, too!  I only have one little hat for Liberty, and it was a 6-9 months size so very large on her!  Nehemiah kept turning his to the side…guess he’s more “cool” than I thought!

When we arrived we had a picnic lunch.  It was perfect weather to be out and about – sunny, but not too hot, and a lovely gently breeze for most of the day.  Our first exhibit was to ride the “Wild Asia Monorail” which takes you to see various species of deer, antelope, the warthogs, tigers, and elephants, etc.  Nolan enjoyed pointing to different animals as we rode past.

Nolan enjoyed climbing the fence in line for the monorail.  He was fascinated by the birds in the rafters!

Ian, Sophia, Elaine, & Havilah
Maggy & Amarys on the monorail

Symphony & Nolan on the monorail

The monorail ride

Got him to wear a boy hat for a change!

Last time we were here Nolan was not yet 1, and he was in a stroller the whole time!

We also saw the giraffes, the lions, the camels, and some monkeys as we strolled through the zoo.  We enjoyed a ride on the Bug Carousel (included in our membership!) and stopped in at the Children’s Zoo.  Then it was back on the train for the 1.5 hour ride home. 

My part of the “entourage” – Nolan, Symphony, Elaine, Me, Liberty & Nehemiah

Ian, Maggy, & Hava at the giraffes

The Bug Carousel

Even the ride home was full of excitement.  I’m glad we got on toward the end of the line so it wasn’t so crowded!  By the time we neared midtown, it was standing room only, if that (especially with our strollers!).  Nolan & Ian each conked out in a stroller.  The twins did well, though they were getting hungry.  Havilah & Elaine drank too much soda and Maggy had to get off at 34th St. to find a bathroom.  The rest of us kept riding and we met up at the transfer point in Atlantic Terminal.  We took the wrong elevator down, so we had to go back up and take the correct one.  It takes two elevator shifts to get all of the strollers down, so this took a bit of time.  But it was fun, and the kids enjoyed finally being off the train and running all the way down our street to make it home!

I’m grateful for a good friend who goes on these adventures with me, and that my kids have good friends to play with!  Elaine is always so excited to do anything with Havilah or her friend Elli!

My Four Monkeys at the Zoo!