The Zoo

Yesterday Hannah and I went with my friend Merritt and her family to the zoo.

Merritt and her husband made a last-minute decision to come up to visit this week, so they showed up with their four kids in tow on Friday evening. We had some pizza, Hannah watched the older kids play in the sandbox and find new ways to do things (e.g., move the sand to the water part to build a "road" and drive cars on it), the kids ran around with Abby, and then we took them out for ice cream before they headed off to their hotel to swim. We'd told Merritt that six extra people in the house was no big deal, since we'd hosted 18 when Jon's college friends last came to town, but she thought it would be a bit much for us, so they stayed at a hotel around the corner with a pool. Then, Saturday morning Hannah and I joined them at the zoo for the first two hours. They stayed all day, but we needed to head home for naptime! Thanks for coming to visit, Merritt!!

Danielle, Anna, Emma & David
Fluffy the snake

Really up-close lion!

Beco, the Columbus Zoo's baby elephant was outside and we got to see him for the first time. He's 4 months old and weighs 600 pounds!! I was actually excited that someone from out of town was here to see him. I've been to the zoo a few times, but there is usually a long wait (up to 90 minutes when he was first born), and people who live around here don't seem to be as keen on waiting just to see the elephant.