California trip: at the San Diego Zoo

No San Diego trip would be complete without a visit to the zoo, and we fulfilled the obligation. Gladly.  

Liam was smitten with the meerkats. They are a social group, scampering in and out of their tunnels, going nose to nose with curious boys on the other side of the glass...

Forest and Estella: getting cozy like the meerkats.That sounds like some weird inuendo. They're just hugging, Mom.

We had a big group at the zoo that day, making it all the more fun. We were so happy to have Molly and Rachael along. Actually, getting to see Rachael everyday while we were in San Diego was one of the highlights of my trip.

And getting to see Rachael everyday meant getting to squeeze this bundle of joy daily. Hello, Bailey.

The zoo is full of amazing habitats with breathtaking landscaping and all kinds of animals, but that's not what my camera fixated on. No, apparently, the zoo is the perfect place for weird family photos.

The siblings with the enormous lifesized (scary!) polar bear. Wish you could have joined this one, Linda.

Scootering under a mammoth.

Peeking like a seal pup.

And kissing one too.

Best of all, becoming fierce as a saber-toothed tiger. Yes, the zoo is a wonderful place for self-expression.

And after all of that: touring the zoo and seeing the exhibits, taking funny pictures, and Liam tripping and scraping his ankle, what captured River's attention above all else? Mardi gras beads.

Fun times.