The North Carolina Zoo

Yesterday, Ray needed to head to NC for a task re: his step-mother's estate, and we decided that we'd head over to the North Carolina Zoo in Ashboro just for the fun of it.  We even used our Mill Mountain Zoo membership card and got in for 50% off for a total of $16.  Whoo hooo!!

We had a super-great time and loved seeing all the incredible animals, stopping for crazy-expensive $3 sodas and $4 ice cream before heading home.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful adventure.  If I hadn't gotten my second migraine of the week on the way home, I'd say it would have been nearly perfect!

I love this picture!!

A REAL elephant . . . 

Of course, we HAD to stop and play on the rocks . . .  they're BOYS!

Notice the kiddos are holding hands as we were making an effort to stay together in the big zoo.  The boys did a great job later of NOT talking to a stranger who appeared and wanted to lift them up to see a snake.  I was proud of them!

I got a serious picture of Mateo, and then stuck my tongue out to get this laughing face:

Ray took this picture of the beautiful scarlet ibis!

And what trip is not complete without a photo of my favorite guys in all the world.  Isn't my hubby handsome????

Oh!  And we saw wildlife that was NOT part of the zoo.  This little black snake caused a traffic jam on the sidewalk as we waited for him to cross the road.  

Sounds like a chicken joke, doesn't it?

The wait for any food, much less dippin' dots, was about a 30 minute wait.  We stuck it out because we were so hot, and were rewarded with ice cream that we believe may have been kept cold by dry ice as it burned our mouths with coldness!!

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream of the Future, baby!

Here we are, getting on the last shuttle of the day.  We waited a loooong time to get to ride this shuttle, but it was all worth it when we got to see the rhinos we'd somehow missed on our walk around the zoo!  :)  And the breeze felt lovely.  What a great day!