The zoo and a Baby

Here's another fun thing we did in Utah. We went to the zooooooooo! Kev and Care Bear and mi madre were our companions. There were lots of other pictures taken, but alas. Those are on KEVIN'S CAMERA. I have faith though. He will send them to me. I mean, he's really busy, or else he would have sent them already. Right, Kev? Did you guys know that Kevin has a nick name? It's Hastings. I call him this because of a dream that my super awesome Auntie Didee had. She emailed me about it a while ago and I laughed so hard I was crying. Here, I'll share it with you:

Hi Em:
I just woke up from the craziest dream and have to tell you about it before it's gone.
I was working for 1 day in this hospital day care and there was this huge fat baby with a square body and square head in a square box-type bed. His mother was huge and they wheeled her in and out to visit him. It was lunch time, and I was in your town, so you were picking me up for lunch--I didn't have much time, and I wasn't ever going back to this town. So, I tried to call you while I was looking for a place to wait for you. I was driving something, and I stopped at this random corner where two black guys were playing some kind of music. I thought that would be safe. Next thing I knew, someone put their hands over my eyes, and I said "Emily??", and it was you. We walked back to your car, and it was like one of those little motor cars the kids have--a convertible with four little kids in it and lots of blankets and stuff. This darling tall blond boy was standing by you, and you said "Hastings has something to show you", and I knew it should be Hunter, but I said, "OK." Then he picked me way up off the ground and kinda bounced me around. I said "Wow Hastings, that's great cause I'm really heavy! "(kinda joking), and he said "Ya, I know!!!" Then one of the little boys in the car (who kinda looked like Kevin said "Did you finish my binkey?", and I said "No, that's not me--I don't make binkeys"--and then I woke up. 

Now, I am well aware that in her dream, Hunter is Hastings, but it's much more fun to call Kevin Hastings than it is Hunter.

Back on topic:
 We had a blast at the zoo. I think it was a little hot that day. I don't really remember. But we had fun. That's what carries us through to the next time and then when we decide to go again, it won't be the memory of the heat that will keep us away, but the memory of the good times we had that draws us back. Yes? Yes.

That's Corrine. And a guy holding a bird. A peregrine falcon, I believe. (If I am incorrect, you can bet this post will be edited to correct the incorrectness of it. Didn't you know that I am married to Miguel, aka The Bird Man, aka He Who Knows All Things Animals? Well. I am.)

(To be read in monotone. Because that's exactly how Hunter said it to me after I told him to pose like that.)
Oh no. Hunter. It is not safe to put your head inside a lion's mouth. What will we ever do if it bites you?

Me and Hastings. We are not brother and sister. Nope. Not at all.

Do you see that? Up there in the picture? It says that these monkeys have no thumbs. No thumbs! I bet they get so frustrated when they're trying to hitch hike. Every time they go to hitch for a ride, the drivers look the other way. "Dang it! I'm not pointing! I need a ride! Can't you see I have no thumbs? NO THUMBS PEOPLE!"

There she is! My mama. Isn't she lovely? I love her.

OK. This baby elephant was too cute. At one point, she was splashing in the water and she got some in her eye. She used her trunk to rub the water out of it like a human child would use their chubby little fist. So sweet! I wanted to jump the fence right then and snuggle that little one. I would have, too, were it not for her protective 2 ton mother standing nearby.

That's OK. I'll take this little darling over an elephant baby any day. Could baby Tay be any sweeter? I think not. I could not get enough of her on this trip. Every chance I got (when she would let me) I snuggled this little one. She is so stinkin' cute, I can't even stand it.

She got loved on all the time. I think she may have gotten a little too loved at times, but oh well. She'll adjust.

There's just no way around it. We love this baby girl!

It's a given. When you're the one with the baby, you move to the top of the popularity list. That card even trumps the "we're visiting from out of state and never get to see you" card. And because she is who she is? We don't mind one bit sharing our rock star status!

And her momma? Korin? Well, she's pretty cute, too.

My arms are aching right now for that little one! Tay, the baby. Not Korin the momma. OK, well, maybe my arms ache a little for Korin. But in a sister-I-love-you way.