Saturday morning, we all hit Zoo Atlanta. I got a discount combo price for both Zoo Atlanta & The Atlanta Aquarium on the zoo website. Oh and we got the best price for the tots – FREE. I might cry when Will turns three….just because all the free admissions will be gone. I’m so sentimental.
The sunglass crew….
I was hoping that Jer would come down in his Coke shirt (so that the boys could match and continue that t-shirt bromance)…but no dice. It’s just so much funnier when it happens organically. I guess now we can all just joke about aviators. Will is totally included 🙂
I think Will could have stood by the flamingos all day. He called them pink ducks….
…and he showed us his one legged standing abilities.
The elephant just gave us the cold shoulder…err….rear end.
And these guys were all “Pumbas” in Will’s book. I think we may be watching too much Lion King 1 1/2 too much.
This is how I feel most days…
Sher & I as merecats…or prarie dogs….or something. I have no idea. When someone gives me a hole, I stick my head in it. You can quote me on that.
These guys are my favorite….I wanna make a paper mache version. I have all the materials…just gotta do it.
Every time I see a giraffe I think of an amazing picture of a kid’s room I saw on Pinterest. It’s weird how Pinterest wormed its way into my mind constantly. Sometimes if Will says something funny, I say PINNED! or if Jeremy is looking extra bootilicious, PINNED! or if I get a lower number on the scale than I was expecting – DOUBLE PINNED!!!!
All the zebras and ostriches (ostrichii?) are in with the giraffes…so the view wasn’t great. We had just missed their breakfast time so we didn’t get to feed them…maybe next time.
Don’t drop him Jer! Nobody would want a holier-than-thou kid 🙂
Clara kills me how she puts her hands through the face too…and Will actually has a little lion cub face to me. He’s my Simba…aka Jonathan Taylor Thomas to anyone that was as weird as me.
Horny guys. No idea what species.
Willie B. – the gorilla memorialized – was a hit. Will and Clara kinda adopted him…it’s like a 400 lb Burger 🙂
Will spotted these birds in the exhibit but the branches hid them from us taller-than-a-toddler folk. So at first, I thought, well, it’s okay if he’s not as smart as other kids. Then I realized I should just say that about myself.
Making a nest together….already they understand they are gonna get married….
There are no words. Except maybe one. BREASTFEEDING!
We all loved seeing this mama with her baby. She was so protective and that little one loved being so close.
The boys pushing strollers….Sher & I are lucky girls 🙂
Will just called this guy a big lizard. He probably thinks that the salamanders at our house will get this large. That would be scary.
The Panda exhibit was CROWDED. Probably the most people at the zoo….which didn’t stop Will from monkeying around.
I swear this Panda is smiling at me…
Will didn’t understand what was wrong with the Panda. Frankly….none of us did. Hopefully this big guy was okay.
So this is gross and random…but I just had to note that this was the first day of swollen ankles. It could have been leftover from Haven…or it could be just the first of many water-retaining days…either way, I indented my left ankle and got a nice little dimple. Ignore the ugly toenails please….I’d rather paint furniture than digits.
Ahhh!!! The animals are breaking through the fence!
Then came the best parts of the park….accidentally of course that they were last on our trip…The Petting Zoo, The Train & The Carousel.
The other kids were nicely grooming. Will was an anti-groomer.
Clara was also a rebellious one…she was attempting to feed the goats. She also attempted to do that to Will once. The crying lasted a while from the bite.
Eventually we all got a hang of it. I love the fact that the zoo provided these little brushes. Otherwise, I do believe there would have been a whole lot more tail-pulling and body-part-touching.
We all loved the goat. The teeth cracked us up. I must have taken eighteen photos of goat teeth.
I could frame this bad boy…
I think Clara looks like a nail salon technician. She’s taking that job very seriously.
Tip please?!
Talk about self-control. Check out that goat’s eyes….it’s like he’s look right at me saying “You have gotta be kidding me.” Pun intended.
The train rides right by the petting area. It was over after that.
We got our tickets and boarded. Jer & John took like a billion photos. The people behind us probably thought we were nuts for taking so many pictures. Memories, people…..don’t lose the memories!
Overall – it was a really fun day. I had forgotten how much I love the zoo. And that was Will’s first official Zoo Atlanta visit…so the map is going in the baby book to never forget the day of monkeying around with the Petersiks 🙂
How fun! I love the fact that you guys met through your blogs. I found Mr. right but haven’t found my other “blog” half. Too crazy? Oh well. HAHA 🙂
Aww…luv Aviators …we are an aviator family too….my tot,hub and me….all wear them! haha ..
ps- u both need to buy them too;)
Baby aviators. I die. I would double pin those babies.
So cute! I love the picture of Sherry and Clara on the carousel. Clara looks adorable with her big smile. I definitely think she is turning into a Sherry Jr. Thanks for sharing! I love you guys!
You can also check out a Zoo Atlanta DVD at te public library. When you return it, they’ll give you a receipt and it’s good for a family pass for the zoo–FREE! They also have them for the Go Fish center in Perry.
Those are certainly two darlings!
I cracked up at the “Clara the nail technician” and Will looks like his saying to the goat, “Live long and Prosper”. Haha. They are so cute.
JAG
Oooh – good to know!
xo – kb
We all three have them…but somebody had to take the photo, right?! 🙂
xo – kb
I laughed so hard at the goat photo that I woke up my breastfeeding baby. Totally frame-able. Now I want a farm themed nursery for the next baby. 🙂
What an amazing time you must have had. Pinned a couple of the animal images, but my favorites are definitely the ones with the kiddos getting to know their new animal friends!
http://www.pinterest.com/brushdance
Looks so fun! No kiddos yet but I may have to check out the zoo when I am in ATL at Christmas.
I LOVED all your captions! The goat teeth were hysterical! On a side note, has anyone ever told you that you look like (or she looks like you) Peyton on Dance Moms…I know, I just let you and your bajillion readers know how lame I am! But she is so cute and every time I see her I think she looks like you.
Take care, summer is HOT to be pregnant!!
Technically Will be still be free until he turns 4!! I take 3 and under to mean includes the year he is actually 3! My son is about to turn 4 and we do parks all the time, i’ve never been questioned yet.
Is there anything cuter than kids who know that they are the center of their parent’s world. I think no!
Okay, I always think you are funny, but this post had me cracking up. And I really needed that today, so thank you!
Great pics! We were at the Atlanta Zoo last year and it’s a great zoo – just the right size for kiddos. The panda exhibit is really awesome. I love how close you can get to them. Your bump is looking awesome too 🙂
So…I have to admit that I got super excited when I realized that we have one of the same pregnancy tops!
Haha! All the pictures of Will and Clara are too adorable! I love them! 🙂
JTT!!! I haven’t heard that name in forever! On another note. For Christmas I’ve been asking my parents the last few years to buy our family a membership some where. Last year we had a zoo family pass and this year to an awesome local science museum. so handy to always have a fun place to take the kids that’s already paid for! We’d go to the zoo weekly at times!
For some reason everytime I read “Zoo Atlanta” I smush it together and say “Zoo-lanta” in my head. Is that wrong?
Zoolanta sounds like a fun place though. 🙂
Haha…haven’t gotten that one yet! I get Britney a lot and when I was thinner, I heard everything from J LO to Kristen Davis. I have one of those faces I guess that’s pretty generic so I look a little like a lot of people 🙂
xo – kb
Fact: Goats freak me out. I can’t figure out if it’s because they stole my crackers when I was 4 or because of their rectangular pupils.
My two favorite pictures are Will in the stroller and him sitting on the giraffe. You can just see his attitude of, “Mooooommmm! not in front of Clara….” Let the mama-embarrassing job begin!
Valid point!;)
So when is the baby due….and like the way u keep it real with the swollen ankle. I had a swollen ankle too.. very hard to find comfy footwear as they can swell more in summer!
Ta!
Love your blog! And I’m totally posting for the first time… just to say that I do have a framed picture of a close up of a goat. He has a bunch of bamboo in front of his face (I think it was a natural fence or something?) and his head is just turned slightly and you just see one eye and it’s like he’s giving me the stink eye…. and I printed it as a 5×7 and framed that bad boy. I want to take a picture of my picture now and send it to you… but uuuhh.. I’ll shush about my goat picture now… you should totally print and frame a picture of a goat!!
I absolutely love the picture of $herdog and Clara on the carousel! That’s a frame-worthy picture fer sure. Glad you guys had fun!
Katie, have you taken Will to the Yellow River Game Ranch yet? I grew up in Snellville (where everybody is somebody) and we would frequent YRGR several times a summer. Not sure if it’s still open, but I can’t imagine it not being there. It’s on 78 on your way to Stone Mountain just before Lake Lucerne. If Will loves animals, that would be a fabulous place to go!
So cute!! We are expecting our first little munchkin this winter and I am so excited to do fun things like this!
I just have to ask…where did you get your shorts? I am in desperate need of clothes that don’t squish the belly!
Babiators!
Love the pov of Sherry and mini-Sher on the carousel. Soooo cute.
The place we are staying in Holland right now has a petting zoo. I tried to get a goat shot yesterday… He jumped up on the fence and “smiled” at me, but as soon as he spotted the cameras, he jumped down and walked away, looking all disgusted. They are either tired of thepaparazzi, or he was scoffing at my little point-and-shoot.
We went to a pumpkin patch/ petting zoo last fall. There was a llama there that had a SEVERE under bite, even worse than this goat’s. I fell in LOVE. Like wanted to take her home and let her sleep with my dog 🙂 Her name was Ruth, and the handler (?) said she didn’t usually come to people (probably cuz she knew they were making fun of her) but she came right to me!! Glad ya’ll had a great time!!!
Could there BE more autocorrect errors in a single comment?
My guess with the panda…is frankly it was probably drunk! When they eat the bamboo, it makes them “drunk” off of it. Learned that bit of info from my sister when she was in Africa and saw the gorillas doing the same thing.
What a fun day! And that last picture of Sherry and Clara is SO GOOD.
duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuddddddeeeeee, you have GOT to get that goat picture framed!
I totally hear you on the swollen ankles. I had an appointment yesterday and an NP was following my midwife around. Not only did I have an infection that the midwife told the NP all about, the NP touched my ankles and went, “oh goodness honey!”. Thank goodness I love my midwife so much, she turned it into a very positive situation, but it’s pretty bad when other people notice how swollen pregnancy can make you. And ps… I’m already counting down to Will and Clara’s wedding!
My God…. that goat! haha I want to frame that goat too! That’s too funny!
haha…happens to me all the time 🙂
xo – kb
They are from Banana Republic outlet – the Ryan fit seems to fit lower on the hips so I just buy a few sizes up and they last me the first two trimesters and post pregnancy 🙂
xo – kb
Yup – we’ve been there twice with Will – both times a raging success 🙂 I think next time the Petersiks are here, we will try to hit it up!
xo – kb
Due Nov 5th but everytime I go in, they always threaten to move it up. I guess I just grow em big 🙂
xo – kb
I am so going to the Atlanta Zoo after reading your post. And yes, I’m 23 with no kids. Bahahaha. It looks like a blast!
P.S.That panda is totally smiling at you 🙂
those flamingos are fab, but the giraffe stole my heart. i love giraffes!
I live about 3 blocks from the Atlanta Zoo and wanted to tell you about a great place that is pretty close to it for your next trip. About 2 blocks south, there’s a B&B called the Social Goat (my husband and I got married there last October). They have nigerian pygmy goats, which are about the size of a small dog. They also have chickens and turkeys running around too. And one of the goats just had 2 little kids and they are soooo soooo cute. Check out their FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Social-Goat-Bed-and-Breakfast/187897806382
It’s the pupils. Creepy fellas.
I either need permission to yank that goat photo or for you to sell it to me. I want it in my house! His teeth are flippin’ hysterical. I’m due about a week ahead of you, and I haven’t gotten the swellies yet – I’m attributing it to the milder-than-GA weather we’re having in MN so far…I can’t believe that it actually indented and stayed!! That freaks me out if that’s what is coming down the line. 🙂
Oh my word! The picture of the guys and kids in their sunglasses!!! Cracks me up. Clara looks like a bada$$. So cute!
So Cute! Definately love how you “PIN!” things.
I know you’re a photographer, but your photographs are gorgeous!! You even make a goats face look beautiful, lol. I was about to ask you about the type of camera and lense you use, but then noticed your photography section and more specifically the equipment you currently have. I’ve been wanting to take more quality, clear photos and I think for now a 50mm with a 1.4 or 1.8f is the way to go. Thanks for sharing what you use!! -Jenna
#1 – have Jeremy paint your toes for you, could end up being a fun night!
#2 – why do all pregnant women, (myself included) have this urge to go to the zoo? please explain!?
I was OBSESSED with Jonathan Taylor Thomas when I was in middle school. I had pictures of him on my wall. When my BFF and I found out he was the voice of Simba we were so excited! I haven’t thought about him in awhile 🙂
I was pregnant with my little boy, Will, in the summer of 2010 (he was born Nov 19th) and I still remember the day my legs swelled and the swelling never went down. It looked so awful! It was July 5th, in case you were wondering…so it seems you are right on track!
I was just there a few weeks ago, and the baby gorillas have already grown! So cute! Love the goat teeth!
PS: The horny, stripey beast is a Bongo. 🙂
I have those ancient Abercrombie flip-flops!
I have so many fun memories from the Atlanta Zoo- my mom grew up not far from Grant Park. My Granny and I used to go all of the time and Willie B was always a favorite! 🙂
I love them! I can’t fathom getting rid of them because they are so comfy! Why don’t them make em like they used to?!
xo – kb
I love all these Bower + Petersik photos! I know you’ve said it and heard it a million times, but Clara and Will seriously need to get married (when they’re older, obviously!). Your adventures look like so much fun…even for a college student like me. And can I just say that I love your hair in these photos? It’s so pretty!
im lazy so I didnt really scroll through to see if anyone else posted this but random fact: Goats pupils are rectangles. Yup! I am sure if you look through some of your teeth pictures you cancatch a view of their rectangle pupils. Thus I will never trust a goat due to their crazy eyes.
Love the goat! Frame the goat. I want a goat.
The picture of Sherry and Clara is a keeper, too. Adorbs!
Former fan of the JTT club right here!!! I even got a signed letter from the hunk.
Am I still weird if I admit that….?
Oh…by the way…your cankles look great, almost as good as mine, due in three weeks, so they are really fillin up!
Dem hogs are chillin’
I don’t understand how those poor petting zoo goats can take it! They must be drunk or something – how else could they endure being pestered by toddlers all day long? Happy to see that the kids enjoyed their time with the goats and it looked like they were very gentle groomers. That angry goat picture is awesome!
hey Katie!
I don’t think I have ever commented but wanted to introduce myself. I am an Atlanta blogger too! Saw you and Sherry in the photography class at Haven too – loved that conference last week.
I found your blog through YHL and am following now.
Loved your zoo pictures. We actually got an annual pass this year and have been enjoying going and taking my nieces and nephew and different friends with us the last few months. And yes the petting zoo is their FAVORITE part too! That and the awesome playgrounds! 🙂
So glad you got to show the Petersiks around our town!
Oh my gosh, are those kids cute or what? The “grooming the goats” pictures are so funny and adorable.
Aww – I wish we could have met! I’m so glad to virtually meet ya 🙂
xo – kb