It's a Zoo Up Here

The day began with a great workout with my brother-in-law, Jeff. He is a personal trainer and owns his own gym, so whenever we get a change, we love the opportunity to have a session with him. He has great ideas and is an amazing motivator. A couple of times he commented that I had "great form". Too bad I don't have "great strength" to go with that "great form." Thanks for my session Jeff - it was enjoyable (well, as enjoyable as working out can be).

From the gym, Ashley and I drove back home in time to head out to the Nashville Zoo. We were glad that it was looking a bit overcast and were hoping for a little less crowds. Again, it was a surprise to the kids until we pulled by the sign for the zoo. Then the excitement came! We checked out two visiting tiger cubs (Xander kept saying, "tiger cubs, tiger cubs" until we actually got to the exhibit), a performing elephant (he threw a football with his handler and let his handler climb up on his trunk), a great building of reptiles and nocturnal animals (including very cool bright blue frogs) and so many other animals. It was a lot of walking and the kids were troopers - as much as they could be.

Kalyn waves at the meerkats

The kids smile in front of three giraffe

Watching the elephants

The family

The zoo also had a great playground area called the Jungle Gym. There was a great jump zone for the little kids and a huge climbing session. Kalyn and I went down a long spiral slide together, Xander had fun on the swings, and Trinity, Kalyn and I ran through tons of steps, over bridges and throughout the playground. As we left, we had fun standing under the streaming fountains.

The girls climb through the playground

Fun in the jump area

What a great smile on Xander's face Trinity posed this adorable picture herself - they were a tad worn out
Check out the stream of water over everyone's head

We got home and Xander got to live out his greatest dream (of 2) - "riding" Papa's motorcycle. Xander loves motorcycles. He'll point them out on the road, perk up at the sound of one while we're driving and loves to play with them. When we arrived earlier in the week, my dad told Xander that he would take Xander on a ride on his motorcycle. The adults knew that "ride" translated into sit on, not actually move on it. Well, after days of anticipation, the time was here - Xander was going to ride Papa's motorcycle. He was so excited.


As he sat on the back of Papa's motorcycle, he kept saying, "Go Papa. Go Papa". Xander couldn't understand why they were only sitting in the garage, weren't going anywhere. It was slightly sad to see his disappointment that they didn't go anywhere. However, by the time he got inside, it was the best thing ever.

One more good day in Nashville.