Four Little Monkeys Going to the Zoo...

I was hoping they had some kind of monkey drop-off program today. You know, donate a monkey - that kind of thing. That didn't work out.

But, we did walk out of there with something equally impossible - a picture of me and my little monkies out for a leisurely morning at the zoo. This is one of the things I didn't think I'd be able to do alone anymore once the twins came along, but we did it! Yes, I am crazy, as many strangers told me today when they would pass by and count my kids. But, we survived without any major meltdowns. As for the photographic evidence of it -- a zoo employee was there taking pictures as people walked in, and I was a total sucker, since I don't have very many photos of me out with the girls.

This is us as we were walking in. I have Tessa in the Ergo, Annie's in her car seat, Megan's riding in front, and Bridget gamely agreed to stand on the side of the stroller and hang on as we made the trek in to the zoo from the car. Usually, Megan and Bridget will each take a side of the stroller. I know, totally safe, right?


On the way back to the car, we had a slightly different picture: Me carrying Annie in the Baby Bjorn on my chest, and Bridget on my back in the Ergo, with Megan and Tessa asleep in the stroller. The weight of Annie and Bridget nearly toppled me over a few times when I had to bend down to get something for Megan. (It reminded me of my HUGE backpack when I was backpacking through Europe. I fell over a few times with that thing, too.) Short of a quadruple stroller, which does exist, this is the best it gets in terms of happy kids (read: they don't have to worry about their transport - mom does it for them).

Of course, in between going and coming, I did manage to get a few good shots of the girls. They had a lot of fun at the playground inside the zoo, especially since there are a ton of swings! Enough that they didn't have to take turns, always a plus!

While I was taking individual shots of the girls, I realized that I have a picture of Megan on the same swings when she was about 18 months old. For comparison:

And, the rest of the crew:

Tessa


Annie

Speaking of monkeys...Bridget is a crazy one.