Critter Keeper Day at the Zoo

Second installment of Critter Keeper today. First stop was the White Nosed Coati. Apparently, Coati's take another Coati's scent and put it on their tail to "make friends". So, each child had a different perfume sample from the dollar store (I am told) and placed some of it on a brown paper bag. They were allowed to go in the Coati's habitat, "hide" the perfumed bags, then let the Coati back in to find the bags. He (Jake the Coati) found all the bags and rubbed the scent on his tail!! Here they are in the Coati's habitat hiding the brown paper bags.

The highlight of the class was the Pronghorn Sheep. First the Critter Keepers did pooper- scooper duty for the Pronghorns, then.. they put food/treats in big spool like plastic containers. The spools were stacked up, and the pronghorns knocked them over to get the food inside. "Behavioral enhancement":)

This pronghorn was politely waiting for Jasmine to get out of the way so she could knock over the spools and get her treats! Next stop was Nacho the bobcat. Apparently, Nacho had just had her "well-bobcat exam" several days ago:)), and was still a bit traumatized from it. She would not come out to get dead mice and chicks placed around her habitat:) The kids were then more interested in the dead chicks and mice:))) asking tons of questions. Where do you get the chicks and rats? Do you have to kill them yourself? Are they frozen? Why do you have to cut their legs off? Reply: "They come from a "company" who delivers them frozen, then we cut the legs and beaks off so the bobcat doesn't choke on them"??? Huh- I didn't want to say anything, but I really don't think a bobcat will choke on a chicken foot or beak!! Then,..they all got a tour of the animal hospital at the zoo, and I was not allowed to go:( Totally bummed about that! I didn't know that every exhibit has a little hidden exam room in the back to do basic exams on that particular bird/reptile/mammal, etc. Then there is a separate hospital that I didn't even know about where they perform surgeries, etc. which is the one that the kids were allowed to "tour". Jasmine said that there is a 4 yr old tiger in the hospital right now because he is "sick", as well as a "hurt" lemur and parrot who live there. Fun time!

Goofed around afterwards,- climbing into the treehouse, milking a Shamrock cow.

Christmas Party!

Today, Jasmine's skating friend Katie Kuedden had a Christmas party at her house. They had a big bouncy house, ate chicken and popsicles, did hula hoops, then planted a green bean in each of their own little pots- which we now have in the front yard "so everyone can see it":) They also played with Katie's dog- a Shih Tzu that I never saw, as well as a hamster that peed and pooped in Jasmine's hand, I am told!!! Yuk- I'll take a guinea pig over a hamster any day! Katie lives just right across the street from our dog sitter of 8 years- Tina Smith:)) They are friends with Tina, too.. small world:)

We have an extremely busy week- Zoo Critter Keeper tomorrow, something every night, a "musical" on Friday night that I just found out about, gymnastics exhibition AND skating exhibition next Saturday. Now that we have a Christmas musical on very short notice, we will miss a skating practice/lesson the night before the performance... not good:(

Out of Africa...

Today we had breakfast with Santa in the morning. Genna actually allowed Santa to put his arm around her! Then drove part way home to Campe Verde where "Out of Africa" is located. Lots of lions, white tigers, Safaris to go on, "petting zoo" to pet a Boa Constrictor:), exotic birds. It was an ok place to go. Bearizona is actually nicer, in my opinion. Had a fun weekend!

A sticker picture made by Genna for Jazzy:)

Santa's workshop and dinner afterwards....

At Mrs. Claus's bakery having hot chocolate and cookies.

Elf University

Santa

Buffet dinner at Little America Hotel.

Weekend trip to Flagstaff....

Took Jessie to Tina's house this morning, then went over to Genna's house to pick her up on our way to Flagstaff/North Pole Experience. Genna Cook is Jazzy's friend from kindergarten:) and Dobson Academy. When I made reservations in September, I told Jazz that she could pick one person to go with us... and of course, she picked Genna. Drove to Flagstaff where it is 65-70 degrees. The original plan was to go a bit early and play in the snow! Oh well, fine with me. I don't like snow anyway. We went to Lowell Observatory where they supposedly had kids things to do. Walked around for awhile with 3 -D glasses looking at "craters", then took a planetary hike where there are signs placed appropriately to represent the spacing between the planets. Then, off to- believe it or not- Burger King!!! Uuggghh... Then... after waiting in line forever, checked into our hotel, Little America, which is the "portal" to the North Pole. We rode the shuttle bus, entered Santa's old workshop, saw his decked out sleigh, had cookies and hot chocolate at Mrs. Claus's bakery, helped the elves make toys, wrote a letter to Santa, then saw Santa himself. We couldn't get Genna to get close to Santa:) She whispered to Jazzy what she wanted for Christmas, and Jasmine had to go tell Santa:) Went to a very nice buffet dinner that was supposed to be with Santa (?)... Now we're back at the hotel playing Chutes and Ladders, video games of course, and watching Sponge Bob Square Pants Christmas!!:) Looking at "craters" thru 3-D glasses.

Burger King:(

Alabaster Star, Santa's right hand elf:)

Making toys with the elves.....

Thanksgiving Day!

Just goofing around today. Didn't even brush our hair:) Packing up for the big weekend in Flagstaff!

Official Adoption Day....

Picked Jazzy up at Hope's house where I found them both riding bikes around the cul de sac. They both cried when Jazzy had to leave... especially Hope:( Then to an extra long skating lesson in the morning, preparing for the Christmas Exhibition. Jazzy is skating to "Where is Christmas"?. Then to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant Pho Van for some pho. Then off to my class (finally) where I just found out that it got moved to Tuesday nights:((, so, don't have to worry about it any more because there is no way we can go on Tuesday nights. Here is Jazzy at Pho Van. I gave her a little hanging doll that I purchased in Vietnam- which I thought was a necklace, but it is on a very short cord. Just a little reminder for adoption day anyway.