Buncha Animals!

Shortly after I returned from Arizona, I was off to hang out with Gavin, Kristi, Phillip and Emma in Virginia Beach, VA. Due to time constraints, it was a very short trip. Got in on a Friday night, left on Sunday morning. Whew, what a whirlwind!

Kristi and I spent Friday night staying up late and catching up while the kids slept the night away. Since Saturday was our only day all together (Phillip had it off too!) we jam-packed it full of activities. First off, the Zoo!

Waiting for his close-up.

 This guy was much bigger than he appears here.

Peacocks were running amuck! 

 Snakey snoozin'.

 Had to get a shot of the monster tarantula for Shawna. He was about the size of my outstretched hand! Bleeeehhhh!!!

 The "Deadly Snake Pen." There was a copperhead, a rattlesnake and a cobra all together.

 A pair of cranes.

 Another peacock, this time in the Buffalo pen. I think he was trying to escape the boy chasing him in attempt to make him fan out his feathers.

 This is my kinda place!

 A bald eagle sitting there... being all patriotic. Like a goob, I only brought my small camera because I didn't want to lug around the big one. Dummy. I couldn't get close enough to get a shot of him.

 Check out the human!!

 It was a little bit of a chore to get all the way up there with the both of us, but totally worth it.

Thanks to Phillip for the boost!

 Magnolia trees!! Love the smell of these blossoms, they remind me of childhood hopes and dreams. I'm not real sure how it all relates in my mind, but I'm sure it stems from when I lived in

Mississippi as a child.

 At first we all thought this rhino was a statue. They have the craziest looking, leathery skin.

 After a quick pause for lunch, we reapplied our sunscreen and were off to catch the rest of the zoo before it closed. 45 minutes later. Better haul!

 Kristi and Emma.

 Can't remember what these were called, again. Eh - oh well.

Never complete without a snapshot of myself at an awkward angle.

 Like a bawwwwsss.

 Some silly-fanny-colored monkeys. Really wish I could have spent a little more time paying attention to the animals. We were in such a hurry.

 Betcha never thought in an ostrich-giraffe match up that the ostrich would win. He was chasing this thing back and forth, fanning out his wings, squauking at the giraffe to scare him away.

Worked too, big meanie.

 Nothing like a sleeping lion. He had a lady friend napping next to him, but I couldn't get the both of them through the thick plastic window with no glare.

 It was obviously dinner time. These foxes were jumping up on the ledge by the door and attempting to intimidate each other off the ledge for a solid 5 minutes while we stood there and watched. It was a crazy little dance of tails and teeth.

Didn't get to see the tapirs because we were being rushed out the exit.  

 I wasn't really sure if God was playing a trick on this bird the day he created him, or if there was a reason for a mango slice to sit atop his head.

Couldn't get us all, but this is close!