Easy living part IV

 

 

 

 

Recipe for a successful day at the zoo:

1. Hit Panera for cinnamon-crunch bagels and fruit on the way after you realize papa ate the last of the breakfast cereal and there's not enough juice for everyone to flavor their morning water cups.

2. Skip the shower so as to snag prime parking shortly after the zoo opens. Soap and water will really make their money scrubbing off sunscreen and sheep funk from the petting paddock.

3. Ignore the zoo's "no visible food allowed" policy and cram juice boxes and granola bars into the mama bag to ward off temptation from $8 burgers and large quantities of cola served in bucket-sized cups with adorable animal heads holding onto the straws.

4. Visit one tiny corner of the mammoth animal acreage and don't be tempted to traverse the landscape just to see the polar bears. You'll regret it when the 4-year-old loses steam and requires the stroller while you groan under the weight of a limp and cranky 2-year-old while trudging uphill to the exit.

5. Leave before high noon, when the sun is high and the pavement is roasting, being careful not to sneer at the line of cars just arriving as they wait to fight over your prime parking spot.

6. Sip, lunch and lounge heavily upon returning to the sanctuary of home and remember to thank Grandpa V for the zoo passes, which allow for free, quick-hit zoo visits whenever the mood strikes without the pressure of pressing on to see everything just to get the most bang for the buck.