Dinosaurs!

Lately, Brenna has been asking alot of questions about Dinosaurs. We've run across the topic in a few books and TV shows. So, over the long 4th of July weekend, we decided to take her to Houston Zoo where there is a special exhibit this summer about Dinosaurs. We made a quick pass through some of Brenna's more favorite animals attractions, which meant we couldn't miss seeing the elephants.

We got to the zoo at when it opened at 9 AM to try and beat the heat, but it still got hot quickly. The Houston Zoo is very shady and where there is no shade, they have misting fans set up. Here's Daddy and Brenna cooling down in front of one of the misting fans.

Everything is bigger in Texas.

You can't go to the zoo without a trip to the Children's Zoo. So we made time for play and petting the goats.

Brenna likes popping in on the prairie dog exhibit.

Brenna cooled off at the splash pad in the Children's Zoo!

Next it was on to the Dinosaur exhibit. Overall it was very good. I think this worked out better for Brenna in that she got to see what Dinosaurs looked like in the "real" sense versus a collection of bones. She never got scared. I heard her ask her Daddy when we stepped up to the first dinosaur "Is he gonna get me?" to which Jacob confirmed that she had nothing to fear. She thought they were big, and continuously made note of their teeth, but she was never scared. She thought the one that actually "spits" on you was great! 

Of course the dinosaur exhibit resulted in the purchase of a souvenir. Our new friend "Rexy" hasn't left her side since we met him.

  

On our way out, we decided to pass through the Natural Encounters building for no other reason but the air conditioner. It worked out well though because Brenna had some fun in there too.

We made our way through the fish tank tunnel. Brenna insisted I go with her on the 1st try, which was not comfortable for me, but she loved it and made 3 more trip on her own after that.

As we left the zoo, we decided to take the train around Herman Park. If you've never seen the Houston Zoo and the surrounding Herman Park area, it really is amazing to see that something so naturally beautiful is located in the middle in the downtown Houston skyline.

Of course, as you exited the train, your herding into the gift shop. To Brenna's delight, we found a Thomas the Train playset waiting for us.

We had a great day. This was Brenna's 3rd trip to the Houston Zoo. And while I know we will be back, it definitely won't be until the fall. The Houston heat is just alittle too much to manage.