Ehmsen's at the Zoo!

We thought it was time to take H4 for his first zoo visit. Heidi and I loaded up 4, Mom and Dad Ehmsen, and all of the "necessities" one needs to take a 1 year old out and about into our Caravan and headed to Niabi in the Quad Cities. (Yes we bought a Caravan... Yes, I've have been known to say in the past that I wouldn't own a van. And yes, it is awesome. Much better then loading the fam into a small Dodge Stratus or the Wrangler... I'll post a pic later.)

It was pretty hot and humid, but we were there early enough that it wasn't too bad. This elephant used to be in the Ringling Bros. Circus. He retired and Niabi bought him (or is on loan). Very friendly and definitely love peanuts. They had another that was with a different circus and he had a branding mark on him. :(

Heidi was having fun sitting H4 on all the animal statues... to the point were he was getting that worried look on his face whenever he saw a new one. :) I'd get out the camera and say "look! a pig statue! Got 'em on that thing!" and away he'd go. Ah, the things we do to our children.

They also had a couple baby giraffes. Very cute, and only 2 or 3 months old at the time. Her momma was very watchful over her; a zoo staff person said that even the other giraffes would help in the raising as well, like elephant families do.

Grandpa, Grandma, Heidi and H4 fed the Koi fish at the pond too. Grandpa had some old Koi food from when he had some that he smuggled into the zoo and fed them. Niabi didn't make any quarters off of him that day!



We didn't really see any monkeys... which is probably just as well as Grandpa has a nack for getting poop thrown at him. Not sure what kind of monkey vendetta there is against him, but it has been known to happen. Ask him about it sometime. :)