Monkeying Around

I was lucky enough to accompany Mason on his first field trip -- ferrying 20 preschoolers to the Bronx Zoo.

The morning started off with a first ride on the school bus. We literally stopped traffic on Madison Avenue trying to get all 20 kids onto the bus. First, it was just the parents blocking off the lane, but then some passing police officers offered an assist.

After our very bumpy (Mason and I were in the WAAAAAAAY back ... I seem to remember that's where all the cool kids sat in my bus-riding days) ride, we arrived. We didn't see the usual array of animals that Mason is used to seeing when he goes with Mommy and Dad-O, but we had a great time. I have a new appreciation for lisa, his teacher, and her assistants. It's no small feat to keep track of that many kiddos!





The highlight of the day -- for me, at least -- came after lunch, when the kids decided to show-off their "Grizzly Bear" song. We had just seen the grizzly bear sleeping in his cave, so the song was perfect.

Animal adventures

We had a weekend filled with friends furry, feathered and frisky. Mommy and Mason spent Saturday at one of our favorite spots, the Bronx Zoo, and then we followed that up with a Sunday at a National Geographic Family Day at Chelsea Piers.

At the zoo, we got our first peek at Moxie, the lion cub. He's the smallish one lying in the back.



And played at the new park put up near the giraffe exhibit by Tiki Barber -- who was in attendance, though Mason couldn't have cared less (like the good Cowboys fan his Dad-O is raising him to be).



We also got a look at some of Macey's other favorites, including the zebras. This trip, the kiddo was WAY into hearing all the info that the signs at each exhibit provided. It was really cute.



After an ice cream break, we headed to the children's zoo to feed the sheep, goats and all their friends and to climb the spider web. Mason climbed way above Mommy's head, but got blocked in, so I had to give him a hand getting down!

Sunday, we hit Chelsea Piers for the Nat Geo day. First, Mason was obsessed with playing in the airplane, but he perked up and got a bit more adventurous after lunch, working with Dad-O to unearth some dinosaur bones in a plaster cast.



Then, he got REALLY up close and personal with some exotic animal friends. He got to touch a boa constrictor, another snake, and a chinchilla.





We also saw a tree frog, iguana and alligator, but didn't get to touch those.






I thought it was cool when the handler demonstrated the tree frog's sticking ability by placing him on a nearby window.



All in all, we had a great time and left with a bag full of freebies, including some cool, new blocks.