Rocky Shores at Hogle Zoo

For the past year our local zoo has had one huge section closed for construction.  The boys have enjoyed watching the big diggers and trucks working and we've anxiously awaiting the opening.  Sadly it opened right about when Isla was born and I haven't been brave enough to venture out with 4 kids in the hot sun yet.  But since the cousins were going along, we decided to join the big group.  So much fun!!!

Here's our big group of littles: Isla (you can see a bit of her arm), Ethan, Sam, Jake, Miles, Cole, Amelia, Isaac, Owen, and little Charlie asleep in his stroller.

The otters had just been fed when we arrived and they were very playful running around the yard, sliding into the water, swimming around and then starting their circuit all over again.

It was very cute to watch all the boys next to the glass.  When the otters were above ground they'd stand up on tippy toes and watch and as soon as they dove under the water all the kids would squat down in unison to see them better.

This new part of the zoo is amazing with lots of pathways and statues.  So of course we had to climb on each one and needed pictures there too.

The seals were fun to watch swimming back and forth.

But the polar bear, Rizzo, takes the cake.  She apparently does her exercise routine every morning for an hour or so and we were lucky enough to get to watch her do it.  She climbs up on this rock on the far left, looks in the window, dives backwards, swims back and climbs onto the rocks...

And then dives back under here in front of Miles(orange shirt) and Isaac(white shirt).  And then starts it all over again.  She's very entertaining to watch and the building has so many places to see from that even though the zoo was very crowded, we felt like we could stay and watch as long as we wanted to weren't blocking anyone.

The kids favorite spot is the window where Rizzo starts her back dive.  She stands up straight (which is really high since she's a big polar bear) right in front of the glass (and all the cheering kids) and then dives backwards.  And she's back to do it again in less than a minute so the kids were never bored.  Ethan's the one with his hand on the glass trying to see if he can reach as high as she will.

After the otters, seals, and polar bear, we hit the giraffes and tigers and then truthfully skipped the rest of the zoo.  It was just to hot and thankfully that's why we get a zoo membership.  We can stay as little as we want and come back whenever.  So much fun!  Great job on the new exhibits.  We LOVE them!