Today started at 5:45, so that means we are getting better at central time. We played for a while here, and Ava started a paint project that rapidly became a finger-paint project, and then she and Grandma went for a little walk, while Carter slept. The stroller is such a novelty to Ava by this point in the year, since she cannot really go in it at home right now, that she is more than happy to go roll around. When they came back, we packed up and went to the zoo. I have to say, the Austin Zoo is a pretty cool place. I was impressed last year, and continue to be so. First of all, it is a sanctuary, and thus just brimming with good karma. All of the animals have a story too--most of them were rescued from people who learned the hard way that a tiger is not a very good companion animal. There are some impressive animals, lots of big cats, 3 bears (haha), a ton of monkeys and lemurs and then an array of oddities and a billion birds. For the second year running, the chickens were a source of fascination for Ava. The peacocks were great, and then of course there was the petting zoo. It is not really a petting zoo--rather it is a place to feed deer and goats through a fence. And pigs and sheep and some antelope-y looking cute things. There is a pen to go in and pet some animals, but I am not keen on it, so I never even mentioned it to her. She liked the pigs a lot, and I confirmed for myself that they may taste good, but if you witness a real pig you might not want pork for a while. The goats were ridiculously aggressive, and I was the hero of the day when 2 women and their stroller-bound kids were accosted in the actual petting area by some huge goats. The goats looked as if they just might march right onto the strollers, and the little kids were scared, not to mention in a very vulnerable position, and so I went running up to the fence saying "I have food!" "Yoohoo! Goats! Over here!" They abandoned the kids and came over to me and I distracted them while the moms got their kids out of there. Score one for Erin and quick thinking. I can't do it most of the time, but apparently I do have a mommy-brain. The other neat thing was that one of the tigers was having its cage cleaned by a keeper, and the tiger was outside pacing and roaring in a very dramatic way and Ava thought that was really cool. She kept trying to get me to roar, but when you have a sore throat it is a tough thing to do. Carter laughed the whole time. He was in the backpack, and was just thrilled. I think he loved being outside the most.

Then we went home and bathed.

Ava found it hysterical when I threw our sandals (flip flops and rubber) into the bath after we got out. But really, they were just gross. Then we went to Casa de Luz, a macrobiotic restaurant+yoga studio(s)+community center+montessori school+playground etc, and Ava played on the playground while I indulged in a delicious (truly) macrobiotic feast and yearned for a similar place in the adirondacks. Carter held up until the very end, and then 7 PM rolled around and that was it. So we went home and they both crashed.

Tomorrow we go to San Antonio and SeaWorld. Ava cannot wait to see Shamu.