Trip to the Turtleback Zoo - Pumpkin Picking 2007

On Sunday, my husband and I took our daughters to the Turtleback Zoo to go pumpkin picking.  We took them last year too.  So many things have changed at the zoo since we were there last and some things have stayed the same.  We had just as much fun this year as we did last year.

The first picture I took, once inside, was an update of a picture I took of them last year.

                      October 2006                                                        October 2007

                                             Next was on to the Prairie Dog exhibit.

                                 Near their new bird exhibit area, we came across these.

Out of the eggs . . . . . . . . .

                                                 . . . . . . . . .  and into the nest!

We also stopped to pose them by this purple scarecrow display.

Now, onto the new area for the birds and other small creatures.  Most of the birds and animals were uncooperative and would not pose for pictures, but I was able to get a couple of some Bald Eagles. . . .

 (I like the one on the left, it almost looks like they form a heart.)

. . . . . . and a prickly porcupine.

Next comes the animals the "We Bite" sign was really for!

My girls were very nervous taking this picture because they were afraid the horses would come up and bite them while they took the picture.  I still think it's a pretty funny picture :)

                                             We saw a couple of hungry Llamas.

They had this beautiful fall display set up and I couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures of it.  Three in all.

                                               The whole display . . . . .

. . . . and pieces of the display.

These baby Capybaras are new to the zoo.   They were born on October 4, 2007.  Tried to take a picture of the mommy and daddy Capybaras too, but they were uncooperative.

                                 This was a new section to the zoo,

                   which now houses a couple of cougars and a red panda.

And now, time for the pumpking picking.  They had a little wooden wagon set up right near the cougar and red panda exhibits.

The sign said to take 1 pumpkin per child, but of course there were those who took more than that.  We saw a few rental strollers filled with 7 or 8 each being pushed by the same family.

                          Climbing onto the wagon.

Kira found her pumpkin right away, while Macie had to look at each and every pumpkin until she found the right one.

                                Here they are with their pumpkin choices.

  Then it was time for the train ride.  On the way, we stopped to take another picture.

                     After a long wait in line, it was finally time to ride the train.

                    Enjoying the ride.

After the train ride, it was time to head home.  We stopped by the Penguin exhibit on the way out.  Last year there were 2 or 3 penguins but this year we got to see 6 of them.  One of them was hiding behind the building.

             The penguins got a visit from a little bird who stopped for a quick drink.

Time for one last photo-op before we go . . . . . .

. . . . Finally, we are headed home.  My husband was very glad to be leaving, since he hadn't had time to eat lunch at work earlier and was very hungry by this time.   The girls were upset but were getting a little hungry themselves.