Toronto Zoo Getaway

Our son loves animals.  He has all sorts of useless facts about them stored in his rain.  He will tell people these strange facts at grocery stores or the mall.  So we decided to plan a little getaway to the Toronto Zoo.  Toronto is about an hour and a half away from Buffalo.  I figured a Phineus and Ferb DVD for the truck ride would keep at least the 5 year old quiet.  Snacks, pack-n-play, pool bag complete with life preserver and a raft for the lil one and we were set!  We headed out about 9am with our first stop being a Tim Horton's.  Timbits, bagels, and some tea and we were ready. 

Pierce got a little restless the last 15 minutes.  So mommy took off her Chewbeads necklace and it made him happy.  Have you heard of Chewbeads?  They are necklaces and bracelets designed for mommies with teething babies.  We love them!  I have 2 necklaces and (confession) I wear them even when I'm not with the baby.  He loves to chew on them and I can see it working with the next baby when nursing, keeping him interested.  We got to our hotel around 11am, checked in and went  straight to the zoo.  The weather was gorgeous!  75 and sunny with a little breeze was perfect.  All those people that said it was a lot of walking sure were right.  It was a lot of walking.  We had the sit-n-stand and man that thing was heavy with a 20 lb. baby, 40 lb. kid a very weighed down Petunia.  First stop was to see some Polar bears.  They are my favorite animal!  They had 3 of them.  It was kind of weird to see them laying in grass.  The exhibit at The Buffalo Zoo is all rocks and cement.

They had teepees set up which fascinated Brady and he was able to get a little history lesson on Native Americans.  By this time we were hungry!  Steve lived in Canada a long time ago and loves Poutine.  For anyone who doesn't know what it is here is my own explanation.  Basically they are French fries with cheese curds (I hate the word curd too) and gravy.  It is served everywhere in Canada, even in the Burger Kings.  It made Steve very happy.

Next: More animals and walking! 

I grew up in Cheektowaga so yes a picture of pink flamingos were necessary.  And Brady still wants to know why they stand on 1 leg.  His parents have no idea.

 

 

 

I still had some gas in the tank at this point.  Penguins, Komodo dragons, jellyfish, giraffes, hippos, etc.  I almost forgot and white lions which were wicked cool.  And then we saw the following sign: 1 hour hike from this point with steep incline.  This was to see the bears.  I was tired and thought if I did the hike I might just have this baby in Canada delivered by zoologists.  SO, I tuckered out.  The good news is Brady sees 3 different types of bears in The Buffalo Zoo.  This helped with the mom guilt, a little.  Mommy promised him a camel ride to make it up to him. 

A little trip to the gift shop for the boys and we were off to the hotel.  Now I admit I am a hotel snob.  I appreciate a nice room.  I like a nice bed because I can never sleep in hotel rooms anyway.  So I like to lay there in comfort.  And I just spent 5 days in a pirate themed room for my son.  I was ready for a nice room, elevator, lobby, restaurant, pool, etc.  Brady was hoping for some more pirates.  I don't know why but where ever we go I feel compelled to take a picture of the room, before the boys mess it up. 

And then immediately rip off the comforters or quilts because you know they never get washed!  Next I check out the bathroom. 

I fell in love with the vanity and sink.  Must keep this in mind for our upcoming master bath remodel.  Oh and then I MUST put out a soap pump dispenser.  Bar soap for handwashing skeeves me out!!  It is $.99 well spent if you ask me.  Brady wanted to hit the pool before dinner and it sounded great to me.  The water was cold so Steve wouldn't go in.  He likes his pool water the temperature of bath water.  Hey we all have our things I guess and he puts up with all of mine.  He snapped some cute pics of us swimming though.  Bump warning***.

Now Steve got his poutine, it was time for me to have some East Side Mario's.  I have to go when ever we are in Canada.  It is like a Canadian Olive Garden.  Actually, the dressing is very similar. 

And the Bread!  I love carbs.  Pierce had his first meatball and not surprisingly loved it.  Brady got his favorite, spaghetti and everyone was happy.  Back to the hotel for some tv and relaxation and sleep.  The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel.  It was a buffet and I hate buffets but I made the best of it.  Fruit loops, pancakes and a bagel.  Did I mention I love carbs?  And we were off.  We made it back to Buffalo by 11am.  It was Father's Day so we spent the rest of the day doing whatever Daddy wanted.  Which included some yummy Mexican food at our favorite restaurant.  And Steve even got to ride his motorcycle for a couple hours.  It was fun and Brady already wants to know when we are going to another hotel.