My friends and I laughed (and then cried) when we heard there was a spring break at our preschool. But I guess our great teachers do need one! We decided to take the kids on a field trip this week to help entertain them and get a little education in. Thus we planned a trip to the Richmond Zoo!
We caravaned there with carseats full of babies and toddlers and had a great time oooing and ahhing over the animals.
The rhinos were my favorite!
Mazen and I took a safari train into the mini wild animal park there. That was his favorite!
That and this mechanical jeep…
It was fun to see the giraffes so close!!
But having our kids this close to a real tiger (who looked hungry!) was terrifying!
This was our best shot of the group – the rest included kids running away, crying, falling over, etc. : )
We had a picnic lunch before we headed back to Cville. I packed a salad for me (with veggies, cheese and chickpeas on the bottom) plus crackers, trail mix, fruit, a PB&J for M plus a pouch. {The yellow on my salad was some mango dressing from Whole Foods!}
Our weather all week is iffy, and we tried to pick the best day weather wise. We lost that battle. While we were REALLY lucky that the rain stopped, it was really cold!! I was way under dressed and freezing the whole time, however, Mazen didn’t seem to care and insisted I take his coat off towards the end of our visit. Other kids were wearing shorts and t-shirts! I would love to go back when the weather is actually warm and sunny. But overall, we had a great time.
We were both pooped when we got home and just relaxed around the house. We had an easy dinner of split pea soup we made with the leftover Easter ham. It was based on this recipe and topped with Greek yogurt and cheese!
Linda @ TheFitty says
Another spring break for them? That’s lucky! I have no more until summer vacation.
KathEats says
This is their first and only!
Leah says
I used to live in Richmond and took my niece and nephew to the zoo as a special event before I moved. It was great until my niece got a splitner from the wood railings. I got tweezers from the staff and tried to pull it out but couldn’t get it (let’s be honest, it was really tiny). It was a miserable 90 min till she calmed down (phone call to her dad). I think my favorite part is the giraffes and the peacocks..oh and the climbing otter! It is a great up close and personal zoo.
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
What a fun spring break! I love trips to the zoo! Your little one is seriously the cutest!
Sam says
Thanks for posting this!! We will be in Richmond next month and I was planning to take my boys to the zoo. 🙂 Looks like you guys had a fun time!
Sam says
Actually, now that I think about it–is there anything you definitely recommend for a family with two boys (2 and 4) who will be in the Richmond area for 2-3 days? We can drive a bit.
KathEats says
I haven’t been yet but the children’s museum in Short Pump is supposed to be great too
Kate says
Hi,
I am a nanny in Richmond, and I recommend that you checkout the website http://www.completelykidsrichmond.com . If you go to the outings tab, there is a huge list! Personally, I recommend The children’s museum of richmond central location, Lewis Ginter Botanical gardens, and maymont park.
lisa @bitesforbabies says
Looks like so much fun!! I absolutely LOVE the pic of the kids on the fence!!!
Shel@PeachyPalate says
The weather is never good when you go to a zoo or a farm..its like some unwritten rule! 🙂
Michael Nelson says
I love the Richmond Zoo! That looks like a fun day!
[email protected] says
I am a first grade teacher, and one year I taught preschool while in grad school, and it is tough work! Spring break is well-deserved for the teachers! Looks like a fun outing!!
KathEats says
I don’t know how they do it – our teachers are amazing.
judy says
Those lunch containers look fabulous!
KathEats says
This is it!
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties says
Awww they are so cute! That’s an awesome activity for kids.. bravo to you moms for taking them out there! 🙂
Emily @ Life on Food says
That looked like quite the outing but such a fun trip. Love the mini safari ride, what fun for the kiddos! That orange lunch box is super cool, what is it?
KathEats says
I found it on Amazon here. It’s collapsible too!
Hannah @ eat, drink and save money says
So much fun! We love our zoo. We have the opposite problem with weather though. It’s already too hot to go in the afternoons so we have to go early while it is somewhat cooler. I hope you can head back when it is better weather. Enjoy the rest of spring break!
Jill says
Love the Metro Richmond Zoo! The pictures of the kids on the fence are adorable!
Kelly says
Love the selfie of you two. Mazen’s smile is too cute!!
Cassie says
The tiger actually looks adorable! I love wild cats :3
Karen M Monson says
I love it! Y’all got closer to the giraffe that I did in South Africa!
Tonya says
Wow I’ve never seen a zoo with such open access to the animals! Rhinos contained by a wooden fence?? I love giraffes though and would loooove to be that close to one!
Ali says
mazen is so stinkin’ cute!
that is all 😉
KathEats says
: ) Thanks