Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My!

Tyler went to the zoo for the first time this weekend! Uncle Brian got us a family membership to the Memphis Zoo for Christmas so we went Sunday to try it out. Who would've thought we'd be outdoors at the zoo in January!?! Our membership is for Russ and I plus one guest, so Brian went, too. (Tyler gets in free until he is two years old.) Tyler loves being outside and watched the animals intently. His favorites seemed to be the penguins, grizzly bears and giraffes, mainly because they were active and easy to catch and hold his attention. Russ and I had not seen the new Teton Trek grizzly bear exhibit...it is super nice!! Memphis truly has a great zoo and we really had fun. Thanks for the awesome gift, Uncle Brian!!

Waiting to go inside!

Our first stop was the Tigers, of course!!

Family pic with the Tigers

He LOVED the penguins!

The panda was right up against the glass.
I don't think I've ever seen him this close before. 

In front of the pregnant elephant.
Baby elephant arriving in late summer. How cool!

Entrance to the Northwest Passage.
The polar bears weren't as active as normal. Bummer.

Warming up by the fire in the Teton Trek lodge.

Love this one with Uncle Brian!

Laughing at the grizzly bear who was right in front of us!

This bear was really showing off! Tyler loved it!

Our favorite bear ran over and tried to play with
the other bear, but she wasn't having it.

Watching the giraffes. They are my favorite, too!

All the boys! Tyler was mimicking the
 giraffes and their long tongues. Ha!

See the baby giraffe!? It was so cute and was
 running around and playing with it's mama.

See 'ya later alligator! We will be back!