Celebrating Spring and A Terrific Two-Year-Old at the Jacksonville Zoo
On Monday, we spent the morning at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to celebrate Bella’s second birthday. It was a chilly morning and the animals were very active. We got a couple of great shots and had a nice morning out!
Bella’s BFF Evie came with us and the girls had a great time together exploring and daring each other to touch or eat the grossest thing (in baby/ toddler language of course). We brought cupcakes to share (after washing hands!). The kids got a ton of exercise. This was one spring day we thoroughly enjoyed. I can’t think of a more pleasant way to spend it than outdoors!
Bella had a great birthday week and enjoyed all of the well-wishes and presents. I don’t think she knew exactly what was going on but she liked the attention. My sweet, sassy little lady is quite a handful! Her favorite part of the zoo (besides trying to eat gross things) was to run and make me chase her. When I tell her “No, stop!” she goes faster and farther. Ah, I “love” this stage. 
Awwww! If Cheetas read romance novels, this would be the cover. 
Alex and her BFF Sophia
Catch me, mom!
Mmmmm! Cupcakes!
Bella and her BFF Evie
How would I describe Bella at two? Silly. Sweet. Loving. She’s absolutely obsessed with baby dolls. Sometimes I call her the baby horder, because she’ll have one doll in her purse, one in a backpack, and one in her arms. She simply can’t get enough of her baby dolls. She loves feeding them, dressing them, and carrying them everywhere. At the park, she loves to put them down the slide and swing them in the baby swing. She also loves rubber duckies and playing with her neighbor and best friend Evie.
Bella loves doing school. She colors, does stickers, and adores reading books with mommy. She likes music a lot and dances and sings for us. She’s a very active, opinionated little monkey who refers to herself as “Tiny” or “Tiny Cookie.” I’m really not sure where that came from.
Alex, Age 7
LOVE!
An Interesting Bird
Friends
Best Friends Forever
We love our zoo, especially in the Spring. Sure, we’ve seen everything a million times now. However, it’s always great for a walk. This time of year everything is blooming. There are baby animals (I love babies!) and the weather isn’t yet too hot to be comfortable. There’s not much we’d rather do than walk the zoo. The kids get exercise, mental stimulation, and take naps afterwards. Hooray!
I hope Bella had a great second birthday. While I don’t know if she’ll remember it, we took lots of pictures to help her. I wonder if she dreams about the interesting things we do and things she sees. What would it be like to see inside the mind of a two-year-old? It may be interesting.
Bella's Pouty Face
Look at this, mommy!
Proud to be an American
Searching for Fairies in Butterfly Hollow
There isn’t anything much in the world that Alexandria loves more than fairies, so we were very excited when the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the opening of their newest exhibit, Butterfly Hollow. Not only are there butterflies, but there are also fairy houses throughout the exhibit just waiting to be discovered. We celebrated the first day of Spring with a fairy hunt in Butterfly Hollow.
Alex and her friends navigate the zoo
Alex and her BFF, Sophia (and the back of Derek's head)
My Beautiful Alex
Aw, look how cute! Not. She's actually throwing tiny rocks into the air. Her head was coated with them!
Butterflies!
Butterfly Hollow is an enclosed butterfly garden full of spring blooms, interesting recycled art, and lots of colorful butterflies. The wine bottle tree was an interesting touch and the tiny fairy houses were very cute. The little kids liked the water fall. Bella liked picking up the tiny white rocks that made the pathway and throwing them in the air. Oh joy.
An Adorable Fairy House
Bella and her friend discuss the best pebble throwing techniques
Brothers
Beautiful Spring Blooms!
Cute!
We visited the zoo today with our homeschool group and made some new friends! It’s so amazing meeting new families with which we have so much in common. The kids love seeing their friends and having fun. We’ve made so many great friends here in Jacksonville.
Ethan, Age 5 1/2
Alex watches the butterflies
Overall, Butterfly Hollow was very cute. It really paled in comparison to our visit to the Butterfly Rain Forest in Gainesville last month though. There were not many varieties of butterflies, the exhibit was very small, and the garden leaves much to be desired. It was very inexpensive, though, so you get what you pay for. It was only $6 for the kids and I to tour the Hollow.
Would we recommend it? Sure, if you’re already visiting the zoo. The fairy theme was cute but left a lot to be desired. The gift shop was small but had a few cute things. Alex got a butterfly ring and a fairy sticker book and Bella got a butterfly board book. It’s nothing like last year’s Dino Alive exhibit… but it’s not a bad way to spend some time.
My Four Babies
Isabella, Age 23 months
It’s a glorious first day of Spring here in Jacksonville. Sunny and 80+ degrees, we’re blowing up the pool this afternoon for a little neighborhood backyard pool party. It should be fun. After a morning walking the zoo, it’ll be the perfect way to start the season. I love the blossoming leaves and blooming flowers and crave the outdoors this time of year.
What did you do today to mark the start of Spring? Did you spot any fairies?
Interesting
The Kids and their friends
Some of our homeschool friends
Related articles
- A Rainbow of Glorious Butterflies Surround us at Gainesville’s Butterfly Rainforest (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden (proflowers.com)
- Bye, Bye, Butterflies, Bye! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Bird Watching Adventures Throughout Africa and Wild Florida
While we did go bird watching yesterday, we didn’t have too much luck finding a variety of fowl. That’s largely because the kids are so loud. This morning we decided to go birding somewhere where we were guaranteed to see some birds: the zoo! Ethan brought his sketch book and Alex brought the older camera. Derek scribbled in his drawing pad during the drive and tired of it before we even reached the zoo. Bella brought herself and her dolly. Our mission? Find some interesting birds, preserve their portraits in either pencil or by camera, and talk about all we’ve learned about birds this week.
Although cloudy and breezy, it’s 84 degrees today in Jacksonville. It’s February. Strange, but I don’t mind. The kids were excited to go on a little safari and I was anxious to get some exercise, both for myself and for them. All in all, we walked the zoo for about two hours! That’s a lot for little legs!
We love the African Birds exhibit right inside the zoo. There are so many interesting birds to see and all in one spot. Ethan really likes to draw and was happy to have so many specimens. He was so cute standing there studying the birds, drawing on his drawing pad. Alex was excited to learn to use the camera better. She took about 300 pictures today! We talked a lot about how to zoom and come back to normal, how to hold the camera steady to take a picture, and how to use the flash. She’s a budding photographer!
Here are some random non-bird shots that I thought turned out nicely:
Our little adventure provided us with lots of opportunities to review things we’ve learned this week. We pointed out nests and talked about what they’re made of and what they’re used for. We saw that different birds make different kinds of nests. We talked about the purpose of feathers and how birds fly, their talons and beaks, and the way their bodies look. We talked about their different sizes, shapes, and colors. We discussed what they eat and how they take care of their babies. The kids were actively involved in the discussion and really learned a lot this week. Mission accomplished!
I brought my telephoto lens along today and had fun snapping pictures along with the kids. I’ve posted my favorites. I really never enjoyed bird watching before, but now it’s interesting to me. I guess I really just had to learn to slow down and smell the roses. Having a nice camera to capture the birds with helps. This is my type of “hunting.”
Nature observation is fantastic for the kids because it gives them a greater appreciation for living things. When we learn about how their bodies work, how they live and care for their young, and watch the interesting ways they move, eat, catch food, and sleep, they’re more than “just animals.” They’re living beings that share this great planet with us. The kids are learning to slow down and take in the world around them. Derek has a very long way to go with this, but Alex and Ethan are pros. Alex captures everything on her camera, and the most interesting things too. She was enthralled by different plants and how they contrasted with the sky behind them. She loved the plant and animal track impressions in the sidewalk and took some interesting photos of them. I love seeing the world through her eyes. It’s so fresh and new.
We’ve definitely been getting in our 10,000 steps per day lately! PE: check. Art: check. Science: Check. Plus, we listened to and sang along with our Classical Conversations memory work on the drive. Did I mention that Bella loves Latin conjugations? She sings along every time (to the best of her ability). It was a pretty multi-purpose school morning.
After a nice, healthy lunch, Ethan and Bella fell fast asleep. Alex listened to a Magic Treehouse book on tape about Mozart and Derek played with his animal stencils. At 3 pm, I need to get Ethan up and engage the kids in some book work time. The great thing about homeschooling is that our schedule is so flexible. If school lasts until 5 pm, so be it. It doesn’t mean that we’ve been slaving away over textbooks all day. The world is our classroom, and it’s brimming with exciting new things to see, do, and experience.
Before heading home, we walked through the front-gate gift shop. We found a colorful book about Florida birds and grabbed it. It’ll be great to learn what sort of birds are in our area. We already spotted a few in the book that we see regularly in our yard. I also found a habitat sticker book and some zoo animal stencils for Derek’s science time. There are so many cute things in that shop! Dangerous.
Another day done, another outing accomplished. The kids and I are both a bit sleepy. I think that’s the mark of a good day, don’t you?
Sigh- Our Last Jacksonville Zoo Homeschool Class!
Although we’ve been there at least 100 times, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is still one of our favorite places to go for a walk. Alex and Ethan had their very last homeschool class at the zoo this morning. Sigh. I wish the classes went longer! By the time classes start back up in September, we should be moving or already relocated to our new duty station. Although exciting, it also makes me pretty sad. We’ve been in Jacksonville for so long that I consider it my home. I’ll really miss all the things to do and the great friends we have here.
While the bigger kids learned all about animal tracks, snakes, and other interesting animal facts, the younger children and I walked the zoo with some friends. We all got plenty of exercise and lots of visiting time too!
Derek was a stinker at the zoo, refusing to talk and not listening to a thing I said. He was mad that Ethan was able to go to class and not him. They are the same size, after all. However… they are for ages 5 and up for a reason. Poor guy doesn’t understand that. He felt that his rights were violated. After all, Ethan shouldn’t be able to do anything he can’t do, right? Sibling love.
Bella loves running through the zoo with her dolly, exploring and seeing everything. She was so funny when we stopped to play near the squirrel monkeys. She didn’t notice them at first and climbed all over the ropes, then suddenly , “Ew! Ew! Ew!” She ran to the glass and pressed her face against it, pointing. “Mom, Eeeeew!!!” She was very concerned. “Am-im-ows!” she proclaimed. “Eeeeew!” (PS: That’s baby for “animals”).
I was debating whether or not to take the kids out today since I haven’t been feeling that great this week, but I’m glad I did. They had a blast as always. By the end, though, Derek was being even more rotten. He found his “missing” voice, but everything he said was contrary.
“Look, Derek, the rhinos are lying in the grass!” I told him.
“Seen it before,” he said, not bothering to look.
“Look, Derek, that bird is stretching his wings!” I said, “Do you see him sitting up there in that tree?”
“Seen it before,” he said.
“Derek, look at the zebra!”
“Seen it.”
“Derek, look at the elephant! He’s eating with his trunk!”
“Mom!” Derek sighed, “I have seen it all before. I not liking animals.”
Oh well. Maybe it is time for a change of scenery. We went to the front of the zoo and shared a pretzel snack, watching the crowds of people and talking about the things we had seen. Food is one thing that never ceases to interest Derek.
The big kids had a blast in class and got to meet some komodo dragons, snakes, a porcupine, and more. They both told me lots of things they learned about animal tracks and how snakes eat.
Now the bigger kids are resting quietly in their rooms. I am ready for a nap too. How come the little kids are still roaring along as if we didn’t spend our morning walking the zoo? Crazy children.
February Homeschool Classes at the Jacksonville Zoo
Love Is In The Air
This morning we went to the first of our first two homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens this month! Alex and Ethan both participated today and had so much fun. They learned all about habitats, including the jungle, the Savannah, and Florida. There were three animal encounters per class, for a total for nine animals! Two happy, smiling kids came running back to me after their third class was complete, homework packets in hand. We love the zoo’s homeschool classes and will be sad when they end this month.
One of the best parts of homeschool class is that after I drop Alex and Ethan off for class, I have just two kids to take through the zoo. Our neighbors Jordan and Evie came along with us for some exercise and exploration. It was the perfect day for some walking: temperatures in the mid-60s, sunny, and not too many other people. Here are some of my favorite photos from today’s adventures:
This is Derek's "I'm being a stinker" face
Derek, Age 3 1/2
Checking Out the Animals
I asked Alex what she thought about today’s classes:
Me: So, what was the best part of today’s classes?
Alex: Petting the bunny. I like the bunny. It was black and white and it was a shy bunny.
Me: What did you learn about today?
Alex: I learned that many species of animals that live in the rainforest could get killed cause we cut down too many trees. Lots of our food comes from the rainforest, like chocolate, nuts, and some oranges. Isn’t that weird?
Me: What other animals did you see?
Alex: I saw three snakes, a dove, a hedgehog, and a live armadillo. It was kind of bumpy and furry! We touched its shell. We couldn’t touch its face.
Me: Did you touch any snakes?
Alex: I touched all the snakes! Every single one.
Me: What did they feel like?
Alex: They feel kind of bumpy. One felt like a football plus a basketball plus it was soft and squishy.
Me: Okay, then. What was the most interesting thing you learned?
Alex: The most interesting thing I learned is that toucans can hear their friends from very far away. It’s hard to see other Toucans through the rain forest, I suppose.
Me: Did you have a good time?
Alex: Yeah, I had a really good time!
Love!
Our friend Evie loved the animals!
Look at that!
My cute little monkey!
I want to do it too!
The animals were all very active this morning. The Kudus ran and frolicked about their habitat, chasing birds and having fun. The monkeys made all sort of racket. The lions roamed their den and birds and small creatures were abundant. I love taking the kids to the zoo because it’s a great chance to get get some exercise, connect with nature, and gain an appreciation for and understanding of the vast world we live in.
I’m kind of sad we won’t be here to take homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo again next fall. We still don’t have orders, but should PCS out of here in September. It’s a bittersweet thing to look forward to. I hope wherever we may end up will be as educational and fun as Jacksonville. This duty station has been good to us.
Eating Evie's snacks
Jordan and Evie
Snacks are always better with friends
My learners!
Love Is In The Air!
The Jacksonville Zoo Has a New Baby Giraffe!
1-year-old Savannah the Giraffe
While looking through last weekend’s newspaper, we came across an exciting headline. The Jacksonville Zoo had a new addition: a baby giraffe! We simply had to squeeze a zoo visit into our school week!
Yesterday morning we packed up and headed to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens with a great friend. I’ll bet her boys were envious that she got to go to the zoo while they were at school! Not only did we enjoy the regular exhibits, but we also caught glimpses of the new baby giraffe in his enclosure with his mommy giraffe. I couldn’t get a good picture apart from little legs as he ran sporadically about… but I got a few of the 1-year-old giraffe Savannah! She was last year’s Christmas Eve baby. It was so cute how she kept peeking over the baby giraffe’s enclosure as if to say, “Oooh! A playmate!”
Looking for Giraffes
Ethan and Alex
Hey, I'm the baby!
The kids enjoyed running around and seeing all the animals. We shared a picnic lunch near the fountain and walked some more!
Look at me climbing everything!
A beautiful jaguar! Go Jacksonville Jaguars!
Look! I'm climbing more things! I'm a crazy monkey!
Look carefully in the bushes!
Our friend Juanita treated us to a train ride before we came home. The kids were excited. They love trains! Bella kept saying,”Choo! Choo!”
We love trains!
Too cute!
We had a fun little field trip to add some excitement to our week! We always love the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. There’s always something new to do and see. Plus, mommy gets her 10,000 steps in for the day! It’s really a win-win situation. We are going to miss our wonderful zoo when we move!
Safe, Family-Friendly Halloween Fun at Jacksonville Zoo’s Spooktacular
If you’re looking for some safe, family friendly Halloween fun, you simply must check out the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s Spooktacular. We’ve gone several times now and keep coming back for more. Today was a big milestone for our family: this was our last time experiencing Spooktacular, at least for the next few years. Next Halloween, we’ll be settled into a new part of the country and on a new adventure… wherever Hubby’s career may take us.
It was a very full, very busy day. Not only did we do school time, but we also attended two Halloween parties! Enough for one day, right? Late this afternoon I realized that if we didn’t make it to Spooktacular tonight, we wouldn’t get to go at all this year. We ate a quick dinner, put on some costumes, and headed north. I was hoping and praying that the traffic wouldn’t be severely backed up like last year. Last October I made the mistake of trying to go the day before Halloween and we couldn’t even get near the zoo traffic was so bad! People were parking a mile away along the road and walking. No thanks to that. We turned around and went home. So this year was a big deal! It was now or never!
Luck was on our side. We went early and on opening day. There was some traffic, but not much at all. We parked without a problem and headed on in.
Bella waits to go inside
We waited just inside the gates with a growing crowd of people. The gates didn’t open until 6:30 and we had some time to spare. The kids liked watching the parade of costumes and playing with their glow stick necklaces. They’re free if you go on a Thursday! The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, slowly dimming the bright daylight. The air was cool and crisp. It actually felt like fall!
The kids wait for the gates to open
Shortly before 6:30, the Wizard spoke to the crowds, then led a countdown to open the gates. We moved aside and let the crowd pass so that we could walk through the maze at our own pace. It was really congested at first!
Spooky pumpkins lined the Maze
The sun began to set and our journey quickly went from “whatever” to “spooky.” The music was riveting and the costumed characters enthralled the children. There were sights and sounds everywhere. Even I was on sensory overload sometimes, but in a good way! The kids were wide-eyed and amazed. They really liked the candy stations and the thousands of glowing pumpkins lighting our walk.
The sun sets...
The courtyard was a ton of fun. There were several bounce houses and a bounce slide. This is where Ethan’s visit unfortunately went from “okay” to “I’m crying and feeling sorry for myself” and he never got over that. Derek and Alex, on the other hand, had a blast. They played for at least 20 minutes. When we moved on it was very dark and we could see stars overhead. Spooktacular at night is absolute magic.
Didn't I tell you not to speak to strange alligators?
Alex sits with the princess and the frog
Alex meets the evil Queen of Hearts... Off With Your Head!
We saw fairies and woodland creatures, princesses and pirates too. Every corner brought a new adventure. The kids didn’t know what to expect next!
Bella was wide-eyed and alert the entire trip
Spooky flashing eyes in the woods!
Alex’s favorite section was Pirate Cove. They did an awesome job decking out the alligator habitat as a pirate ship!
The Pirate Ship! Arg!
My Merry Crew
We had an awesome evening at Spooktacular and made some great memories. The whole way home, Derek talked about the “spooky eyes” in the forest. Alex played with her glow sticks the entire drive, putting on quite a show for her brothers. Bella passed out as soon as I put her to bed. All the kids were super excited to get to stay up way past their normal bed time and to walk around the zoo at night. Sometimes it’s fun to do something totally out of the ordinary.
If you’re in the area, I totally recommend a visit to the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s Spooktacular. It’s relatively inexpensive ($28 for the kids and myself) and is a sensory feast. I know my kids will be talking about it for years to come. After all, they still talk about the last time we went two years ago! If you want something unique and not too scary to do with the kids, this is it!
Water lilies, lionesses, and rat-eating rattlesnakes… Eeeek! Fall Fun at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
- Here’s an amazing water lily!
There are few places in Jacksonville that is more family friendly than the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Alexandria had homeschool classes at the Zoo yesterday morning, so the other kids and I spent the morning leisurely strolling through the gardens. If you live in Jacksonville and have small children, you have to have a membership to the zoo. We go there so frequently that it pays for itself in no time. We always see something new. We renewed ours yesterday for the last time. After 4 years, it was kind of bittersweet. When our membership expires next year, we will be settled in a new part of the country.
Our visit introduced the children to many firsts. Bella got to brush and pet the goats for the first time and loved it. She kept trying to ride them, though. She would waddle up to a resting goat, make kissy noises, pat it, then sit on it. They were pretty rotund goats and couldn’t move very fast. The boys loved brushing the goats too. I don’t think they remember the last time we did that… it has been a while. They are pretty stinky and I avoid them. I think we’ll go back, though, since Bella is getting so big and no longer eats everything on the ground.
We also witnessed snake feeding time. The rattle snake was fed a big rat and his companion was fed a mouse. The boys were amazed. I thought it was pretty gross. It was definitely a learning experience! The boys also talked me into taking them to the “Kid’s Shop” at the far end of the zoo and got “slap snakes,” snake bracelets you slap on your wrist. I remember them from my own childhood, although they weren’t nearly so fancy.
I had way too much fun with my camera, and here are some of the best pictures!
I swear we were bonding, mother to mother
Derek, Age 3
Bella loved petting the goats
Brotherly Love
I loved this picture from the Japanese Gardens
Bella loved all the flowers
Bella loves to be held... apparently even by panada statues
The "twins" loved the Koi
Homeschool Classes at the Jacksonville Zoo!
Alex had a blast at her first homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. There were at least a dozen other kids in her class (ages 5-6). Today’s classes were Fur, Feathers, and Scales, Animal Friends, and Animal Families. Each was 45-minutes long and full of great learning experiences. She’s been talking nonstop about the great things she learned, the animal experiences she had, and the kids she met. We can’t wait till next month!
In Fur, Feathers, and Scales, Alex learned about different animal body coverings, discussed the five classes of backboned animals, and talked about major characteristics of vertebrates. Alex describes her class in her own words: “We learned that if you touch a slimy animal, it won’t be good because the slime protects it. The animals we learned about in this class all have backbones.”
“ Fur is on mammals sometimes, but not every single mammal cause we are mammals and don’t have fur. Fur protects some mammals and keeps them warm. We met a bunny with fur. Its name was Coco.”
“Also, water slides off of feathers so that the body of the bird doesn’t get wet. We got to see a collard dove and got to touch it. I can’t remember its name. The feathers were white and the collar was black. It was beautiful and really soft. ”
“When we talked about scales, we got to touch a snake. It was a nice snake and it was red with spots. It was a really long snake. Snakes have scales. Some scales are rough and some scales are smooth. The snake we touched had smooth scales.”
Her second class was called Animal Friends. She learned about pet animals, farm animals, and wild animals (including zoo animals). The class discussed why animals are important to people, the benefits of pets, and animal products. They talked about why wild animals don’t make good pets and that it is good to protect and respect wild animals. Alex says, “The teacher gave us a quiz and put out animals, and we had to guess what type of animal it was. There was a chicken from a farm. She also put out a snake as a wild animal and some other animals too.”
“We also learned about zoo animals, like we learned that the zoo animals are tamed. Wild animals are not tamed.”
The last class was Animal Families. She learned that animals are living things and talked about the characteristics of living things. The class matched baby animals to their parents and learned that some animals hatch from eggs while others do not. She also learned about animal conservation. Alex says, “Some baby animals come from eggs, but not all eggs have baby animals inside. Not just chickens lay eggs. Other kinds of birds lay eggs too and crocodiles do too.”
“All the animals we talked about were living things. Living things move, eat, and have a place to live. Some animals, when they’re first born, take care of themselves. Others have mothers and fathers taking care of them.”
“The teachers brought in an owl. The owl was a small owl. It was brown and white. It just sat on her arm and it looked at each kid. I liked the owl because owls are hard to find in nature cause they only come out at night. They also brought in a chinchilla. It had a tail and it was really cute. It was black and it was hard to see its eyes. I liked the chinchilla because it was tame and it’s an herbivore.”
I asked Alex if she likes being homeschooled, and she replied, “Yes! Absolutely, because you get to have more field trips than public school. You also don’t have to hear lots of noisy kids on the bus and you get to take classes at the zoo and other places!”
We were very happy with our Jacksonville Zoo class experience and are very happy that we signed up for the entire year’s offerings. At $3 per class ($9 for all three), it’s an awesome deal. The other kids and I spent the 3 hours of class time exploring the zoo. This was an easy and entertaining way to tie in our jungle theme! There’s always so much to do and see there. It never gets boring. It was Bella’s first time walking at the zoo and she had so much fun. She’s been napping for several hours now! What a great day.
16-month-old Isabella explores the zoo
The kids check out the giant anteater mama and baby
Bella chats with her BFF
