Riverbanks Zoo- Henry.

On Saturday morning, we got up early and set out for Columbia. Mama said we were going to the zoo! We met up with her friend from high school, Mister Brent, and his family.

I was so excited to ride the train and as soon as our friends arrived, I grabbed Braeden and we rode the train together.

Junie thought the goats were so funny. Unfortunately, none of us kids were that excited about the animals. My favorite part of the zoo was reading the map and bossing people around to where we'd go next.

But the zoo had tons of other fun things to do. There was a little picnic area full of sticks to bang against trees. June was the only one to get a stick to the head, but she was okay.

We spent a lot of time playing at the playground. June loved going down the slide.

Even papa got in on the fun.

Braeden had fun too, even though we kept him up from taking a nap.

We think the mid-day Icee helped. Braeden also has a brand new little brother named Avery. He's only 2 and a half weeks old. Mama didn't get any pictures of him because if he wasn't snoozing in his car seat, mama wasn't letting go of him. And at only 8 pounds, he was quite easy to tow around. Mama held the baby so much that June must have thought he was ours. Whenever Braden got close to Avery, she gave him an earful to stay away from our baby.

Back at the playground, June practiced climbing up the slide.

And sliding back down.

Adjacent to the zoo is a very nice botanical garden. We made the walk over, despite the fact that all of us kids were pretty tired.

I had fun running through the gardens and looking at the fountains.

It was a great time to be at the gardens. Everything was in bloom.

We found a little kid-sized house to play in while mama looked around the garden show that was going on. We got there right as the show was closing down and she got a great deal on an Abelia bush for by the front steps.

She took June to go pick up the bush, but June was easily distracted.

But she did sit still for this cute shot.

We had to walk back to the zoo to get to our cars. I really wanted to ride the tram back, so while everyone else walked back, mama and I waited 20 minutes for the tram to show up. when it did come, everyone ran so fast to it that the seats were instantly filled. Mama and I couldn't find a single one. Mama told me we'd have to walk back, because she certainly wasn't waiting another 20 minutes in line only to get pushed out of the way by people too lazy to walk 3/10th of a mile downhill back to the zoo. I was on the verge of the biggest meltdown known to man when two teenagers flagged us down and offered us their seats on the tram. What nice kids! Mama is never going to say anything bad about teenagers and their skinny jeans again. They certainly helped us divert a huge disaster.

After the zoo, we went back to Braeden's house for some pizza and to play outside. For as tired as we all were, we really were wound up. We left at 8 and June and I both managed to stay awake until 10pm. So much for wearing us out for the ride home.