Yesterday morning was off to a rocky start. Cooper J. was in a mood and I was racking my brain trying to think of something that may hold his interest and did not involve “digging trucks in the dirt”, which is really all he wants to do lately.
I thought we’d check out Como Zoo. I mean…it’s free for one thing. And it involves monkeys. Ya can’t go wrong. Can you?
We got there and spent the first 10 to 15 minutes in the amusement park area with him running fron ride to ride, but never really stopping to see what each ride was all about. I spent the same amount of time trying to coax him to “follow me to see monkeys”. When he finally did, and we finally got to the monkey area, he was less than impressed. Next up we saw some seals, which he thought were pretty cool. As we were checking them out, I overheard a mom walking by say “the Sparky show starts in a few minutes!”. Sparky show?? As in seals!? I remember that show from when I was little, so I convinced Coops it would be awesome.
We had to sit on cement bleachers for far longer than any 2 year old can, while waiting for the show to start. It was around 11 a.m. on a Thursday…who knew the joint would be packed!? So, here we sit…squeezed together like the sardines that are about to be fed to the seal, on a hot, very humid Minnesota day. Not the most pleasant of opportunities, but hey…if it keeps my toddler happy, I’m up for it!
He was begging for food the whole time, but I had no way to navigate us out of our seats, so with the promise that we’d get a “treat” afterwards, he patiently watched the show little girl sitting next to us.
When I was little the Sparky show seemed feature length. Now I realize it lasts all of 7 minutes. So soon we were on our way to get chocolate dippin’ dots…at which time he also spotted a red, orange and black Boa Constrictor stuffed animal that he “needed!” After the snake purchase, all live animals were nothing more than an annoyance, so we headed back to the car.
What this morning actually looked like broken down by cash and time?
9:35 – load child in car
9:40 actually leave home after running back inside to get his green tractor that he “needed”
10 a.m. Arrive at zoo, unload stroller, child, green tractor, sippy cup and camera.
10:08 a.m. Enter main zoo entrance where “donation” of $2 per adult and $1 per child is requested. Realize I have no ones on me, and throw in a $5 spot.
10:10 to 10:25 a.m. Watch child run crazily through the amusement park area
10:25 a.m. Convince him to walk to monkey area
10:30 a.m. Arrive at monkey area only for him to show disinterest
10:35 a.m. Watch seals swim around
10:40 a.m. Overhear random mother talking about Sparky show. Head towards amphitheater
10:47 a.m. Find seats in amphitheater.
10:47 to 11 a.m. Corral Cooper Jones. Attempt to keep him from following other children by telling him the show is starting soon. Over and over and over again. Advise him it’s not polite to stare at the little girl next to us with the drooling problem.
11:00 to approximately 11:08 a.m. Watch show. Cooper watches drooling girl.
11:08 to 11:15 Attempt to leave very, very crowded amphitheater.
11:15 spend $8.25 on 1 small chocolate dippin’ dots and 1 diet coke
11:20 a.m. Spend $9.50 on stuffed Boa Constrictor
11:30 a.m. Exit park and return to vehicle.
Time spent – 2 hours
Dollars spent – $22.75
What happened to the zoo being “free”?
Oh, and P.S. Thank you Como Zoo Staff for posting the note that advised us guests that the stuff smeared on the monkey cage glass was, in fact, chocolate pudding.
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