Surprise weekend getaway to Des Moines to visit the zoo and the Kruse Clan.

We didn't tell the boys anything.  All week we talked about how we were planning on deep cleaning the house over the weekend and how they had to help.  I think it was Daniel that was supposed to be in charge of cleaning daddy's toilet in the basement.  Then Saturday morning we told them to load up in the truck and they had no clue.  It was fun for us to surprise them.

Here we made it to the zoo.  Weather wasn't bad at all today.  What a nice surprise.

 I thought these little birds were just too cute.  Didn't even think to write down what kind of bird it was, but got his picture anyway.

 Yuck!  Looks like that was what Sammy was saying too.

That snake was big!

 Here are our favorite animals at the zoo.  However on this trip they were just hanging out around the pool doing nothing.  We kept trying to will them into the water, but it didn't work.

 Joey

 Next are the most impressive animals at the zoo.  I love to watch these giraffe.  This couple was grooming each others mane.  It was very sweet to watch them.

 Last year when we visited the DSM zoo they were doing some construction.  Well the sea lion exibit is what they were working on and boy was it worth the wait!  These guys were so entertaining.  The boys were able to get up close to see.  These sea loins would just swim and swim in front of the glass for the kids.  They would get right by the glass then roll over and swim upside down.  I didn't know they could even do it.

 Couldn't get enough of these tell fellows.

Nice tongue.

 Cheese.

 Next we saw the baboons.  They were alot of them in their area.  Most of them we just  hanging out with a buddy and grooming.  Very mellow creatures (at least when we saw them they were).

 The indoor exhibit was Ice Age.

Had to go back to the baboons and they had a cave that went into the baboons area and one of the little guys took a stroll past the window for the boys.

 Sammy and I took a ride on the carosel.  All the horses, unicorns, reindeer and Sammy wasn't to pick the "Santa one".  The thought this looked like Santa's sleigh.

After our trip to the zoo we hit up Bass Pro Shop for daddy, of course. 

Then we met up with the Kruse's at their house.  We brought over some dinner and we all chowed down.  The kids had fun playing for a bit.  Got into a good game of air hockey then after we ate they had to play some Mario Cart on Bennet's Wii.

Our boys were very tired when we headed back to the hotel.

 Sweet Kaya.

 Sweet Chloe after daddy gave her a bath.

These little girls change so much every time we see them.  All the kids are growing up way too fast.

Going to meet up with the Kruse Clan again in the morning for some fun at the park before it gets too hot outside.