Berube Babies: Fota Wildlife park

The weather has been nice all week, so I started thinking about taking the kids back to Fota Wildlife park this weekend. At first the Saturday report said rain all day in Cork, but when I checked back around 10am, it showed clear skies though the late afternoon so we decided to go.

I was very proud of myself for packing a great lunch, snacks, and the kids hoodies considering we'd rushed around to try and get out of the house. But then 30 minutes from home, I realized I'd left the bag sitting on the counter. I made the call to not turn around since Jeff & I needed food, too. Jeff took the kids to a drive-thru while I ran into the nearby grocery store to pick up food Gordon would eat (and snacks to take into the park.)

Another 15 minutes later we were back on the road.

About a half hour from the park, Walt declared an emergency potty, so we stopped at a convenience store where a nice clerk climbed over her counter (to get around some work being done) and let us into the employee restroom.

Finally, we arrived at FOTA. I went first to the gift shop to buy the kids long sleeved shirts or hoodies or something. But they didn't have a thing! Instead, they loaned me some hoodies from the lost & found. Whatever works! It was too cold for the t-shirts the kids were wearing for sure.

As I was chasing down coats, the kids checked out the Meerkats

Meerkat, Meerkat, stand up tall. Brr. Brr. Brr. It's a warning call!

Gordon loved this cheetah

Adele wanted to make sure we saw these, too.

Walter showing Bear the real cheetah

Walt surveying the animals off in the distance

Quick stop to re-fuel with some yogurt

They were right by the gates, so we stopped and I pointed out the baby to the kids. Immediately, they said, "Oh, Look. There's a mommy." "There's a baby." "There's a mommy." And back and forth like that between them until we walked away!

The Ring-Tailed Lemurs were out for a walk with their keepers

He's checking out the boys

Walt first showed Bear the lemur, then offered Bear (by throwing it) to play with lemur. Luckily the keeper was right there to rescue Bear. Adele LOVED the lemur. As you can see, Gordon could not have cared less.

This eagle was hanging right next to the glass. Again, Gordon couldn't care less. After this, I saw a Wallaby hop across the path and stop, so I hurried Gordon up there to see. As we watched, and he says 'oh, kangaroo,' it hopped off into the bushes. The smile on Gordon's face could've lit downtown Manhatten. He just loved the 'hop-hop-hop Kangaroo.' And when we asked later what the kids had seen at the park, this was what he mentioned first.

All 3 kids decided their favorite part was the slide. This was Adele's only trip up the big slide. After she got up there and looked down, she realized she'd rather play on the medium-sized slide (not pictured.)