WW: Metro Science and Engineering Fair {Linky}

Mica's Science Fair Project: Stacking Vegetarian Against Fast Food Diet was 1 of 20 that won at his middle school. His middle school is a science magnet school, and has 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders, so this was a pretty big deal. He had a high fat and carb diet for 2 weeks, and a vegetarian diet for 2 weeks. He kept a food journal, weighed himself every day, we took his blood pressure every day, and paid attention to his stool. Let's just say that he was a grump, and super gassy on the unhealthy diet. He was much more tolerable on the healthy diet.

His project went on to compete against all the other best science fair project in Omaha at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium this Saturday.

We checked him in at 7:30.

Then Travis, Isaak and I had the world's best zoo to ourselves for the most part. The zoo didn't open until 10. We didn't waist any time. We started off in the Aquarium. It was too cold to hang around outside. 

We stayed awhile watching the penguins.

There were a lot of orange things in one aquarium.

Ok so one yellow-green living thing.

The Jelly Fish are so cool to me. They are like watching a lava lamp.

 I've painted a few octopuses or octopi in my life. Did you know that the plural of octopus can be octopuses or octopi? 

We don't get a lot of time alone with one child, so we took the opportunity to shoot photos with just Isaak in the Rain Forest.

Isaak took a photo of us too.

This peacock walked right on past us outside.

My favorite moment was hard to shoot. A gorilla feeding her baby.

The baby had some playtime after eating. I think he or she just discovered their feet.

Mica didn't place in this Science Fair. He was really bummed. I felt bad for him. One of the judges gave him their business card. He thought for sure he won something. I said that he should just be happy he got that far. Life is difficult at times.

WW: Henry Doorly Zoo Trip {Linky}

We live by one of the best zoos in the world: Henry Doorly Zoo. It was awhile, since we've visited, so we decided to go on Sunday.

We mostly stayed in the new African Grassland, since we've never seen it.

They have a ton more to see:

• Aquarium
• Alaskan Adventure
• Madagascar
• Butterfly and Insect Pavilion
• Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
• Forest
• Gorilla Valley
• Kingdoms of the Night
• Desert Dome
• Lied Jungle
• Aviary
• IMAX Theater
• Asian Highlands is Coming Soon!

One could literally spend all day there. There is over 130 acres of exhibits. 

If you're one that's against zoos because animals aren't in their natural habitat: Henry Doorly Zoo has The Center for Conservation and Research. They do their best to keep animals in their habitat. They won't let people around some baby animals. Newer, bigger areas are constantly being built to give the animals more room.

One of my favorites was the shot below. I stayed behind taking pictures, and spotted this money breastfeeding her baby/toddler. Yay for Momma Milk!

Below the money area is a ton of coy fish and ducks. They go crazy for bread crumbs, which they sell in dispensers.

Mica and Isaak like their animal sculptures:

Mica was being crushed under this wooly mammoth:

I bet Isaak didn't realize his hand was resting on the orangutan's boob.

I could stare at the giraffes all day! I just love their hight, pattern, and how gentle they are. There was a spot where you could touch them if they came to you. I missed it.

I was shocked and sad when we went to see the elephants, and there was a sign saying, "Due to large amounts of rain, we're fixing up the elephant's slope. Excuse our mess." I thought I wouldn't see elephants at all, but they just moved them down aways.

Here's the rhinos: 

Do you like to go to the zoo?

WW: Peek a Boo {Linky}

I was busy taking photos of flowers. I happened to notice that my family was gone.

They were hiding. Peek a Boo!