Behind the Scenes at the Zoo

I don't think I have shared that I have a new job. I have been the grants manager for one of the Marriott family's Foundations since November. Last week the kids learned that Mommy has the coolest job. The National Zoo is one of our grantees and they gave our staff and families a behind the scenes tour as part of a site visit. We got to: see the inside of the Elephant house and the new house which is almost done (I got to touch an elephant) and the kids saw the elephants take a bath; feed and touch giant turtles; watch an octopus feeding and touch some other ocean critters; and have a private viewing of the zoo's new baby cheetahs. Last but not least the grown-ups got to go inside the lion den and meet the lion trainers

Our hosts at the Zoo were great and even had gift bags filled with zoo goodies for the kids at the end of the tour.

checking out the elephants' toys

watching the elephants take a bath

Mommy meets an elephant 

the giant turtles - Bea kept calling them dinosaurs. 

she was a little afraid

Elliot wasn't afraid and was first in line to feed them

Bea clinging to Mommy

BIG cats!

Bea found some very refreshing misters to play in

Happy wet girl 

Baby Cheetah cubs - cute and fast!