Fiona's Zoo Day

Fiona and I went to the Santa Ana Zoo today. On the way we talked about all the different animals that can be seen at the zoo. Fiona especially wanted to see the monkeys, the crocodiles, and the lions.

The last time I took the girls to the zoo by myself was about two years ago when we went to the San Diego Zoo. Fiona sat in the stroller and stared at every animal while Moira kept us moving to the next one after about 3 seconds. So I was really expecting Fiona to have a great day watching the animals without Moira pushing her on.

We get there and discover that the Santa Ana Zoo is not a modern zoo and only accepts cash. So Fiona and I are walking back to the car (well, I'm walking. Fiona is riding on my shoulders) to go get some cash and we have the following conversation:

Fiona: Where are we going?
Daddy: To get some cash.
Fiona: Why?
Daddy: To go to the zoo.
Fiona: My tall dinosaur has cash.
Daddy: Ok, but tall dinosaur probably has prehistoric cash and we need modern cash.
Fiona: I have cash. See? (Fiona holds out an empty hand)
Daddy: Yes. But I don't think the zoo will take that cash.
Fiona: Ok. I should put it back in my pocket.

A little while later, we have negotiated the entrance fee and are looking for our first exotic animal. The Santa Ana Zoo has an Amazon basin birds exhibit, so we wander into that first. After about ten minutes, we have found some red slider turtles. Another five minutes and we find two blue birds of unknown name in a tree.

Daddy: Look, Fiona, birds.
Fiona: Yes. Daddy? Can we go down there? (points further down the path)
Daddy: But Fiona, we found the birds. Finally. See?
Fiona: Yes. They go tweet tweet. Can we go down there?

Ok, I think, Fiona's not into birds. Never really has been. I blame Healy. Let's move on.

Some more wandering and we finally come to the monkeys that Fiona wanted to see so badly.

Daddy: Look, Fiona. Monkeys. (reads sign) Golden faced sakis, actually.
Fiona: Monkeys!
Daddy: Yes. Monkeys.
Fiona: Can we go down there? (points further down the path)
Daddy: Oookaay.

Daddy: Look, Fiona. More monkeys. Red handed gibbons.
Fiona: Monkeys! (pause) Can we go down there?
Daddy: In a second. Do you see the monkeys?
Fiona: Yes.
Daddy: Are you sure? Where's the monkey?
Fiona (pointing at the monkey on a tree) There. (Points further down the path) Can we go down there?


Not sure if she was looking for the crocodiles or the lions. Or maybe four year olds have to keep moving to survive.