**I am finishing this blog over a week after we went to the zoo and a lot has gone on in between then and now. So, I am going to keep it short and really just write a short bit and use pictures instead of words to help capture the memories of the day.
Bryce and I went to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa yesterday. The weather has cooled down but yesterday was a little warm. All of the animals were out though which was great. We also got to see a group of annual-pass holders feed the animals pumpkins filled with fruit. They dropped one over the boardwalk to the sloth bear and when the pumpkin smashed open, Bryce started repeating, "broke" and "pumpkin broke."
(the panther with his pumpkin)

We rode the camel and he LOVED it. Mike will ride him around on his back and we call Mike the camel, or "Cay-mull" as Bryce says. So to ride a real camel was very exciting (he rode the camel either last year or the beginning of this year...can't remember.)
I brought the stroller but I thought I would let him run around, burn off some energy.

We saw most of the exhibits and bought some ice cream.

I let him play in the water which I think was a highlight of his day. It was warm out and the water was cool and he, like most toddlers, loved splashing around.

He would run around to each fountain and then stop on one and hit the water.

I let him play for awhile but it was getting close to 4 o'clock and if we left any later, we would have to battle with rush hour traffic. I stripped off his completely soaked clothes and bribed him with food to get into the stroller.
We went to the gift shop and luckily he picked out a souvenir that was under $50! (He got this frog toy that was only $3.95!!! Way to be thrifty Bryce.)
He behaved pretty well considering he hadn't had his afternoon nap....conked out as soon as we hit the interstate.

Don't forget to turn off the music up top...