Zoo school this month couldn’t have come at a better time.
After several weeks of bone chilling cold, the temperature rose to 60 degrees just long enough for us to enjoy an afternoon at one of our favorite places in Nashville.
We started with Punky’s class, a once-a-month event the zoo puts on for home schoolers. I was so glad I finally remembered my camera-
Just take a look at my “chinchilla.”
After the hats were made, the kids got to meet a real, live chinchilla (and a boa constrictor and two Madagascar cockroaches *shudder*).
While Punky learned about animals, Bruiser kept busy with one of his favorite activities…
Coloring.
Then it was time to head out into the zoo, where the animals were enjoying the unseasonably warm day.
The clouded leopards are our favorite animals to visit right now. They are particularly active in winter.
After visiting the lemurs, Punky shouted “Zaboomafoo!” at random intervals for the rest of the day.
I am fascinated by the cassowary, the world’s most dangerous bird and the only bird, I believe, known to kill a man. He uses his beak to disembowel his prey. I tried to explain this to Punky, but she seemed unimpressed.
After that, we visited the chinchilla in its natural habitat.
And of course, a visit to the zoo is (unfortunately) not complete without stopping by to visit the goats. They must all be patted…
And they must all be brushed. A lot.
Punky takes this job very, very seriously.
So it wasn’t surprising when Bruiser decided to get in on the goat brushing action, too.
He particularly liked this goat…
…at least until it head butted him.
It was his first betrayal, and Bruiser didn’t take it well.
Shortly afterward, we decided it was time to go. Well, actually, we decided it was time to drench our hands in sanitizer and have some french fries, but after that, it was definitely time to go.
I think it’s safe to say that a good time was had by all.
This post originally appeared on Parents.com.