Zoo-volution

 Fist Child at the zoo:  video cameras, grandparent entourage, frilly hats, sunscreen, strollers, diaper bag full of nutritious snacks, sippy cups, ointments, medications, books, toys; stop by the fire station to check safety of carseat.
Last Child:  "Good job finding shoes!  Go get in the car and buckle up your carseat!"

First Child:  Would be on that merry-go-round.  Last Child: I'm not payin' two bucks a person when there are animals to see, including the young humans going around in circles in front of you.

 First Child:  Would have known that, while this kitty looks like a regular house cat, it is actually a Pallas Cat, most active at dawn and dusk and adapted for life at cold climates.  To these kids, it's "Wowchie," Coco's cat.  And we spent 10 minutes watching it sleep.

 Here, First Child would have gotten a gentle lesson on how "we don't climb on the fences because we could scare the Giant Galapagos Tortoise, and also, it's not safe."  Last Child gets a worried look from her cousin and a photo taken by her mom, highlighting the amusing differences in the two girls' personalities.  One, a sweet, cautious observer.  The other, a fence-climbing, thrill-seeking, tortoise-scaring nut job.  I may have thrown in a "Don't scare the big turtle, Tizzy!"

 First Child points and says,  "Fishy!"
Parent:  "No, that's not a fishy.  That is a California Sea Lion.  It inhabits rocky and sandy beaches of coastal islands and mainland shorelines.  The adult females generally weigh..."

Last Child:  "Fishy!"
Parent:  "Yes, fishy!  Fast fishy!  Big fishy!"

 And, as an added bonus, a trip to Temple Square on the way home, Last Child-Style.  (At the red light, Mom pauses the movie Elf and screams, "LOOK!  FLOWERS!  EVERYBODY LOOK!"  Temple Square:  Check.)

Phew, can you imagine how much energy that excursion would have taken if I were a first-time mom? This seasoned veteran...will probably go back tomorrow.  You know, to see the Golden Tamarins and the Orangutans.  (That's monkeys to you, Tziporah.)