A Swedish Meatball Fail & An Elephant Named Puppy

This vacation week? did NOT get off to the most auspicious start. Monday morning, we woke up to this on our deck:
We were hit by over a foot of snow - without chance of a snow day, which hardly seems fair. After it stopped snowing and Daddy dug out the cars, we were all a bit antsy to get OUT. Unfortunately, our original plans (the Music for Aardvarks Snow Ball) were canceled due to the inclement weather so we decided to head to IKEA, which was *supposed* to be our plan for yesterday. (Yes, we did plan out our entire vacation. And, yes, IKEA was given its own special day; swedish meatballs and cheap home decor for the win!) Mommy called IKEA and verified that they were open, and off we went.

The store's outgoing message neglected to mention that the restaurant would be closed for the day. FAIL #1. Then, after wandering around for a while and heading for checkout, the one item that Mommy really wanted to get wasn't in stock (AND was mislabeled so we had kind of a wild goose chase in Aisle 32). FAIL #2. Finally, after navigating the long line at self-checkout, and then ANOTHER line so Daddy could get some frozen meatballs (a consolation prize) while I threatened to *melt down,* we went out to the parking lot. And couldn't find the car. FAIL #3.

Mommy was beginning to think that IKEA parking lots employed some sort of alternate dimension technology (this is not the first time we've wandered aimlessly after exiting the Swedish superstore), when she realized that when we originally entered the building we had gone up an escalator. Sure enough, Jane was waiting for us in the spot where we left her - one level below where we had been looking. Seriously, though, IKEA, there should be SIGNS.

"Hey, dummy, your car is downstairs."

Anyway, Monday was somewhat disappointing -and it left us at a loss as to what to do yesterday. So Mommy decided to do what we *always* do when we have no other plans: go to the zoo. Daddy was skeptical: it's winter, there's still a TON of snow on the ground, and weren't we just there? Mommy, however, thinks the zoo membership is the best thing we ever got - not only has it nearly paid for itself (after only 2 months), but it takes away the pressure of feeling like you need to See Everything. We are able to visit for a little while, until we start to get a little tired (or cold) and then we can just leave - no feeling guilty about not getting "enough" out of your admission. PLUS, our membership includes admission to all the zoo "extras" - on this visit, we checked out the Bug Carousel and the Polar Express 4-D Experience.

We had such a great time!


This very cold-looking peacock greeted us as we started our day.

Meet Puppy. He's my new little elephant - we met him in the gift shop and I refused to leave him behind. Mommy suggested that his name might be Peanut, but I corrected her several times. Yes, I know he is an elephant. (I will sign elephant at you when you ask me. And say Mine.) His *name* is Puppy.

The first time we walked past this ice sculpture, it wasn't quite finished, but on our return trip the giraffe was all done!

I rode a praying mantis on the Bug Carousel.

The Polar Express 4-D Experience was really cool - it was little clips from the movie put together to tell the story within a 15 minute time frame. The movie itself was in 3-D (thus the supercool glasses), but there were also extra sensory experiences that made it "4-D." When the waiters are singing, for example, you can smell the hot chocolate - and you can smell the Christmas tree in Santa's village! The seats rattle a little bit so you feel like you are really on the train. I liked almost the whole thing (I *really* like choo choos), but there was a part where some water is sprayed on your face that I didn't love.

After the movie, we took a little break for lunch in the Dancing Crane Cafe.

Because it was a cold, wintery day, most of the exhibits we chose to go to were the indoor ones (the Mouse House, the Monkey House, Zoo Center, etc.). Our favorite spot of the day was Madagascar, which Daddy had not been to yet since it is fairly new.

We practically had the place to ourselves! And, maybe because there were no noisy crowds, all the animals were putting on their best performances - and showing off really close to the viewing areas!

After we left the zoo, we decided to head to Stew Leonard's on the way home. The Bronx Zoo *and* the Disney World of supermarkets all in one day? Woot, woot! This vacation is definitely looking up!