Saturday was close to the Perfect Day. The weather was cool, clear, and breezy. We drove down to the San Diego Wild Animal Park (which is not a zoo) where we were regularly confronted by fuzzy animals, cute animals, fierce animals, and animal babies. Resistance was futile.
First, my fellow adventurers: Samantha, Chris (the tall one), and Chris (the slightly less tall one with birds on his arm). Here they are in the Lorikeet feeding area, barely keeping the ravenous, flesh-eating creatures at bay.
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
Here are some funny looking birds:
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
This is a warthog. We tossed around several different World of Warcraft jokes when we saw it, but Chris summed it up best: “Now that is a tanking pet!”
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
And hello, Mr. Lion! All he did was sleep, but he did it kinda awesomely:
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
Bighorn sheep! (I love bighorn sheep.) See how cleverly he is blending into the rocks?
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
And now, a few of the babies we saw. The park was full of ’em!
Baby pig! I didn’t see this guy, as he was hiding in the shadows on his mommy’s back, but Sam has an eagle eye.
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
And here’s a little elephant baby, born just a few weeks ago on April 12th. His older brother was trying to get close and poke him, but mommy elephant would have none of that. (SO CUTE.)
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
And finally, we had the incredible luck to see a baby animal born just a few hours earlier. Amazing! She was so wobbly on her little legs, she couldn’t stand up all the way. Her brother was born two weeks ago (from the same mom?!?) and look how sturdy he looks!
 |
| From 2010 Photobook |
We toured this same area again later in the day, and saw something even cooler. The mommy was practicing “tucking” — she had hidden her calf in the grass away from the herd, and was standing 40 feet away herself. I wish I had gotten a picture, but trust me, the miracle that is our natural world almost brought tears to my eyes.
In between animal viewing, there was food. And after animal viewing, there was food. And talking. And laughing. Do I wish Sam and Chris lived closer than Florida? Oh, yes. Yes, I do.