The Living Desert

A few years ago, back when Owen was an only child, Mom and I brought him out to the Living Desert and we liked it.  We told each other we’d have to come back…and it only took us like 5 years and 2 more kids to get back there.

November 2010

Those pictures make me smile…my little Owen was so small!! It was a different time, different life.  Different stresses. This was 8 months post chemo…and we were so happy to not be consumed with oncologists, blood work, etc and able to enjoy our little man.

And now we are definitely in a different place in life…much much happier place!! My dreams came true.

But flash forward 6 years and we are back to The Living Desert.

Its such a cool little place that has lots of pretty cool stuff!  How sad is it that the closest thing to a zoo that Ella has ever been to is Pet Smart…so this place was a tiny slice of heaven for her. 

I was kinda super excited because they recently added the Giraffe feeding part to the Living Desert and we arrived RIGHT as the feeding hour started. Totally something everyone has on their bucket list right?!?  I’ll be honest…I was actually a little scared of the huge, oddly calm animals…but Owen and Ella didn’t mind one bit.

And of course, leave it to me…I had a brilliant idea to try and feed one right behind us for a cool picture. Well…it backfired on me. The darn things tongue is So long, SO scratchy and FREAKED ME THE HELL OUT! haha  I may or may not have kinda squealed-screamed a little bit.

Ella was so brave…for being so tiny she sure is huge when it comes to being fearless.

After feeding the giraffe’s Ella was hell bent on doing “the ride”…I had NO clue what she was talking about and she kept whining and crying about doing “that ride thing”. She didn’t have the words to tell us so I asked her to explain it…and she said” the one with the back thingy” (while running her hands down her back!) It was hilarious. She wanted to do the camel ride SO badly. So that was next.  Again…I was a little scared of this too! I was terrified we’d be one of those home videos of a camel going crazy with family on its back…

Yes I was snapchatting our bumpy camel ride…it was hilarious.

Let me tell you…a camel ride is NOT a smooth ride. It was VERy bumpy. Of course Ella enjoyed every second telling me “Mom thats how the camels walks!!”  and Owen just laughed and laughed at his silly Mom.  Lucky Nana got to keep her feet on the ground and watch Mags.

Ella wanted to ride camels...Owen wanted to hold butterflies. Go figure.

Maggie was happy when facing forward getting to take in all that was around her…she’s such an easy baby!  I think all #3’s are that way…probably from a mix of professional parenting and just having to be that way because parents don’t have the same time they had with #1 and #2. haha

We got to brush/pet some goats…who oddly enough all seemed to HATE Ella and would throw their horns at her when she came near them but all loved Owen…haha They sense crazy! haha just kidding no I don’t know what their problems were…she was being very quiet, moving slowly but still just didn’t seem to like her.

The only down side of The Living Desert is a) it gets HOT and b) it’s a lot of walking if you have a stroller and are unable to ride the tram/shuttle thing.

Bernie loved the walking and Ella loved staying cool…

They have discovery centers, and LOTS of animals.  We saw a good few animals awake but of course lots of exhibits that had sleeping animals nowhere to be found too.  We were there in the afternoon…I’m assuming morning hours are better for actually SEEING all the animals awake.

Maggie snoozed in 93 degree weather…the coyotes and meerkats didn’t do it for her.

This was in a “hummingbird forest”…it was so pretty and serene.

I love hummingbirds. I feel like they are a sign from Paul…that he’s watching and with us. i always have hummingbirds around me at odd times…like for example…the day I moved out of my house (and into the townhouse with Yosh in 2006) a hummingbird flew into my parents house. It’s very uncommon for a smart hummingbird to fly inside places…was weird…so since then I just have a good feeling from them.

But it was a great day!! Its a place I totally recommend to people who are local. The prices are totally affordable as well.  My kids love it. You can do the whole park in one day…BUT my kids are already asking to go back again soon.  I will probably be waiting until cooler weather…just too HOT out in that desert!

I took this picture of Mags to send to Daddy (who was in Vegas for March Madness at the time) to show him that she was having a “bad eye day”…her ptosis is worse some days more than others.  But either way this little lady is a freaking cutie!