Crocs and Gators and Kids, Oh My!

Yesterday we celebrated Madison's 7Th birthday at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park. She had three of her good friends there, two with their moms, plus Jill and her girls, plus both my parents. I wish I could say the experience was astounding, but from an adult's point of view it basically sucked. I paid $250 which got everyone into the park for free, but all they offered me for that amount was a room with tables and chairs. When we got there someone unlocked the room, and when our two hours in there were up, someone came to re-lock it. There was no communication or interaction with any of the park staff the entire time we were there. No one even poked their heads in the room to see if we needed anything. Ah well, we only needed the room to serve cake and open presents, and the rest of the time we spent wandering around looking at reptiles and birds. Our party ended at 4:00, but me and the family stayed almost until closing at 6:00.

Jill got some pretty cool gator shots. Here's one of an albino alligator. I know he looks stuffed, but he's real.


I love this picture. Yes, that is a rat hanging out of his mouth. They have them flown in frozen and they defrost them, then feed them to the gators.


The really fascinating part is that the zoo employees aren't throwing these gators food from up on a deck. They actually walk around, among about 75 gators. All are known by name and are in a way partially tamed. Supposedly, they know not to walk toward one of the zoo keepers unless their name is called or they receive a hand signal. I know this sounds crazy, but it must work, because there were two people and all those gators, and nothing got eaten aside from the rats. Did you know that on average a gator in the wild only eats once per week? Of course that meal might consist of a large wild boar, but hey, a girl's gotta eat, right?

Here's a picture of Alexa, Gianna, and Mikayla holding a baby albino. The kids look like crap but the gator is cute!


Everyone has been asking about Poopy Pants and how's she's doing after her eye surgery. Well, not so great all of a sudden. Her eyes had been turning in, and the surgery was done to try to correct them, but now her right eye is suddenly turning out and it's horrible looking. I think both her eyes look messed up and just want Jill to get her back to the doctor. Not unexpected, as they told her it could take several surgeries to get the muscles just right, but no one wants that for their child. In this picture with Mikayla you can tell there's something wrong with her eyes.


Here are the girls. From left to right: Alexa, Amarita, Julia, Madison and Bentley.


Mikayla chomping on a corn-dog.


Birthday girl with the cutest look on her face. My Little Pony cake, of course. Nothing to do with a reptile theme, but hey, she's a girl! Look at little Amarita's face squeezed into the side of the picture.


Jill and Poopy Pants. My sister thinks she's ugly, but I think she's beautiful.


My goodness, if this wasn't the most boring post ever, I don't know what was. Not a solitary giggle in the whole thing! But hey, maybe that's not so bad. Gotta change things up around here once in a while, and I happen to be in an uber crappy mood right now, which I guess is reflected here on my blog. Knew it would happen sooner or later!

Until next time, Justine :o )