The Zoo or a (Not So) Reasonable Facsimile

Every evening at dinner, we discuss our day with Daddy.  Every evening, it goes a little something like this:

Me: Cora, tell Daddy what you did today.

Cora: We went to the zoo!

Folks, that is almost never true.  We don't even live anywhere near a zoo.  It's a case of wishful thinking, I suppose.  Nevertheless, that is virtually always her response.  Fortunately for me, I have stumbled upon the next best thing (in the mind of my little three year old):  the pet store.  We discovered today that the pet store by our house has child sized shopping carts - much to the utter joy and delight of a certain pint-sized shopper.  After laying down the law in regards to the proper care and use of such vehicle, much exuberant shopping/observing did occur.  We first headed over to the reptile/amphibian section.  

Her favorites are the fire-bellied toads (which she insists are tree frogs) and the iguanas.  These two happy fellas were almost as interested in Cora as she was in them.  (They're not nearly as grumpy as they look!)

We then sidled over to the fish where you will be relieved to know that we did, in fact, find Nemo.  He was lurking among the anemone, natch.  We found some parakeets and conures before heading over to the mammals.  That's where we observed a funny little ferret as well as some guinea pigs and playful mice.  

She had a blast watching the mice scurrying around the cage.  This momma was so tempted to add a little pet mouse to our brood until I remembered what goes into caring for one.  I'm not sure that adding one more living creature to my household would be prudent - even if it is only a little mouse!

We finished our zoo visit pet shop jaunt in the dog treats section.  For some strange reason, I thought it would be fun for her to have something to tote around in her shopping cart.  What was I thinking?!  That suggestion was met with a resounding "NOOOOO!"  I mean, really, why on earth would she want something in her shopping cart?!

Flash forward to this evening.  Here is how the conversation went:

Me:  Cora, tell Daddy where we went today.

Cora:  Daddy, we went to the pet store!

Score!  A (not so) reasonable facsimile!