48 Hours!

48 hours until the hubby takes me on my birthday date! He even rearranged his work schedule to spend my stupid day with me. Which would cheer me up all on its own, but we have an extra special time planned.

Did you know that I have one Christmas tree entirely devoted to penguins during the holidays? Or that I love to make Christmas ornaments? And that one of my favorite ornament subjects is penguins?

Did you know my husband took me to see March of the Penguins on a real pre-marriage date?

Did you know that I own penguin pajamas?

Did you know that I've had candy in the shape of penguins? They were peach flavored, not penguin flavored. No real penguins were harmed in the making of said candy. And it's a little weird, to be eating a creature one loves. But it's gummy penguins!

Did you know that I donate to the World Wildlife Fund because, if you specify it, they will send you an adorable animal plush of your choosing? And that my latest plush is a penguin?

Penguins!

In 48 hours, we're going to the zoo to see the...

Giraffes!

Kidding, kidding. PENGUINS! Although we may have to stop and peak in on the giraffes as well.

For the record, my love for penguins began before penguins went all mega main stream. Pre-Morgan Freeman telling their life stories and back when Chilly Willy wasn't retro. He was just Chilly Willy.

Our highlight of the day is going to be our time with the penguins. We are taking a behind the scenes tour of the penguin exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo!

We've been to the zoo a couple times, with the last time being October 2008. That's when we took these pics. It's free - and not only during certain hours on certain days free like the Butterfly House but all the time free! I swear. I just double checked.

The St. Louis Zoo is a great zoo in general. It's large, has lots of different animals and exhibits, and is just generally a really great big city zoo.

The penguin exhibit is especially wonderful. There is a little outside area for the penguins to go out and swim in non-winter months, but the main exhibit is housed in a large penguin building. They only let so many people into the building at a time,  but once you're in, you can stay as long as you like. It's nice and cold and beautiful for the penguins. As you can tell, I tend to get a little excited around them. My eyes go all crazy.

PENGUINS!

We recently found out that for a fee, you can get behind the scenes tours of certain exhibits. They have a list of the tours and you pick the one you would like to go on. Learn all about the animals and their care and even interact with them.

Yes, please pass me the penguin, I shall hold it and hug it and kiss it and love it...

Yeah, so okay, maybe my interaction is going to be limited due to my enthusiasm.

PENGUINS! Penguins! Penguins. Penguins? PENGUINS!