Polar Bear, Polar Bear, How Do You Stay Cool ...

When the temperature is 90+ degrees and the humidity makes your skin practically boil? For the polar bears at the Central Park Zoo, the answer was easy. Hover near-fully immersed in the water in the shadiest corner of your pen, watching everyone watch you, like so:

Penguins, Penguins, how do you stay cool? Um...that one's easy. They're of the arctic variety, and their water and enclosure is very cold. It was also very crowded as everyone lingered in the cool room for a little longer than normal. Mason, per usual, got up close and personal with one of his feathered friends, and even wowed him with his Happy Feet dance.

Mason Man, Mason Man, how do you stay cool? Why, at the Heckscher Playground, of course! We kind of discovered this playground late last year, but it quickly became a favorite. It's got this really cool series of walkways that are filled with water and connect to various places to climb up or down and a couple of slides -- which Mason learned today shoot you to the bottom at bullet-like speed once they (and he) are a little wet! In addition, there's not one, not two, but three separate sprinkler areas.



He was a little timid to start, but once he poured water over his head it was over. He LOVED it. He was running all over. Mommy ran through once with him, but a poor wardrobe choice (read: too much white) limited her to the sidelines, despite the fact that the misting sprinkler, especially, felt oh-so-good.

Once the little man was thoroughly soaked, we packed up, but, you know ... it was hot, so a little ice cream was in order to finish our day off right.


Afterward, Mommy dragged Mason to a few stores in Columbus Circle. As we were waiting in line at our last stop, he announced he had to poop. By the time we made it through the line, he was quite literally, too pooped to poop and had passed out in the stroller (where he still is, which is why I have time to write on the blog!) Success all around.