Trip to the Bayou Wildlife Park

November 18th, 2011 - -

One Friday morning the kids and I joined my old Bible study group at the Alvin Bayou Wildlife Park. The park covers over 80 acres of prairie and woods where a guided tram ride takes you on an African safari type journey in which the animals can come right up to you and have a snack if they so desire. They both loved it, especially Catherine.

A few highlights of the trip included: the tram ride's rapid roller - coaster like descents along the trail along with a camel taking the food bucket from me - literally a tug of war and the camel won. (Jacob was very angry at the camels for robbing us - really he was quite mad.) Also a deer helped itself to a little girl's meal at our table during lunch which caused quite a stir amongst the little ones. And finally, we saw the largest alligator I have ever seen! It was enormous. They were also excited, but slightly intimidated in the very beginning as we drove in when the animals came right up to and actually tried to put their heads inside of the windows of the car!

Catherine was especially pleased to see a friend from Sunday school there too (the little girl in red.)

Sorry I didn't get many pictures on this adventure...!

Catherine's Zoo Birthday Party (3 years old!)

November 19th, 2011 - -

For Catherine's 3rd birthday party we did a little something different this year - we went to the zoo! So we selected a Saturday morning, invited the families of some of her favorite friends along with Grammy and Grampy, and packed a travel-friendly lunch, drinks, and cookie cake.

It turned out to be a smashing success. We saw all her favorite animals including the much beloved elephants, had a relaxed lunch by the water, and rounded out the day with a ride on the merry-go-round and stop at the petting zoo. It was a nice day had by all.

Somehow at the end she talked me into buying her another large elephant to add to her collection - it is hard to say "no" at the birthday party to the birthday girl! (Although Nancy (Grammy) and I tried to devise a scheme in which we'd each blame each other for the purchase thereby neither of us getting in trouble with our spouses for spending more money.) In the end I came clean.

"Happy 3rd Birthday Kit Kat!"

Visit with Grandma Toria

November 2011 - -

My mom "Grandma Toria" came for a visit in early November and it was such a treat for all four of us. One night she always takes our family to dinner at Mely's (our local Mexican restaurant) and this trip she also arrived just in time (literally from airport to preschool) for the kid's Open House. So she got to meet Jacob and Catherine's two sets of teachers as well as drop them off with me in the morning and see the usual routine. We had Chick-Fil-A and Sonic drinks at least once possibly more (something she misses from Texas) and she also treated them to a trip to Build-A-Bear which they loved! She started the tradition several visits back of "one new toy a day" which of course they delight in.
: ) She is a wonderful playmate to each of them and patiently plays with them joining them in their imaginings (I know their cousin Lily loves this play time with her too.) I wish I had done a better job "photo-documenting" as my sister-in-law Jenny says, but I will cherish the ones I did take.

Jacob Alexander... 4 and couting!