The Week After Christmas 2016

We filled up our week after Christmas with play dates and day-trip excursions.  We met our cousins, my sister-in-law, and my mom and brother at a wildlife center one afternoon.  We were the second to last tour of the day, which meant the animals were very well fed, and many couldn't be bothered to stand up and eat the food out of our buckets.    

We started the tour off with very short horse rides for the kids.  Collin jumped up on the horse first - 

Cousin Nico was next - 

This was Maya's expression when we tried to encourage her to ride like the boys - no thanks!

But Lorenzo, three months younger than Maya, bravely took his turn -

And with the rides out of the way, the exotic animal tour could begin.  We passed kangaroos and lemurs, crocodiles and rhinos.  Buckets full, waiting to feed deer, emus, and other animals -

Photo bomber Collin -

Feeding the animals -

Trying to get a posed cousin shot was nearly impossible -

But capturing excitement of the tram ride or seeing wild animals was much easier -

 
Back at the barn, we used the remainder of our animal food in the petting area -

  After a cousin group hug, we headed home -

The next day, we met my brother and mom at Brazos Bend state park.  Alex spotted our first alligator.  From this point on, the gators were bigger and closer.  And we assume Maya spotted about 50% of the ones the rest of us saw! 

Walking along the trail passing enormous alligators basking in the sun -

The kids were too brave for my comfort level.  Alex and I kept positioning the kids behind us.

Collin acting tough -

Maya had a cold, enabling me to get more of a workout than I bargained for, carrying her a fair bit of our 2.4 miles we walked.

Jumping -

After a picnic lunch, for some reason, spilling rocks out of their shoes onto the slide provided entertainment for the kids on the nearby playground -

Our last stop at the state park was to an area full of baby alligators.  This area took our alligator siting count from 13 to 33 between the 19 babies and the mom -

After dinner, it was time to say good-bye to Uncle Alex with big hugs -

We finally had to peel a teary-eyed Collin off my brother with promises to see him in Colorado on summer vacation, if not sooner.  Maya - who has no understanding of time - couldn't grasp why Collin was upset, trying to comfort him with a "we'll see him in July in Colorado" reasoning.  Thankful for FaceTime to keep up with our out-of-state uncle.

The remainder of the break was play dates and relaxing at the house.  Maya in tutu and helmet for a scooter ride -

Collin celebrating his first place win at Mario Kart -

We took our friends Bryce and Talandis to a nearby party spot to race go-karts, play putt-putt, battle in lazer tag and play in the arcade.

Later that week, we met at a fun park with my best friend Amber and her kids -

And the next day, we continued our traditional cookie making play date.  First step, make some icing and then clean off the beaters -

The cookies the kids created were covered with icing, candy and marshmallows - sugar rush!

The gang -

Back at home for the long weekend around New Year's.  After dinner, as bedtime approached, Maya convinced us she was starving.  She of course wanted more dessert or chips, but unable to back down from her "starving" claim when I offered her bread, this one bite transformed her from starving to satisfied.  Oh Maya!

We had a wonderful Christmas vacation, and we're already counting down until spring break!