Zoo Lights

After Christmas Jake and I invited my sister-in-law Jayme and her kids Bennett, Carter, and Ava, along with my mom to 'Zoo Lights' at Hogle Zoo. The lights were amazing and it was so fun to see the nocturnal animals come out that you usually don't see during the day.

The trees and elephants were very detailed and so pretty!

These Gorillas' arms were moving. It was so fun!

Here is the under the sea exhibit. I look like Ariel with all my under the sea friends at winter :)

Bennett rode the carousel all by himself. He is growing so big! He picked to ride the praying mantis all by himself. :)

The tigers were out and pacing the fence. Kinda eerie...





Mom, Carter, Jake, and Bennett hanging out by the Dragon.






The last animal we saw was the Snow Leopard. He was so cute! He even rubbed his head against the glass and also put his paw up to the glass. I think he was trying to play with Jake.

Zoo Lights was so cool. It is definitely a yearly tradition. I can't wait for next year!

Christmas Extraveganza

This Christmas was a total success! Jake, Phillip and I had a great time with all the family! We traveled all around town, starting with Christmas at our house then off to my mother-in-law Dianne's, then my father-in-law Jeff's, Then off to Christmas with my mom and my brother's family. It was a total blast!

Christmas Morning at home:

Here is Phillip surrounded by his Christmas gifts. He loves his tent and blanket!

These are my lovely Christmas PJs that Jake gave me. They are super comfy.

This is my stocking carnage. Stockings rock!

Off to Dianne's. Here we are all together. Oh how sweet!

Jake's dad Jeff gave us this awesome present, a new super cool camera, Wahoo!

I was so excited to give Jeff this awesome telescope from all of the kids. He looks pretty happy too.

Christmas with mom began with the traditional scavenger hunt

My mom is holding my niece Ava while my nephews Bennett and Carter run to find each clue.




We then opened presents. My brother Scott with his beautiful little girl Ava while she holds her new hippo pillow pet.



The boys were so good that they even sat down long enough to read a book with their mom :)




We finished the day off with cleaning up all the wrapping paper. Carter is racing Bennett to see who can clean up the fastest. Notice Phillip's sweet face in the bottom right hand corner :)

This Christmas was so fun and I loved relaxing and being with family. Oh, and I also liked getting presents :)