Making Holiday Memories

I hope that the kids remember that we took them to the zoo to see the Wildlights display at Christmas every year. Because we are making the effort to make memories here.

On Friday around 4:00, Kevin called me and asked if I would like to go to the zoo that evening to see the lights. I, of course, said sure. So I got the kids some warmer socks and clothes, and loaded up the car. We left the house around 4:30. We picked Kevin up from his office around 5:15 PM.

Neither of the boys had napped that afternoon, so they both fell asleep in the car on the way to get Daddy. We figured we would let them sleep some more while we drove to the zoo.

Around 6:00, we were tired of the traffic, and hungry, so we stopped at a Little Ceasars to pick up some Hot-n-Ready pizzas, which weren't actually ready yet. Around 6:15, both boys had awoken, and we were back on the road, munching on some pizza again while sitting in traffic.

Every year I forgot how bad the rush hour traffic to get to the zoo on a Friday night to see the lights is, and we end up sitting in it. But, eventually, we made it to the zoo.

6:45 PM: Park the car and walk to front gate

6:50 PM: Check in at front gate

6:55 PM: Realize that it is as cold as the frozen tundra. Mommy has to go the bathroom as a result of the approximately 75 fl oz of Pepsi consumed in the car since 4:30 PM. Daddy takes the boys to go warm up in the gift shop, because they are already cold.

7:00 PM: Find some of the millions of holiday lights on display at the zoo. Take photos for posterity.

Connor is wearing his warm gear Under Armor, warm clothes, wool socks, a winter coat, hat, gloves, and is sitting in the stroller, wrapped in not just one, but two fleece blankets.
He is still freezing his butt off.
He just couldn't get warm.

Daddy and Lex
Don't let his smile fool you.
Daddy was every bit as cold as Connor,
wearing only his suit from work and a wool jacket and hat.
At least I grabbed him a hat and gloves, right?

Look, I was there, too!
I swear that blur is me.

7:05 PM: Decide that we have accomplished our mission. We have seen the holiday lights. Or as much of it as we care to. The vote is unanimous, and we head back to the car.

7:10 PM: Load up the car again, and decide that the best way to view holiday lights is from a nice warm car. So, we decided to drive around and look at neighborhoods full of lights all the way home.

Before we left, though, we did take a short video of the lights display:



Hey kids, remember the time we went to see the Zoo Wildlights? Good. Because we did.