Redneck

There is something about a dead animal head in my front flower bed that makes me realize how country we can be.  My goodness, the poor neighbors.

Fossil Rim

Nana and Papaw were in town visiting, and we didn't have anything to do.  We decided to make a visit to Fossil Rim in Glen Rose.  It was a great day to see lots and lots of deer. 

The giraffe were resting today and not interested in eating, but they were still beautiful.

This deer was coming on in the truck for a snack.  The kiddos thought this was hilarious, but the adults felt a little uneasy.  OK, time to roll up those windows.

Father's Day at Fossil Rim

We spent the day in Glen Rose to celebrate Father's Day, and it was so much fun.  We drove down about mid morning and had lunch at a local bar-b-que restaurant.  The boys were intrigued by the rustic decor and the picnic table set up.  We then headed to Fossil Rim about 3 miles away. 

We all were amazed at our few hours driving through Fossil Rim.  It is about 1400 acres of wildlife refuge just a few miles southwest of Ft. Worth.  There are several different species to see and learn about.  We drove the meandering road through while we fed the amazing animals, all the while reading our brochure to learn more about them.  By the end of the trip, animals were eating out of our hands and even a giraffe was fed through the sunroof. 

Everyone LOVED today!  Even Miss Ridley who missed all the awesome animals while she napped in the floorboard of the truck.  Happy Father's Day to the best dad ever.  John Chris, we love you so much and appreciate the wonderful life with you.

Dallas Zoo

After living in the DFW area for several years, we finally made it to the Dallas Zoo.  Uncle Clint, Aunt Kristi, and Ally came out for the weekend with some of their friends to go to a few area attractions.  We met them at the zoo after our morning at the ballpark.  The boys thought it was the best fun day ever. 

The weather was perfect, and it wasn't very busy.  We spent the day enjoying all the neat exhibits and checking out the animals.  We even found two "monkeys" for a family photo by the entry.

 

 

Alligators

 

 

The boys saw a couple big rocks and thought it was a great place to pose in their cool shades.

 

We all rode the Monorail around one side of the zoo.  It was a great way to see lots of the different animals and their different habitats.

 

The boys found an animal they could take turns holding.  The poor lizard was gone as soon as he hit the ground.  I have a feeling he was a bit nervous around these rowdy boys.

 

The Wilds of Africa exhibit was very cool, and it was the favorite part of the visit.  We were able to see several elephants, giraffes, hogs, lions, and lots more close up.

 

Rainforest Cafe

It's date night with my little boys!  I took the boys to Rainforest Café for a special night of fun, while Daddy went to a basketball game. They were completely amazed before we even went in the restaurant.  They loved the huge fish in the aquarium, but they loved all the junk even more.  I have never had so many requests for shirts, hats, toys, cups, and the list goes on and on.  The boys were total RC paraphernalia junkies.  They could have easily spent $300.

 

 

Ryland wasn't afraid of the big mechanical alligator, but Reed wasn't interested at all.  While Ryland tried to toss coins in the gator's mouth, Reed chunked coins from about 10 feet away.

Ryland and I were excited to see our awesome table by the elephants.  Reed wasn't thrilled.  He was scared, and he refused to get out of my lap or release the death grip around me.  It took about 15 minutes and a blinking cup of lemonade to finally get him in his own chair.

The boys enjoyed their dino chicken nuggets and fries, but they were more excited about the swords the balloon artist made for them.  The perfect end - a sword fight table side that quickly escalated to the two surrounding tables.  The un-expecting victims thought it was hilarious when they were stabbed.  I was ready to pay and exit before it got ugly. 

We had a fantastic time, and we will visit again soon.  The boys loved Rainforest Café!

 

 

Horses, goats, and chickens

We headed outdoors for play group this week. About 3 miles from our house, there is a ranch with horses, goats, and chickens. They specialize in horse riding lessons and summer camps.
Ryland was very unsure when we arrived and saw the horses. He stood over to the side and put his hands in his mouth. I didn't push him to approach the animals, because I knew he would warm up and get comfortable.
I am not a huge horse fan either, so I completely understood. They are big and scary. Since a horse just about killed me in Lake Tahoe years ago, I decided to keep my distance. I don't want Ryland to have my fears, so I told him how pretty and nice horses are. (My fingers were crossed.)

A glimpse at the pond. It really was very serene and calm here. It felt like we were out in the country, but it was only 3 miles from home.

My brave boy decided he wanted to pet one of the horses. The guide tried to get Ryland to feed the horse, but he wasn't interested. He quickly told her no and went on his way to explore the chickens.

By the time we left, Ryland had decided he loved this place. I physically had to pick him up and take him to the truck. He did not want to leave. He is too young to attend their summer camp this year, but we will be back for next summer.

Christmas festival

Our church has an annual Christmas festival with bounce houses, petting zoo, games, and food. Ryland had a blast! Bounce houses are one of Ryland's new favorite things, and he can't get enough of them. Just don't think he will come out when you tell him to get out.
John Chris joined us after work for dinner and some more fun. We checked out the small animals in the petting zoo, and Ryland thought the animals were hilarious.

Smiling with pure joy! He loves animals and is oblivious to me trying to get a photo.

Back to the bounce houses. Who isn't happy and refuses to wait in line?

John Chris and Ryland enjoy a big boy bounce slide.

The church has a huge tree out front with lots of lights and ornaments. The live music and chilly weather sparked the Christmas spirit.

Ryland lucked out and was able to get the last miniature horse ride for the night. I was really shocked that he was so calm and relaxed. He rode like an experienced pro.

Fall festival

Ryland wore his fisherman costume to school today for their fall festival. They had tons of fun stuff planned for the day including a petting farm, hay ride, games, and pizza. I snapped a quick shot of Ryland in front of the fall display they had assembled. He was completely worn out when I picked him up, and was ready for bed at 7:30. I think he had a blast.

Safari Park

Ryland and I checked out a new place to play. We met the moms' group at Safari Park, and it was awesome. The indoor play place has a train, miniature golf, motorized animals, and lots of toys!
We climbed to the top of the ball pit to take in the view. This place is so much fun!

Head first sliding. A great idea until you bump your head. Ryland is still a dare devil, and he thought it was much more fun sliding this way. The tears didn't last long after he bumped his head. He cried a bit and then right back at it.

Library party

We participated in the summer reading program at our local library. To celebrate the success of the program, the library hosted a party. The theme was "Bank on Books", and the mascot was Oink the pig. Being a very dramatic pig, Oink decided to enter the party on one of the new firetrucks with the siren turned on.

Ryland was more impressed with the siren than the pig. He just sat back and played with his new stuffed snake he was just given. Whatever pig.

It isn't an awesome party unless there are animals. At the end of the street, there was a petting zoo. Ryland had a great time chasing the little goats and petting them.

I was just waiting for a burst of something. He just looks like he is devising a plan. "Gentle" was the key word I kept repeating. "Play gentle."

As if it wasn't hot enough for the animals and the kids, there was also a trailer. These poor animals need a raise.

Or a better attorney.

Anyone up for a little Electric Slide? It looks like Oink is going to bust a move at any moment.

Ryland scoots to the dance floor to show them up. The child loves to dance, and he jams out. We finish off the evening with cherry snow cones. Pure bliss!