Christmas Break Fun

After a pretty mild December, we finally got some snow right in time for Christmas!  

Evelyn loved playing in the snow for the first time (well, until her mittens soaked through and her hands got all wet.)  

Jared pulling Maggie

We made a mini-snowman.  Either I was too impatient, or the snow wasn't sticky enough to make a really big snowman.  

Evelyn crying because she's cold

On New Year's Eve we went with Alan's sister Angela to the zoo because it was a free day.  Seriously, I must be a glutton for punishment.  While we were eating breakfast that morning, our outdoor thermometer read -1 degrees!  Then while we were driving up in the car, it was 7 degrees. When we got to the zoo and got out of the car, it was so windy from a canyon wind that I said, "Ok, maybe I was wrong and maybe this was a mistake." However, when we were done with our zoo visit, it was finally warm--17 degrees!  Ha ha.  We were prepared, though.  We bundled up, and the kids wore snow pants and all their snow gear.

First stop--the gorilla house.  It was warm (and smelly) inside.  

 We spent most of our time in the reptile house/small animal house, where Maggie stripped off all her snow gear one by one because it was so warm inside.

This particular snake was active and saying hello to all of us.

The tiger was my favorite animal this time.  I love this picture with Maggie in it.  

Evy and the leopard

I was sad that the African animals weren't out (zebras, giraffes, and lions) but really, I think we got to see everything else, including the elephants!  Alan even admitted that he had fun and was glad we went.

We had a fun Christmas break.  Besides going to the zoo and playing in the snow, we went to the aquarium twice, played with cousins, and had a fun New Year's party with the Curtis family.  I never heard the kids complain that they were bored.  :)

...However, this mommy is a little ashamed to admit that she was glad when school started up again.  :)