Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

On Monday, I took the kids to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, which is just a short drive from our house.  Peyton had another free ticket from school, and the weather was perfect for all the animals to be out - cool and sunny.  Here are a few of the many animals we saw on our "drive-thru safari".

Both kids got their own bag of food and were able to feed the animals right from our car window.  Peyton was thrilled that he was allowed to ride in the front seat for the safari!

The zebras were the kids favorite animal!

  Giraffes are way in the back, under the trees.

 After one "circle" through the safari, lunch at the cafe and a visit to the petting zoo, the kids wanted to see the zebras again.  Plus, we still had some feed left over.  So we circled through the safari once more and were able to have a longer visit with the zebras.  At the start of our second safari, Peyton decided to call his food "danties" and that he would save all of his "danties" for the zebras.

 You can see Reagan's little hand sticking out the window, dropping a piece of food out for the zebra.  On safari #2, I finally figured out that I could take pictures of the kids actually feeding the animals by aiming the camera at the rear view mirrors.

 The one animal the kids did NOT like was the ostrich.  Every time one would come close to the car (there were many along the safari), the kids would scream (playfully) and insist that all the windows be rolled up tight!  This particular ostrich was really aggressive and was not to happy that we would not feed it!

Here he is starring at us through the front windshield of the car.  Creepy!

Then he tried to "eat our car!" as Reagan put it!  He kept pounding his beak into the front windshield.  The kids thought it was hilarious! 

Christmas Day!

Peyton actually managed to sleep until 7:03 am!  We know that's what time he woke up because he came running into our room and announced, "It's 7:03!  Can we go downstairs now?"  When Daddy told him to hang on for a second while we got out out bed, Peyton replied, "Don't take too long!  I'm already starting to think about it alot!"  He woke up Reagan and they impatiently waited at the top of the stairs until Mommy and Daddy were ready to go.  

Santa came!

He even left a "ticket" for a real pet kitty!

 Peyton playing with his new "factory belt" - aka Playdough Mega Fun Factory.

 Reagan "rockin out" on her new drum!

Peyton the Magician!

 Discovering only crumbs on Santa's cookie plate!  Later in the day, Peyton announced that he thought he actually heard Santa's reindeer on the roof that night!

 Peyton was so excited about the present he gave Reagan this year - a stuffed kitty similar to his own beloved Kitty.

Reagan loving on her new kitty.  She named him "Tuffy" after Grandma's cat Tuffy who is also black and white.

Reagan thanking Peyton for Tuffy with a hug.

Peyton opening his present from Reagan - a jackhammer.  Even though is it only a toy one (not a real one as he originally requested) he has still had a great time playing with it!

 Peyton "doing construction" with his new jackhammer.

Grandma, Grandpa, Brett and Stephanie came over for breakfast.  We made french toast with cinnamon chip bread - mmmmm!  The kids were too excited about their new toys to eat hardly any breakfast!

Reagan playing the drums again - this time she's banging away while sitting on top of her new lady bug Pillow Pet on the coffee table.

Uncle Brett was just as excited as Peyton was about the new remote controlled helicopter!

Peyton passing out gifts to everyone.

Peyton opening a talking solar system model.

Reagan painting while wearing a doll in her new doll carrier.

We went to the Bonnette's for a wonderful Christmas Day lunch!  Then we relaxed around the fire and tree in the living room. 

Reagan and Stephanie's sister Beth making words out of bathtub letters.

Reagan cracked everyone up with her hearty "Ho Ho Ho!"

Peyton and Reagan with this year's Happy Birthday Jesus cake.

Christmas Eve

We had a quiet Christmas Eve morning at home.  Daddy didn't have to work - yeah!  It was rainy, so we mostly stayed inside.   Brett and Stephanie came over mid-afternoon, and Grandma and Grandpa arrived shortly after.  We went to the Snow-themed Christmas Eve service at Bulverde United Methodist Church, where Reagan was going to "perform" a few songs with other preschoolers. 

Reagan "singing" with the other kids.  

Collecting "snow" to take home

 Excited that it is Christmas Eve!

Eating dinner back at home.

After dinner, we put the kids in their Christmas pjs and let them open a few presents.

 Peyton opened this pop gun from Uncle Jackie and Aunt Georgia.  "You'll shoot your eye out!" became the catch phrase for the evening!  (Several days later, the kids are still saying "You'll shoot your eye out!" each time they pick up the gun!

 Pillow Pets from Grandma and Grandpa.  The kids are still singing the Pillow Pet commercial song!  

After presents, it was time to get ready for Santa.  The kids sprinkled their reindeer food in the front yard.  Peyton "needed" to wear his headlight.  

Leaving cookies for Santa.  Then it was off to bed! 

P.S. - As I was putting Peyton to bed he asked, "So who brings Santa presents?"