Andrew's Last Hurrah

For Andrew's last weekend as an only child, we decided to hit of few hot spots. To start the weekend, we ate at Andrew's favorite restaurant, Amigo's, where he dined liked a King. He feasted on their finest offerings of beans, rice, chips, and ice cold lemonade. While there, he blessed the bathroom with one final poo, and announced to all the restaurant goers and servers what a wonderful job he had just done. Although I sat there looking embarrassed, everyone else seemed to be genuinely happy for him. He may have even had a high five from a stranger.

On Saturday, we packed up our snacks and our shades and headed to the best place on earth, the zoo. Andrew had been begging to take Daddy to the zoo since our last trip. He even snuck the request into our nightly prayers. We decided what better time to walk several miles than with a toddler and someone whose 9 months pregnant. :)

Chris gave me my birthday/happy Caroline present early (a Flip Video camera), so we were able to document our fun in a whole new way! (Unfortunately, I don't know how to upload the new videos... ) We passed the penguins and the baboons on the way to the gorilla enclosure, and we stopped for a few Andrew and Daddy photo ops.

When we reached the gorilla (or Gradilla as Andrew says), we realized very quickly that he wanted nothing to do with us. Andrew said the Gradilla was too sad, and I tend to agree.

Next up, we had some of the coolest experiences in the Giants of the Savannah exhibit. Many of the animals share a large open space and interact with each other freely. With free roaming animals, we were bound to catch some gold.

The best part of the whole day had to be feeding the giraffes. Andrew and Daddy got to share some delicious leaves with some super tall friends.

We had fun the rest of the morning at the zoo seeing the big cats, amphibians, and reptiles. Then we headed home for a much needed nap. Make sure you pay close attention to the slide show... we got to see some serious tortoise-on-tortoise action. Full-throttle. I was a good girl, so I didn't take a video. (That would verge on tortoise porn, and I think they deserve some dignity.)

After our lunches and naps, we bundled up and headed to Santa's village. Last year, we waited in line forever for Santa and then had to "persuade" Andrew to sit on his lap. (Last year's picture is first, and bless the sweet elf who caught the millisecond that Andrew sat on Santa's lap.)

This year, we arrived early to check out all of the elves' huts and wait for Santa's arrival. We came prepared for the line with snacks and a lawn chair for me, super preggers.

He is another slide show showing all the fun "shops" we visited while waiting for Santa.

After exploring Santa's village, Santa finally arrived by fire engine, and the mayor officially opened Santa's Village by turning on the Christmas tree and all the lights. Here's Andrew after eagerly waiting to see Santa. We needed no persuasion this year.

What did he ask for? He wants a mower and a weed eater. I hope Santa was listening... I guess we will find out soon enough! Last year, he asked Santa for a baby "sisser", and we all know how that turned out. Andrew must be a really good boy.

:)

Anne