Dallas Zoo

My parents came up to visit and we gave them an "adventure" as an anniversary gift.  We ended up going to the Dallas Zoo.  We have been to the Ft. Worth zoo a few times, and it's great, but it is a lot farther away.  The Dallas zoo is maybe only 15 minutes or so?  And we ended up purchasing a membership so we could go again and again this year without paying anymore--it was a surprisingly nice zoo and great experience.  It was funny because all the reviews I had read the last time we chose to go to a zoo said that the Dallas one wasn't that great at all, (so we chose Ft. Worth that time).  They have put a lot of money into it and expanded a lot, plus they have some great opportunities for the kids to interact and have hands-on experiences.  

(Oh, and yes, the girls are wearing the same outfits as the butterfly exhibit post...different week, different adventure, but I probably should have planned for the pictures not looking all the same!)

 Xaris getting a better viewpoint to study the tortoises

 There were a lot of them.  And they were huge and hissing.  

 Albino Alligator.  Or was it a crocodile??  I'm thinking gator, but I might not remember correctly.  

 Kids' play area (also with a water channel to play in and a petting zoo, and who knows what else we haven't visited yet!)

 A giant and beautiful baboon!

 I didn't zoom in for this picture.  Part of the giraffe area is sunken, so when the giraffes are standing there, they are at eye level for spectators!  They have a LOT of giraffes.  One of the extra things visitors can do is pay $5 for a few leaves and feed the giraffes!  We might just do that. Once.  

 They also have a Merry-Go-Round.  Xaris saw it when we first walked in and talked about riding the animals during the whole visit.  So, we paid for a ride for her at the end of our trip :)  (you can also pay to ride camels at this zoo.  Lots of fun extras, but they all cost!)  She chose an Okapi.  She hasn't stopped talking about okapis either!  She was waving at the camera in this picture.  So serious the whole time on the ride, it's hard to tell if she enjoys it.  But she doesn't want to get off at the end of her turn, so I suppose it was a success!

Oh, and ilane slept in the stroller for most of the zoo.  That's why she is not really featured in this post!

flutterbies

 Fridays are typically my day off (along with Saturdays).  Ricardo had foot surgery right before spring break, and there were a few weeks during his recovery where Xaris would really want to play with papa like always, but his foot was just in too much pain to allow for much active play time.  So, while he was home recovering, it was a little easier to get the girls out of the house for part of the time, rather then have Xaris face repeated disappointment that papa's "Super-booboo" was still present and an obstacle in their usual rowdy play. Most days our out-of-house time was just going out to the church and going to work like normal. But Fridays have been fun because we got to choose adventures!   One friday we went to the children's aquarium at fair park, which is less than 3 miles from where we live.  It was a lot of fun!  I don't think I managed to take any pictures there though.  Another week we went to the butterfly house at the same location, and I did manage to come away with some photos.  

 The butterflies were fun and beautiful.  X loved to watch them and would get somewhat close to look at them if they were still.  She was wary of them flying though, and I suppose I don't blame her.  They flutter by kind of fast and unpredictable sometimes, and a few of them have wingspans close to the size of her face!  She was thrilled when one landed on my shoulder though, and then walked/fluttered it's way across my torso to my other arm.  She still talks about it occasionally.  

While we waited for the "release" time, where they were going to be bringing in new butterflies, we played outside in the park, and did a wacky impromptu photo shoot in their new matching outfits from Gramama.  I love these pictures.  They have so much character in their various expressions, but sometimes not in the same shot!  

This last one is my favorite :)

6 months

Updating the blog has been way past due!  

I need to begin catching up now before the rest of the months pass by and I have too many cupcake photos to sort through.  iX's six-monthiversary was fun and somewhat eventful.  Since she turned 6 months old on a Wednesday, we were out at the church until pretty late that evening.  I had made the cupcakes earlier in the day, and left them to cool, but it was 9:30 at night when I was frosting them while Ricardo was entertaining the girls in hopes of having a happy girl for this late night picture!

Yes, that is pi on her cupcakes.  She turned 6 months old on pi day (3-14).

Here are her stats:

Height: 25.5 inches (45th %)

Weight: 15 lbs 15.5 oz (40th %)

HC: 16.5 inches (30th %)

Click here to see Xaris' six month post and compare...

She is amazing at tummy time and will stay for a *long time, content to play and spin in circles.  (It could be that it is  a *long time only in comparison: Xaris didn't really seem to enjoy tummy time quite as much).

Has a LOT of hair still.  She didn't lose any (or as much as Xaris did).

Is typically very happy and easy going.  She has recently developed some separation anxiety though (which Xaris NEVER had. ever.) and she prefers mama.  

Still has the best sad face ever.  Some day I need to find a picture and post it.  Her lower lip can do incredible things. 

Can sit up fairly well (yay no more baby bath chair!!)

Has pulled herself up to standing once (unsupervised, in a laundry basket--yikes!!)

Does not sleep through the night, but she plans to very soon.

Here's a little taste of all the potential of that lower lip...

Julia and Xaris

Julia came to play! Julia is the daughter of Fernando and Brisa, and Fernando is one of Ricardo's dearest friends (from high school days). They live in Michigan, so visits are rare. Xaris and Julia have met once before, but they were both under 1 year old, so I doubt it left a lasting impression on either.

Julia is 5 days older than Xaris (but about double her size), and Fernando is 5 days older than Ricardo (and about double his size...just kidding. Almost, but not quite).

After an evening of some shyness and warming to each other, they were fast friends the next day!

Running through the Arboretum with Fernando

Koi ponds

Making Fernando work harder--they got tired of taking turns being swung--they wanted to swing at the same time!

Tickles from Brisa

iXy was eating mama, so mama decided to eat the sweet baby

Xaris and papa

Still no teeth. So surprising, since she's been super chompy/drooly for weeks now!

Girls entertained while parents enjoyed coffee and conversation after lunch.

Julia loved holding the baby sister. She wants one now :)