Christmas 2023

We had a very eventful holiday season this year. Mostly because half of the family ended up getting Covid which altered a lot of our plans!

To start with we were given tickets to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra's Christmas concert at the Honeywell. We had such a nice night with the boys and Josh's parents. They put on an excellent show. 

The next weekend we had Bowyer Christmas at Josh's sister's which I've previously posted about. Then Christmas came and my mom was up to celebrate with us. 

After Christmas my mom took the boys to Columbus and then Louisville to do a ton of fun stuff. The zoo, overnight at a hotel, Top Golf. Unfortunately we found out we'd been exposed to Covid and then Dave started feeling kinda junky. The kids were supposed to go to Evansville from Louisville and then us meet them there. Instead, mom drove the boys back and we hunkered down for a week. 

Somehow only Dave and Josh ended up getting sick which was good and they didn't feel too awful. It was rough to have to cancel plans but we ended up making it work pretty well!

 

Beach Time

We are having an awesome time so far in Charleston (well, Folly Beach technically).  And I think we have done a pretty good combination of beach/relaxation time and activities.  Here are some pictures of the kids playing at the beach.

Ike constantly has sand all over his face to keep up his wild animal look.

His favorite beach toy is a giant spoon.

Dave was really pumped about this shell fragment. 

Action shot-check out his cool new Superman trunks.

Ike momentarily traded the spoon for this monstrosity that he drug all over the beach.

Kind of cut off his arm, but he was really excited about finding something.

 Playing in the waves.

Knoxville Zoo

We are currently half-way to Charleston, stuck in a hotel room while the kids are sleeping.  Oh, the glamorous life of parenting :)

On our way down to the beach, we stopped in Knoxville for the night to break up the trip.  Thanks to our membership at the Fort Wayne Zoo, we get into a lot of other zoos around the country for a discounted price or free.  The Knoxville Zoo is one that is free (woohoo!) and has some pretty cool animals, so we went to check it out.  







Ike was a little alarmed with the proximity of this elephant.

Zebras.












This giraffe was super close and Ike loved it.

Giraffes are hilarious.









This zoo has an amazing primate section-a couple gorillas and a ton of chimpanzees.  This particular chimp was just relaxing right by the viewing window.

Going in for a close look!

My little photographer capturing the komodo dragan.

Owl face.

Ike scaling the climbing wall at the kids section (which was really cool).

Dave had a blast playing, and got rid of a bunch of energy.







Overall, a pretty nice zoo.  It's always a good time when it's free though!  The trip is going okay so far-Dave has asked how much longer it is going to take about every 20 minutes.  So that's been fun.  Ike has done great, hoping he keeps it up for tomorrow's drive!

Evansville Children's Museum and Fort Wayne Zoo

While we were in Evansville, we went down to the Children's Museum of Evansville (cMoe).  We have never been, and figured Dave was at a perfect age and that Ike would at least tolerate it.  It was a blast!  They have all kinds of stuff to do there and the kids really enjoyed it.

Playing in the water area.  Ike loved sticking his hand in the stream.











This thing was like a giant toilet and it kept flushing.  Dave loved it.
















Posing in a car.












Loader bucket with gamma.

Little young to be driving...

I turned around for one second and he was halfway up this tunnel!  Getting too big.

He was super thrilled to have this picture taken  :)










So I highly recommend the museum if you are in the Evansville area.  Definitely was great for younger kids and kept mine thoroughly entertained which is sometimes hard to do!


Once we were home, we relaxed for a day, and then headed off to enjoy the zoo on Saturday.  It was gorgeous out, so it was pretty crowded.  Since it was Josh's first trip to the zoo this year, he got to choose the places we visited:  Africa and Indonesia.  Of course, we stopped off in the petting zoo first to see the goats.





Soooo excited to see his favorite animals.













Ike was not as impressed.

And he was definitely not liking the goat trying to eat his hand.











 Dave really getting up close and personal.

Zoo Time

When my mom and Justin (my step-brother) were up over the 4th, we went to the zoo and took advantage of their long hours for members on Wednesday nights.  It was really nice to walk around when it was a little shadier and less crowded!

Gamma and Ike hanging while Dave groomed the goats.











Dave really loved this huge skeleton.

Dave said, "We're gonna go on an adventure Mom!".  

Dave and Ike checking out the orangutan.  It was right next to the window!

Justin and Ike waiting for the carousel to be over.

Dave and I got to ride the carousel thanks to a token donation from some strangers!

Posing on the giant turtle.

Ike was really channeling the statue.

Dave's favorite part of the zoo...dancing in the misters.








Love the zoo and can't wait to go back!  It's such a perfect trip for a half-day.  And as a bonus, the kids really do seem to have fun.

Mesker Park Zoo Trip

While we were down in Evansville, we headed over to Mesker Park Zoo since we get in free with our Fort Wayne membership.  Sweet perks huh? It was Ike's first visit, and probably Dave's fifth or so.  We like zoos!

Ike enjoying the rainforest section.















This jaguar was super intense.

New animal species?  Half jaguar, half David!

 Josh and the boys (and jaguar of course).

Dave playing with the giraffes.

Checking out the hornless rhino.

Bat-Dave!

Almost big enough to ride on shoulders.












As usual, we had a blast at the zoo.  And this officially ends my posts from the Evansville trip!