Gladys Porter Zoo - Brownsville, TX

On New Year's Day we went to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, TX. We went there last year and they have the best gorilla display I have ever seen. They also have great Tigers that are actually moving around rather than sleeping all day. I have some great video from that trip but I do not know how to edit it and put it on the blog so all I have are pictures to share and we did not get any of the tigers.

The gorillas are at the front of the zoo and the first animals we saw. One puked/spit out something it was eating and then picked it up and squeezed the liquid into it's mouth. That grossed everyone out. And then when another pooped in his hand we decided to move on. I have heard of poo throwing monkeys and I did not want to find out about poo throwing gorillas. We went back later and some people were feeding the gorillas chips and oranges. They are not supposed to do that but they were not rule followers. The gorillas were very active and fun to watch in the afternoon especially with the food being thrown. Once again we really enjoyed the gorillas.

Flat Stanley enjoyed the gorillas as well.

Brett, Jared, Ryan and Flat Stanley with the flamingos.

Ryan the explorer using the binoculars/compass combination he got at the Texas State Aquarium.

Last year when we tried to feed the birds they were not hungry and we could not get them to eat anything. This year they were hungry and cleaned all the food off the sticks. It was fun. Here is Ryan, Jared and Brett feeding a group of birds.

Ryan has a couple of the birds interested in his offering.

Brett sought one out that was a little more difficult to reach.

Jared was tempting this one to get him to come a little closer.

Flat Stanley enjoyed feeding the birds too.

Ryan coaxing one over towards him.

Brett and Jared reaching over the edge to get some of the more shy birds.

Finishing-up the food on the sticks with whatever bird wants to eat.

It looks like this joey is getting a bit big for his room.

When we came walking around the corner Ryan saw this big alligator statue and jumped back because he thought it was real for a second. He was really startled. Here he is showing his bravery.

Jared is taking it to the alligator.

Brett wrestling it.

Ryan, Jared, Flat Stanley, Brett and me at the zoo.

The big male lion. He was sleeping for a bit and then later he got-up and was jumping and pawing at the glass between him and the people. At this zoo the lions and tigers are active. I could not get a good picture of him when he was at the glass because of all the people around and I had the telephoto lens on the camera so I could not get back far enough. I did get some video of all the activity though.

Ryan, Brett and Jared taking one of the turtle statues for a ride.

Ryan petting one of the goats at the petting zoo.

Jared and Flat Stanley petting one of the goats.

Ryan riding the giant tortoise.

Brett thinks he might just buck for him.

Jared taking him for a ride, without Flat Stanley this time.

Brett Jared and Ryan all on the turtle.

We had a great time at Gladys Porter Zoo. After going to the zoo we drove to Kingsville and stayed the night there. Then we drove the rest of the way home on January 2nd. It was nice to split-up the drive from Brownsville into two days and we got home in plenty of time to watch the University of Utah whip-up on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Go Utes!

South Padre Island Beach

I have been a slacker when it comes to my blog lately and I apologize for that. We have been very busy trying to get our house on the market in Illinois and finding a house in the Houston area. The good news is that we finally got our house on the market and we have a contract on a house in Houston. It will continue to be crazy, but I am going to make some attempts to get caught-up again.

This post is of pictures from our vacation over the Christmas Holidays to South Padre Island. On December 31st, we went to the beach. Keep in mind, these pictures were taken December 31st. What were you doing on that day?

Jared playing in the nice, warm sand.

Ryan allowing the sands of time fall through his fingers.

Ryan, Brett and Jared doing their best Bay Watch impression.

Brett has that David Hasselhoff "this is serious business guarding this beach" look.

Keeping in mind that this is December 31st, the water was not bathwater warm like we have grown accustomed to. It was more like the water always is in California. The water temperature did not bother the kids though, but Lori was not sure she wanted to get in after walking in the water.

Here Ryan is trying to talk Lori into going out with him to ride some waves.

Here Lori is talking Ryan into just going for a walk along the beach with her rather than going out.

Brett and Jared were anxious to get out in the water and did not hesitate. The water temperature was not an issue for them.

After unsuccessfully trying to get Lori to take him out in the water, Ryan came to me to take him out.

I went out on the water with Ryan, I am not afraid.

Brett was giving his little boogie board a work out and did not mind the cold.

Jared taking his boogie board for a ride.

This is me questioning if this is such a good idea as the kids splash and play.

Brett riding a wave.

As Ryan gets splashed he is feeling my concern.

Waving to mom who is sitting comfortably on the beach. Ryan is looking for that next wave that is a little cooler than he is accustomed to.

Jared in for a short break.

Brett continues to boogie board in the cold water.

Jared back out catching a wave.

Jared decided it was time to come back in and warm-up in his towel for a few minutes.

Brett was the die-hard surfer who never admitted to getting even a little bit cold, but he did eventually come in to warm-up for a few minutes.

Brett buried in the sand.

Jared and Ryan buried in the sand. We cannot make a trip to the beach without burying the kids in the sand.

Using the new whips by the pool

By the time Sunday rolled around we were exhausted. We planned to attend church in the afternoon so we slept in. After breakfast the kids were making us nuts in the small hotel room so I took them down by the pool to try out their new Mexican whips. It was funny to watch them. Lori stayed in the room and did some ironing in peace.

Brett doing his best Indiana Jones interpretation as he cracks his whip.

Jared working to get his whip to crack.

Ryan did not worry as much about cracking his whip as just swinging it. Here he is giving it his all.

Brett and Jared whipping up the place.

Another action shot with the whips in the air.

Jared with his whip coming back and almost hitting him in the face.

After Jared whipped Ryan on accident it was time to call an end to the whipping sessions. Ryan should know better than to get too close to his brother, but that is just what 4-year olds do. We went to church and then went back to the hotel and we all took a long nap. We were all very tired. It was good to have a day just to catch-up on some sleep and get ready for the following day at South Padre Island.