Christmas party at the ZOO!!!

Today we had our annual office Christmas party -at the zoo again! Now it's been a while since we've been to the zoo. It's a crime really. We are zoo lovers and sort of feel that this is "our" zoo. Our zoo pass expired in April and since that one was such a pain in the arse to get, I just put off getting another. So we were good and ready to return to the zoo today! And wouldn't you know it, I was able to EASILY get another zoo pass, too! The first quote the gal gave me was 250,000 for a years pass and I was like, "Um... no!" but then she "lowered" it 100,000. Yeah, I think someone was wanting a little extra Christmas bonus!

Oh how we missed our zoo - and we were THRILLED to see the new baby elephant that is resident there, too!

The tots are finally big enough and coordinated enough to work a teeter totter by themselves! Helps that Frankie weighs 20 kilos and Ella 22 :). That's right - Ella is only 2 kilo's heavier than Frankie, who is 2.5 years younger! That boy is PACKED.

Ella and our spunky little friend (who is moving in January -crap) riding the camel! I think it was our little friends first time and her parents were pretty surprised. You never know just what will happen with your kid when you send them off with the H's... Which is probably why I rarely if ever babysit! Your tot just may end up on the back of a camel :)

Frankie, our little camel lover and enthusiast, actually missed out on the camel ride because of - get this- a TOOTHPICK.

Our office group ate first and the kids (and I!) had a blast because we didn't sit together. Frankie and Ella sat with Simon, who works one day a week at our house when he's not at the office. Well, Frankie got into the "control Simon" mode and was having a ball.

We headed out to the playground and were diverted by the camel laying there, ready for riding. Frankie decided to run back to the restaurant while the girls were boarding the camel, to tell Simon to bring him a toothpick (!), oblivious to my shouts.

The girls got on and Frankie happily came back, as happy as a clam. Soon after, Simon came out with Frankie's requested toothpicks and proceeded to pick Frankie's teeth for him!!!

Now, my kids don't get much opportunity to so openly exploit the kind intentions of adults like that, so Frankie was pretty smug. The smugness turned into absolute shock (and horror) though after the girls got off the camel and we had to join the rest of the group before he got a ride! He did not cry but fixed me with his steely glare for the next 30 minutes or so. He did not want to hang with the girls, much less me, but he can not have fun when burdened to control adults. So I insisted that he stay with us and by the end of the time he was having fun again!

"Merry X-Mas!" Courtesy of the crocodiles. Ha ha ha!!

Nothing is better than visiting the zoo, unless you can do it with twenty of your best friends! Oh my, did Ella ever enjoy herself! She got every ones thoughts, feelings and opinions on their favorite animals, the most scariest animals, you name it!

Lydia, Irene and Prossy

The office crew. We all work together in the office in EBB. Not everyone could come, but this was most of us. We're a fun bunch :) I love working with these folks!

The four EBB "missionary kids." There would have been more "normal" kids there too but two went to their mothers office party at the Serena and the other three were recovering from their circumcisions. Ha! I just love Uganda :)

This way of exercising your kid is somewhat like a hamster wheel. Our little friend would run around and around in circles pushing, while my two did tricks on top :) Gone are the days of just sitting on it. My little ones are growing up!

So big! Notice Ella's bare feet. Again - I just love Uganda!

Frankie climbs up the play area much like a floppy or drugged little monkey

Then he jumps off! Absolutely no fear! I mean, I had fear that he'd break a leg and have to go to the hospital, but he sure didn't have any!

And of course, what one must do the other must also do

I had read in the newspaper a couple of months ago that the zoo had gotten an orphaned baby elephant from Queen E park, and we were hoping to see it. It wasn't on display yet though, so no luck. Until we were heading out and there it was, being exercised in the waterbuck and forest hog pen! The little guy/gal (I didn't find out which) is six months old.

It was amazing to watch him use his little nose to touch things. It reminded me just of the way a baby touches everything! Ella was worried that he'd eat his nose :)

All the poor waterbuck were like, "Holy crap! What's that?!!!!"

And last but not least... "Coke does the body good!"