Wildlights Family Night

The Advent calendar is in full swing and we're only twenty days from Christmas!  Someone please slow down December!  It's a Hauck family tradition (and only fitting since Papa Rob and I work at the Zoo) to attend Wildlights.  This year happens to be the 25th year of Wildlights -- so it's bigger and better (just like our family...ha!).  The Zoo always puts on a family night for employees to enjoy Wildlights and thank goodness, the weather (for once in Ohio) was cooperative. 

 

Max had a homeschool day with grandmim and grandpa tim - and when school was "out" - the whole crew met up with me. 

 

I had to work my skills at the registration table before truly joining them..but it was all worth it because after dinner - Max got to meet a certain jolly old man from up North :)  You guessed it - Santa!!  It worked out great because we didn't have to wait in any lines and Santa was super patient.  Max has never really had any sort of "stranger danger" so, I didn't think that he would cry...but I was still nervous.  I shouldn't have been.  We plunked him down on Santa's knee and began calling out, "Max! Max!". Max had zero interest in looking at the actual camera because Santa had a beard! And a velvety suit!  And glasses! And, and, and...Max was completely fascinated by all of it.  He could not take his eyes off Santa.

 

 Totally melts my heart.

 

After our epic visit - we headed outside to check out the lights.  There is a light show set to music around the lake - very impressive!  Max was really taking in all the blinking and flashing...just staring out his chariot stroller and loving it! 

On top of the light show - there are over 100 animal shaped lights.  It never ceases to amaze me how fast the lights go up every year and how truly beautiful it is when they are all lit up.

 

The night ended up being a pretty busy one for the Zoo (13,000 in attendance) - and we hustled from the lake to the nocturnal house back to the manatee region.  Max was SO, SO awesome!  He hardly made a fuss, even though we kept him out way past his bedtime.  Our last stop for the night was the elephant building! 

 

 

Max rocked his elephant hat all night (he really could not look any cuter in it) - so seeing our ellies was clearly a must. They did not disappoint - the gals (Connie and Phoebe) were out and it was so fun to see Max just stare at them.  At first I wasn't sure if he could really see them but Rob got him out of the stroller and held him up high.  He looked all around and I saw his eyes follow the elephants as they roamed their home. Very cool.  It was the first time he really seemed big to me.  Like a little boy - who could express true interest in something (you know, with a little guidance from mom and dad).

What a great night! And, another memory of our first holiday season with mr. Max :)

xoxo