COUSIN FUN - Day 1 - African Lion Safari

Day ONE!!  The cousins are here (the Bacon ones)!  We have been looking forward to this for months and it is finally here!  Today's plan, meet at African Lion Safari, and then dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's.

African Lion Safari is far.  I can't remember exactly how long it took, but it was over an hour and a half.  We (Kate, Alice, Fiona and I) caught up to Grandma and Grandpa and the cousins as we were exiting the 401.  We then followed Grandma to the Safari.  Grandma paid for us to go in (thanks Grandma !) and then there was a very happy reunion in the parking lot!  After the hugs we all transferred into Grandma's van to travel through the game reserve.  The kids tripped over each other a little and there were one or two falls, and although it was a little squishy, we all had so much fun in the same van looking at the animals!

There were a few animal highlights.  The first was the ostrich.  It came right up to the window and pecked and pecked and pecked.  Lovey screamed so loudly at first.  But then all the kids were just laughing.  The kids giggled at the baboons.  Seth loves rhinos, and we stopped for a minute but then Grandma got nervous because one of the rhinos looked at the van, so that made me giggle - sorry Mom.

Coolest though was when we happened upon this deer and her fawn.  We think it must have just been born.  There were several clues to support this theory.  The Mom was licking her fawn and if we're right we watched the fawn take its first steps.

After the animals in the game reserve, we went through the Kenya Gate into the park.  We had lunch and then went on for more fun.

We saw a little bit of the Parrot Paradise show.  Then part of the Birds of Prey show.  That one ended when one of the owls flew off.  

Grandma and Grandpa then decided to go back to the van - Dad was done walking, while we went to the Elephant Round-Up show, which in my opinion is the best show.

After the show all the kids wanted to ride an elephant.  I was kind of done and wanted to go.  I suggested to the kids that they could pick something out at the gift shop instead of an elephant ride.  All the kids thought this was a great idea except Lovey.

Other funny things.  Marcus and Seth wanted to push the strollers around, and mostly they did.  When we first saw Lovey when we got there we asked her what she wanted to be called.  I wish I had recorded her answer.  "LOVEY!"  Lovey is quite excited that even though she's younger, she's taller than Kate.  I'm not sure Kate is very excited about this. Oh and final note.  The drive home was intense.  There was a wicked rainstorm.  We had a nice dinner at Mom's and then we all went our separate ways!

Here's to more fun tomorrow!  Oh and here is Kate and her new baby ostrich - Olivia.  (Dina is very proud to be a Mama!)