Zoo Lights 2017

 There are lots of traditional Christmas things that we just don't get in Texas. Snow, cold, fireplace fires, however we do get a whole lot of something else: Christmas lights. People have whole companies that offer Christmas light installation and storage for your house and yard. Everywhere you turn there is another light extravaganza just waiting for you to come and take a whole lot of dark photos with a camera you don't really know how to use in the dark.

We took the kids all the way downtown to the Houston Zoo which offers Zoo Lights during the holidays. It's a great mix of Christmas, Texas and not sweating to death in the middle of summer at the outdoor zoo. 

They take care of the traditional showing of lights, on tree limbs (these are 80 year old oak trees that line the streets in this part of Houston. They're huge, sturdy, and look amazing when lit up!), and on the cone shaped evergreen trees everyone thinks of when Christmas rolls around. 

As with everything in Texas, they also put their own spin on the holiday. If you haven't lived here, I'll bet you wouldn't know about the beautiful purple Christmas armadillo.

And most other places don't have a big showing of spring flowers in their Christmas decor. But alas, Texas does things it's own way. And were here for it!

Proof that we brought Graham. We really disliked the idea of a one-year-old on the loose in a dark place with lots of water features, so he stayed in the stroller.

We were joined by our friends the Robertsons who I credit with getting me out of my comfort zone to do these fun, after hours on a school night, activities. We had a blast, and look forward to many light shows in our future.