Happy Hollow and Max's Munchies

[Preface: A while back we chatted with the kids' pediatrician because Max was having these episodes where he would just cry and scream uncontrollably, and then he'd just "snap out of it".  We wondering if maybe it could be related to the seizure he'd had or if it was a sign of anything else to worry about.  The doctor said that normally crying wouldn't be associated with seizures and pointed out that we had said most of these episodes happened after longer than normal naps or when he'd been playing for a long time.  She suspected he might just be hungry or suffering from low blood sugar and she suggested we try to feed him something - preferably something with a higher sugar count like fruit - quickly.  And wouldn't you know it, that worked!]

All summer, I'd been wanting to take the kids to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.  Located across the street from San Jose Municipal Stadium, I'd heard about it from other toddler moms who said the kids would love it.  There is a big petting zoo/barn area as well as a mini zoo area and an amusement park with toddler-sized rides.

So we decided to take them after their final gymnastics class of the summer, since we'd be in the South Bay already.  That morning, Max woke up crazy.  He was screaming at the top of his lungs, sobbing, and refusing breakfast.  I asked Uncle to grab his milk for me, wrestled Max to the ground (a more difficult feat than you'd imagine), and forced the straw of his milk cup up to his mouth.  Though he protested, he finally gave in and took a swig, then pushed it away and cried some more, then took another big gulp of milk, let out a big sigh, looked at me calmly and said, "OK, Mommy, I have breakfast now?"

When he got into his high chair, I needed a moment to assemble his breakfast and he started to whine.  Just as he was about to burst out into tears, Daniel looked at him, pushed his cup closer to his hands and said, "Max, drink your milk," just like the characters in those Snickers commercials pointing out that their friends are really unpleasant when they get hungry.  Max took the suggestion and sucked down a little more milk while he waited.

Gymnastics went well, then we stopped for some french fries for the road and headed down to Happy Hollow.  We started at the amusement park, which is where all of our pictures come from.

The boys were barely tall enough for a couple of the rides, and Caroline squeaked through even though she was a little too short because they measured Max and then we fibbed and said they were all the same size, so we tried to focus on just the rides we knew they'd be allowed to ride.  This consisted of the kids crying while waiting in line, then squealing with joy during the two minutes of the ride, then sobbing hysterically as we took them back off the ride at the end.

For every ride, whether it was the slow "train" Danny the Dinosaur

Max was quite curious where Danny was taking us.

or the flying ladybugs,

or the racing fire and police cars, 

or the "Frog Hopper".   When we took the kids to this ride, the lovely young woman running it asked if one of the adults was going to ride with them.  We asked if we had to, and she said, no, but since they were so small, it might be a good idea.  And this is when, I believe, Uncle received his Uncle of the Year award.

The ride actually had to be stopped and lowered back down so we could get Max's legs back in the right spot!

They liked it so much, and cried so loud, that they were allowed to stay for a second ride.  (It helped that there was nobody else in line.)

From there we went to the puppet show, which was in the shade, and then across to the zoo.  I thought we would never get the boys away from the monkey cage!

(I don't know how I got the only picture possible without a monkey in it!)

And from there over to the petting zoo where Caroline learned the word "pony".  Her brothers preferred to feed "the little horsie".

The final stop was the carousel, with a long line and a bit of crying.

Caroline chose a hummingbird.

Daniel chose a seal.

Max chose an anteater (and did not let go of Uncle's hand the whole time, poor baby)

Caroline found a mirror on the wall!

At the end, nobody wanted to leave, of course, but Max was worst of all.  He sobbed and kicked his feet and hit at us.  It was obvious that he was hot and tired and hungry, so when we got him to the car and buckled him in, we found some granola bars in the bag and stuffed them in his mouth a piece at a time.  After about a bar and a half, he had calmed down, and a piece later he looked over and said, with a shy little smile, "Mommy? I happy now."

Better remember to keep snacks around for that one!