GIANT GIRAFFE'S and much much more!

During our little trip to Hamilton we also got to stop in at the Hamilton Zoo for one of Ashton's friends birthday parties and what a treat we got while we were there! We got to see their giraffe's having lunch!!! All 6 of them! It was awesome. They were so close to everyone who had come to see them and were bending right down gently eating the bamboo shoots from the children who were holding them. To look up at all of these amazing creatures, it was just a sea of beautiful pattern, with necks gracefully moving around each other. Everyone, young and old were in awe of these amazing creatures! We also got to see some other fantastically unique animals as we journeyed around the zoo, each one more than happy to show off it's special tricks to impress us. As we visited each different animal we read the sign that was placed outside the enclosure and found out lots of interesting facts about each animal. It was a very educational little trip and we all left feeling quite amazed at all of these beautiful animals, and at the wonderful experience Hamilton Zoo offered us! Thanks Hamilton Zoo!

GREAT GRANDMA'S FARM

Recently Ashton and I got to have a little holiday with his cousins in Hamilton. During our time away we went and visited Great Grandma on her farm (this is Ashton's cousins Great Grandma) and what an experience it was! Ashton absolutely loved seeing the animals, he had no fear or hesitation in approaching the animals. Each new animal he saw he would reach out to touch and inspect.

We saw lots of horses, one of which was just as interested in Ashton, as Ashton was with the horse. We saw a goat, who loved the idea of Ashton feeding some grass. We also saw some ponies, some chickens and some ducks! Great Grandma just happened to have a brand new duck called "Donald"! (Fancy that!)

But not only did we see lots of fantastic farm animals, Ashton got to have a ride on a tractor! An Ashton sized tractor! He rode on it while he checked out the chickens and the ducks. This was such a fun little adventure being able to see all of these animals up close and personal... it was also a great 6 month old celebration for Ashton! (Where has the time gone! 6 months already!!!)

OUR ZOO ADVENTURE

I'd like to say that I have a grand adventure to report from our trip to the zoo today . . . but I don't! Ashton fell asleep as soon as we started looking at the animals. :o) So my blog today will be about . . . " how things don't always go according to plan!"

Dionne, Dez, Mr Bop, all the kids and husbands came along to the zoo, so when Ashton fell asleep I thought I might be able to turn my enthusiasm for an adventure at the zoo onto the other girls! But unfortunately the sun came out to play a little too strong and the heat just became too much and everyone just wanted to get into the shade or go home.So we didn't get to talk about what the tiger likes to eat, or what noise the elephant makes. In fact, we missed most of the animals! But that didn't matter because Ashton did wake up just in time to see the giraffes as we were about to leave, and they just happened to be having their lunch! So the one animal Ashton got to see in action was really up close and personal. We got to see the giraffe's big blue tongue, and his big nose and the brown patchy pattern on his back. Giraffe's never cease to amaze me! They're just so BIG!

We could have looked at this trip as a bit of a disaster but we won't, because Ashton got to have an encounter with a giraffe that he never would have had if we had stayed at home! And here's a BONUS to the trip! Kris and I got to have a date at the zoo. ha ha!INTERESTING FACT: Did you know that giraffes don't have vocal chords? - We learnt that while we were writing one of our Science Seeker songs! So next time you ask your child "What noise does a giraffe make?" and they look at you blankly, you'll have the answer. GIRAFFES DON'T MAKE A NOISE!

TUMMY TIME ADVENTURE

With this weeks focus being on animals Ashton and I decided to do 'Tummy Time' outside today. I put down a little blanket so that the majority of his body was on the mat, but still allowing his feet and hands to touch the grass. This was the first time Ashton had really felt grass and there was still a little bit of dew left on it too so his feet and hands were having quite the sensory experience!

I placed all of the plastic animals all around the top of Ashton and lay him on his tummy to begin exploring. At first Ashton kept his head down, but as soon as he lifted his head he discovered his animal friends awaiting him and I think he got a pleasant surprise! He began looking around the line up of animals and making all sorts of chatting noises.

Having the animals placed around Ashton definitely seemed to encourage him to move his head around and look up. The grass on his hands and feet also got him moving a lot more and we managed to get some fresh air and a change of scenery while we had tummy time!

A NEW DAY, A NEW ADVENTURE

One of my new years goals was to do some form of exercise every day! Yesterday I decided to go for a walk with Ashton and while we were out we stopped along the way and looked at all the different animals we passed. Living out on a farm gave us quite the selection to look at and practice doing their animal sounds.

So after doing animals stretches on Monday, a walk where we discovered all sorts of animals on Tuesday and with reading lots of books that revolved around animals we decided that this weeks adventures should just follow the animal theme!

We went for another walk today and this time we took the camera to take photos of the animals we came across. We saw, cows, sheep, hens and their chicks, ducks and a hawk. (I also saw some horses, but Ashton had fallen asleep by that time, so I took a photo to show him after his nap.) Each time we stopped to look at one of the animals I would imitate the sound each animal made. As the animals moved around and made their noises I could see Ashton following the movement of the animals and really taking it all in.

It was adventure for Ashton and I and two days in a row of walking! Wahoo!!! Two birds with one stone! (oh I don’t know if I like that saying?)