A trip to the zoo

On Wednesday we had a little trip to the zoo. The lion was roaring and stomping around very impressively. Isla enjoyed looking at some of the animals, and going on the play equipment. She was a bit concerned when a butterfly landed on me in their enclosure though! There were loads of butterflies out although I couldn't photograph them. After the zoo, we went to Royal Fort Gardens where there is a mirror maze: great fun!

Isla is joining lots more words together, so things are not just 'biiiig' anymore. She can talk about 'black taaty' (black Monty), 'black bird', 'yellow tractor', 'yellow car', 'taaty gone' (Monty's gone) and lots more. She tells me when it's dark outside, and if she can see the moon in the sky. She also told us that she had a 'pain' and pointed at her teeth, which is very useful! 'More biscuit' was her main sentence yesterday and meant that she got an extra biscuit at toddler group. It is very exciting every time she comes out with a new word and can tell us what she is thinking about. She understood us when we were talking about going to the zoo, and could tell us that she wanted to see a lion and a monkey there. 

Watching the meerkats (my favourites!)

The meerkats were scrapping

Kea!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

On Friday, Isla and I went to The Mall to have a shopping trip. It was Isla's first look at proper Christmas trees, lights and decorations. She was very impressed and actually said 'wow' when we saw a tree with flashing lights! We bought an owl decoration for our tree and also bought a couple of winter dresses. The shops got very busy and by lunchtime, when we left, the car park was full.

On Saturday night, we watched fireworks from our upstairs windows. They were really impressive ones of all colours. Isla said 'biiiiig bang' a lot, but enjoyed looking at the fireworks. She thought we were going to watch a fire engine though, as she said 'naa noo' as we went upstairs to our viewing point!

Today it snowed!!! Proper big flakes that settled and meant we needed wellies, gloves and hats outside. Isla was a bit unsure of the snow and didn't want to walk in it. She had a little go on the sledge though, and enjoyed that a lot. We enjoyed going for a drive through the snow and looking at all the trees, fields and houses covered in white. Feel very Christmassy now, and it is November now so not long to go. I may even look out the Christmas music soon.

The windows covered in snow

A visit from granny and grandad

After all the excitement of HorseWorld, we had a nice few days at home having people to visit and just playing.

Playing with dough

Isla's play dough creation. There is a pink snail in the middle.

Doing some drawing with grandad

A trip to the pub with granny

Learning how to pump up tyres

Watching a tractor ploughing from the bikes

A halloween walk

Making music (very loud)

Puppies need nappies

Going for a chilly walk

Helping clear up the leaves in the garden

A HUGE pile of leaves in our garden

Sharing books with Pob

In a land of butterflies and horses

Yesterday we took a trip to Butterfly World. It was nice to be inside the warm butterfly enclosures on such a cold day. They also had otters, goats, guinea pigs and lots more.

Watching a butterfly having a banana for breakfast.
It is Caligo sp. from South America I think.

Looking at leaf cutter ants through a magnifier

Leaf cutter ants 

Papilio sp. from South Asia

Greta oto from South America

Idea leuconoe from South Asia

Looking at the guinea pigs

Heliconius charitonius from Central and S. America

Cousin It

One of Alvin, Simon or Theodore

The amazingly curious otters. They are Oriental
small-clawed otters and were very noisily chirping
and meowing to each other.

Isla found a puddle! Her new shoes
are fairly waterproof.

Pig! She is called Winnie.

And back to the otters again. They wanted to come home with us.

Pinkdinosaurus barnei

Today Isla and I went to HorseWorld. We met up with Isla's friends Jack and Chloe there. Chloe had been before and showed us round. Isla said 'biiiiiig neigh neigh' quite a lot while we were there. The shire horses in particular were HUGE. There were lots of donkeys, ponies of various kinds and lots of other animals. The horses were all rescued, it is a charity. Isla stroked the nose of a brown pony while there was a talk about the horses in the main ring. She was very excited by this!

Also TRACTORS. For children to ride on. Isla, Jack and Chloe were in their element. There was a stable full of wood shavings with wheelbarrows, rakes and buckets and spades for the children to play with. The three toddlers could happily have stayed in there all day if we'd let them.

The shire horse who looked a bit like Charlie

Looking at the donkeys

Bubbles the pony. Not at all like her
Little Britain namesake thank goodness

Yay Tractors!

Isla very bravely inside a combine harvester

Digger!

Just chillin' by another horse....

A donkey called Mimi.

Doing a spot of mucking out

A lovely shire horse with only one eye.
He was HUGE! Friendly though, and very into his carrots.

Back home with crayons and stickers!