Local Gold Mine

Even though she hates having dirty hands, E is an outdoors kind of girl. She loves being outside and getting fresh air, and places that offer the opportunity to look at animals are a double whammy of joy. We have a great local farm park, but I've always felt it a little expensive for what it was, and have been keeping my eye out for alternatives.

I was over collecting some baby clothes from my friend's parents the other day and we were chatting about Colchester Zoo, as said friends have been posted to Colchester. In the midst of conversation it became clear I had not researched my zoos properly, and it transpires that Hamerton Zoo is only 25 minutes drive from us.

So when the Met Office promised sunshine today, you can guess exactly where we headed. What a great day, despite the chill and it being the muddiest E had ever encountered. And their annual pass is £28.50 so I'm signed up for a year of zoo visits! Truly a local gold mine!

Not only was E stoked about looking at animals, it proved a great opportunity for discussion and vocabulary building... New animal names and some great sentences including...

"Monkeeezinere"
"Monkey go outside"
"Tigersleepnow!"
"Noisy monkeeeey!"
"Monkey eat an apple"
"Baby in the tummy" (referring to the wallabies and me)

Educational and fun. My kind of day out.

Winter

Safe to say that winter has arrived, I think.

The golden colours of autumn are fading fast, and the landscape seems a little dull at times. The Christmas decorations are creeping in, the lights twinkle at night.

And it's suddenly very cold. The kind of cold that sinks right though. The kind of cold that lends itself to days under a blanket with your slippers and a brew.

That doesn't stop us. My bucket list is at the front of my mind as the countdown to being a family of four continues. So we met up with a friend and her son, who was due on the same day as E, wrapped up warm (unless you're E and you wont wear a hat) and searched for "anmuls" and dodged the rain in favour of big slides at soft play. My daughter, who is terrified of slides and doesn't eat sandwiches proved me wrong again. 

Woollies at the ready. A few snap shots from our day out. 

Linking up with #countrykids this week