West Coast Game Safari

It's a bobcat!

It wanted to pounce the girls bouncy skirt.  Maybe tutu's wasn't a wise choice today...

We got to pet a baby bear.  So, so cool.

And a raccoon, a skunk, possum, and ferret.

These animals are SO cool, sister.

Just because.

It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

They fed deer and goats.

The goats came to say hello to Havanna.

Look, mom.  A ferret!

Of all these wild animals, what does Talullah like best?  A baby goat.

I just love her, mom.  Can I have one for Christmas?!

A wallaby.  Can I have one of THESE for Christmas?!

There was a lion behind us.  I swear.

My husband speaks ram, obviously.  The loved him.

This guy was seriously aggressive.

Our highlight of the weekend vacation to Bandon, Oregon was heading to the West Coast Wild Life Safari.  Definitely worth the time and money to get there.  We stayed for nearly three hours, and these little girls would have gladly stayed longer.  The rest of the trip, they begged to go back.  We were able to pet a baby bobcat, cougar, bear, skunk, raccoon, ferret, and possum.  There were heard of deer, goats, rams, llamas, and peacocks that you could feed.  We saw leopards, wallaby's, lions, camels, reindeer, chimpanzees, and a zebra.  Berlyn did get her finger nipped while feeding the deer, but once she finished crying she was brave enough to try again.  There was a moment of disaster when she also dropped her little princess toy into one of the cages, but I saved the day when I wiggled my arm through the wire and fished it out.  She was most upset about the goats going to the bathroom on the ground, telling them "No, no, goats.  Potty chair."  Talullah's eyes grew wide when we came across the caged zebra.  "I've always wanted to see a REAL one, mom"  And although I thought petting a cougar and a baby bear were pretty much the coolest things ever, that hardly phased her.  The baby goat that followed her around took center stage in her mind.  It's all she talked about the rest of the day.  She could care less about any animal after that.  "Can I have one for Christmas?!?!"

Coolest park around!

There's a new park in Arcata, and it's pretty much the coolest park I've ever seen as far as Humboldt goes.  Maybe I'm overly optimistic from all this sunshine we've been having, but this place was fantastic.  I don't even want to tell anyone where it is because I love it and want to keep the enjoyment all to my family.  Mwahahahhahaha.  It's mine!  It's all mine!

Can't get enough

                                                                of those baby rolls.

Just keep swimming, swimming.

Talullah started swim lessons at the Arcata pool a few weeks ago.  What a water dog.  She has no fear diving right in and dunking all the way under.  The teacher says she wants to be little miss independent, trying things by herself.  Her friend West is in the class, too.  What a pair of cuties.

La La Laaaa!

Oh, my heart is so full of pride.  Talullah just joined the Full Gospel Tabernacle children's choir.  After weeks of practice they performed at last Sunday's Singspiration, which was absolutely amazing.  The entire service was truly anointed.  And, while I'm fully aware that kids choir is about worshiping Jesus more than 'performing'...  I couldn't help but puff out my chest and walk a little taller at the fact that my beautiful daughter was up in front singing her heart out.  Ok... that might be exaggerating.  She danced a little bit, rocked side to side, and even started to lift her dress up at one point.  But her mouth is open in this picture, so I know there was at least some degree of singing.  Good job, Talullah.  Way to make your momma proud.

Blue Lake Fish Hatchery

We'd never been here before, and the 'big' girls were fascinated by the swarms... make that schools of fish fighting their way up the canals.  The water was so thick with fish, they were slipping over each other and jumping out of the water in waves.  It was superb.  The best part of this trip was the fact that it reached 90 degrees while we were out and about!  It's October and summer has arrived in Humboldt County.  It was actually so warm that after an hour outside both girls were red faced and we had to head back to the van.

Bugs!

Weirdest thing.  Nick opened the back door to go un-coop the chickens yesterday.  There were ants EVERYWHERE.  Big ones.  Small ones.  Flying ones.  Millions and billions.  I don't know if it was a result of the curiously warm weather, considering it was nearly 90 degrees in Fortuna that day.  This chicken must have thought it was Christmas.  She was attacking the bugs at record speed, cleaning up the yard.