New Year's Eve!

Playing with a new camera is fun.  Especially when you have girls that like to ham it up.

 We were lucky enough to be invited to a New Year's Eve party by some great friends with a great idea.  They invited a bunch of friends with young kids to come to an early party, with the kids, and go home long before midnight so we could all put our kids to bed on time (and maybe ourselves, as well!)  I personally don't have a problem staying up until midnight, but I loved the idea because the girls could be with us, but we could all have fun with friends.  The girls loved going to a party, and that we took a taxi (so Mommy and Daddy could BOTH have a glass of champagne!)

All dressed up for the party

Sophia picked out her outfit, jewelry, and hari accessories.

Then she did her own hair and her sister's!  She was being quite helpful, or maybe she was tired of waiting for me, but I was pleased with the results!  She often brushes her own hair, but the hairbands, bows, etc is always my job.

Three girls ready for a party!  Happy New Year's!

Newmarket and Ickworth

Sophia and Stanley in front of The Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket's claim to fame.

We wanted to take Flat Stanley on another outing before sending him on so we went to the National Trust near Bury St. Edmunds, Ickworth.  This is one of the closest National Trust places, but we had never been before.  There was a huge, fancy house and lots of gardens, although as usual, parts of it weren't open in the winter and the weather wasn't ideal for strolling through gardens.

We stopped on the High Street in Newmarket to take a few photos of Stanley and Sophia.

The road to Ickworth was quite hilly (compared to the very flat land in the rest of Suffolk county).

Girls being silly

 Once we arrived at Ickworth, the weather was quite uncooperative.  We decided to stop in the cafe first for a warm drink and quick lunch, while giving the weather a chance to perk up a bit.  Sophia and Tessa had their first meal of "Beans on Toast," a popular light meal here and the subject/title of a children's book that Tessa has read and loved.

Even Stanley liked it!

Sophia would've liked her plate if we hadn't stopped her.

Tessa loved it too.

This is the front of the main house.

The side view...

the engravings around the house

view from the back garden

Up until this point, it was alternately raining, pouring, and heavily sprinkling....maybe she was smiling because it was only misting?

Where's Sophia?  I can't find her anywhere!

Now she's out!

Now she's in!

A brief stop at the soggy playground.

Whee!  Tessa is getting the hang of ziplines!

Sophia's favorite, of course.

The Church

Fun on the way home!

Shepreth Wildlife Park

Last summer Tessa and I went to Shepreth Wildlife Park with her nursery class (click the link to see a few photos from that trip).  We both enjoyed it and thought that Sophia and Daddy would, as well.  We were rather spoiled in Albuquerque with the humongous zoo, but there is something to be said for the smaller zoos around here.  Certainly you are able to see all of the animals, so you are more tempted to linger at each one and watch for longer periods of time.  Also, some of the animals that we do see are unusual kinds that we are not as familiar with as we were with all of the animals at the BioPark.  There are also typical zoo animals like tigers, and farm animals, but the capybara and the mara are quite interesting.  Also, the girls definitely enjoy areas where you are able to interact with the animals, such as the bunny area at Shepreth. 

Take us to the zoo!

Capybara and Maras eating together

Hello!

Tessa feeding a bunny some hay.

Sophia trying to pose with the rabbit...it seems that I can get good pictures of rabbits or good pictures of children, but never both!

Muah!

I think I had just told her that the tiger thought she smelled yummy!

Sophia and the elephant

Zipline!

Rapunzel, Tessa's idol

Looks like we could've just left them there???

Tessa is up to the tiger's eye

And Sophia is up to his ear!

Very true!

Hahahaha, he'll probably never know this picture is on the blog!

Tessa practices for her future farming days.

I don't know why they are making those faces...that is how the animals look?

Tessa likes the fun, with Mommy very close by!

Luckily my new camera can take an action shot!

Don't pet the crocodile, Sophia!

Thanks for the fun!