Zoo Trip

As I mentioned in the previous blog, we went to the Sydney Zoo for Forest's birthday. It is the most amazing zoo, enjoy the pictures!

When you get off the ferry at the zoo you are actually at the bottom of the zoo or the exit. So thanks to Lisa and Chris we got to ride on the sky ferry to the top of the zoo. aww so much better than walking! the birthday boy jumping out of the sky ferryForest had to bring his backpack like Bumpa At the koala encounter

This is why the zoo is so expensive - look at that amazing view!

Some of the cutest giraffes at the zooThe peacock kind of stole the show. He was pretty awesome!

Forest was very adamant that the peacock was a girl and would not be convinced otherwise.

Forest monkeying around with the chimps

Westly showing off his muscles to the chimps

the kangaroo walk about.

For some reason my usually very photogenic child would not smile for me at all all day!

Forest on a Tasmanian devil

My favorite activity of the day was the seal and sea lion show. It was awesome!

After the seal and sea lion show we headed to the bird show.

this is Westly waiting for the show to begin.the bird show was in the most beautiful location. Look at that view!!

The bird show was amazing!Westly watching the bird showMe and the kids after the bird showThe Zoo Crew

What a great day! We had so much fun!

The birthday boy even got to pick out a special toy at the gift shop

One Year Older and Wiser Too

Forest is Four! It Boggles my mind how fast he has grown up! Where did my teeny-tiny 6lb 12oz baby go? And who is this big boy with attitude and a hilarious personality? It has been a fun four years to watch Forest grow and learn, he is one really special boy who has taught me so much and has helped me grow up too.

We celebrated Forest's birthday a couple days early so his grandparents, who were visiting, could join in the celebration. We also spread the party-ing over a couple days so we could pack in all the activities we wanted to do. Yay for fun Birthdays!

The first day of Forest's birthday celebration was spent at the zoo (i will post pictures of that day later) and the second day Forest woke up to a house decorated just for him.

We followed the McBride tradition and sang Happy Birthday to Forest when he woke up and as he ran through his decorated door.Before leaving to go biking up in Manly, Forest got to open one present! When we got home from biking we sang Happy Birthday one more time and Forest blew out his candles (sorry no picture of him with his cupcakes or blowing out the candles, I took a video which I am having a hard time downloading to blogger)

p.s. he really did have 4 candles on the cupcakes the one was just getting lit at the time the photo was taken.After cupcakes, and to Forest's great delight, he (finally) got to open the rest of his presents. Forest is the best at opening presents, He gets so excited about each and every gift.

He is also so sweet and will thank who ever gave him the gift over and over.In this picture Forest is yelling "AWESOME!"Forest showing off his gigantic muscles and his awesome new gift! Happy Birthday Forest we love you so so so so so so much!

Splishin' and a splashin'

While staying at the Meriton (our temporary housing for the first month) there was a swimming pool that we played in almost everyday. Thanks to the life jacket/ arm floaties Westly learned how to "swim".

See his little legs moving? again he is kicking with his legs aww such a cutie! We all loved the pool and I have to admit I miss not having it around.

The COOLEST Park!

Alright get ready to be amazed! Seriously. The boys and I found the Coolest park while living in the CBD.

So to start off I am going to show pictures of our favorite area at the park, the water area. The water area is where the boys and I like to play the most. Running throughout the water area are streams with moving walls that children can move to direct water into different passageways. Forest is demonstrating this in the picture bellow. Also dams can be lifted to release water

Westly demonstrating how he uses the dams

See how much fun the kids are having?!
there are pushing things

spinning thingslever things (try not to get lost with my technical terms here) in the picture bellow: when a child turns the huge wheel the water flows down into the funnel and then spins down and out... pretty awesome!

there are other play items in the water park as well that are not pictured just so you know. Another fun area in the water area (although neither of my kids think it is too fun) is the splash pad

Adjacent to the water area is a sand pit with awesome diggers

and slidesAmazed with this park yet? No? Well on the other side of the sand area is the biggest slide on planet earth (that is an adult at the top of the slide)You have to climb up a rock wall to go down the slide. There is also this huge climbing structure

a smaller climbing area for the less brave

a zipline and much much more! Its pretty much the best park (atleast here in Sydney) .

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On a totally unrelated topic look at the cockatoo! The boys and I saw him while on a walk.