Housewarming with Cardiff friends

We were delighted to have a group of our Cardiff friends down last weekend. It was quite a crowd, with 9 people staying in our house, with just enough room for everyone. People arrived on the Friday evening for a buffet tea and we split into two groups for some Saturday activities. 

Excited to open his housewarming gift

The girls had American-style pancakes for breakfast, then headed to Sidmouth with Zachary for a wander and cake at a cafe, whilst the guys went for a morning fry-up and had a tour of the city centre, followed by an afternoon of board games. We then all got together again for dinner and an epic quiz!

Enjoying the coastal views

Zachary had a good long walk through the gardens with Auntie Vickrum

Mmm, tasty cupcakes

Auntie Beckrum runs in for a quick dip...

Zachary had a fantastic time with so many playmates...

Teaching Auntie Phobe how to use the one-armed bandit

Showing Auntie Vickrum how to use the one-armed bandit

The one-armed bandit sadly became an addiction for many...

Walkies with his play buddies

Reading time

Here are a series of entertaining videos of Zachary's play times with his Cardiff friends...

 Make sure you watch this one until the end...

Row-rowing with the Lacy-Browns...

Everyone wants in on the row-rowing action!

Then it was time to say goodbye :(. We stood outside to see the last few leave and Zachary's little face was so sad. He cried as the car disappeared into the distance. Thanks everyone for such a fun weekend!

Animal Encounters

Zachary has enjoyed a few visits to some animal parks recently, as his grandma, Bumble, kindly treated us to a season ticket for Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts and Newquay Zoo. Zachary and I headed to Paignton Zoo with Bumble for a day spying out the unusual animals...

There are a couple of lions behind him which we pointed out but he didn't notice them because they weren't moving.

Watching some grazing bongos

One of Zachary's favourite areas was the farmyard enclosure. He had a great time stroking the goats and sheep but we had to hold him back from trying to give them a kiss!

Petting the friendly goat

Watching the little lambs

Here's a video of Zachary enjoying the sheep. Notice how he he repeats the 'baa' of the sheep:

 

Giraffes (munch, munch). The baby giraffe walked over to say hello.

We also recently visited Living Coasts, this time with Daddy. Zachary was transfixed by the seal show.

Zachary eats his lunch while watching the seals

A photo with the macaroni penguins

A penguin was on the loose which Zachary was delighted to approach

Watching the fish swimming around

Doors, Chains and Gambling!

The sun has been out quite a bit recently and so have we. Last Saturday we visited Lyme Regis with the intention of visiting the aquarium, but Zachary had other ideas - he was having far too much fun playing with the various objects along the sea front...

Swinging the chains is one of his favourites

Zachary simply must walk on every wall he sees

The pretty view at Lyme Regis

Zachary also came across a pair of very friendly dogs. Their owner gave him some treats to feed the dogs and he had a wonderful time holding the food out towards them. Zachary loves to approach dogs and stroke them / be licked in the face which he did on numerous occasions in Lyme Regis.

Then we ventured into the arcade area and Zachary had a go on the 'Tipping Point' machines (his current favourite show is Tipping Point, which is a quiz show with a coin drop machine). An elderly couple noticed him having fun and repeatedly offered him more 2p coins once he'd run out. He had a wonderful time pushing the coins into the slots.

Drop that coin!

Oh no, did it ride?

Finally, here's a funny video of Zachary 'experiencing' the doors of the beach huts on the promenade...

5 ways to keep a toddler entertained

1. Stand him in his ball pool and ask him to put all of the balls one by one into his playpen. Once the playpen is full of balls, put him in it and tell him to put the balls back into the ball pool. Then repeat. 

Hours of fun!

2. Build him a den. Zachary loves hiding in any type of den, whether a blanket over the back of the sofa, playing in a tent, or in his playpen, covered with his ball pool.

Helping Mummy dry a blanket

3. Visit the bottle bank. Zachary loves posting bottles through the holes and hearing them smash inside. 

Waiting for the crash

4. Let him 'bling up'. Zachary spent ages putting these necklaces on, then taking them off again, then on, then off.

"Innit"

5. Let him climb. Zachary will climb over anything if given the chance, but he particularly likes it when someone else helps him climb higher than he could do on his own.

On top of the world

The Dobsons Do Devon

We were delighted to have most of the Dobson family from Lancashire staying with us over half term. Zachary especially enjoyed all of the extra attention. He loves walking and was extremely pleased to be taken out to walk everywhere, especially along lots of walls which is his current favourite thing to do.

Walking along the school wall near our house with Grandma Jeanette

A visit to the Quay for a wall walk with Grandad Harry

Here we are at the Donkey Sanctuary. Zachary enjoyed the donkeys (although he was surprised when they suddenly made a loud eeyore!), but he found some other highlights too...

Those walls need a walking on!

The hedge maze at the Sanctuary - walking around us in circles

It was squirrel day at Escot and Zachary couldn't resist sneaking a quick kissy with this unsuspecting red squirrel:

Nice and wet

Here's Zachary watching the falconry display at Escot. He enjoyed watching the eagle swooping to within inches of his head.

Owls are Zachary's favourite

A lovely trip to Sidmouth in the sun with fantastic views of the cliffs...

Zachary wouldn't stay still for this one

The grandparents got together for a meet-up and a delicious Devonshire Cream Tea.

Cuddles with Uncle Bar

Bumble joined us for a trip to Newton Abbot and the House of Marbles where the marble runs are fantastic.

"Daddy, can you make me one of these?"

A trip to Bicton Park was a delight for Zachary and he spent a long time in the soft play area, mainly throwing all of the balls out of it.

Through the tunnel

Zachary loved riding on the miniature train, especially watching the wood chipper as we passed by.

Daddy gets over excited about the wood chipper

On the last day we visited Totnes Castle and had a wander around the lovely town.

Climbing the 72 steps with Grandad Harry

At the top; Grandma Jeanette was the most scared

The view from the top of the Castle

Zachary was sad to see them go; now he'll have to amuse himself by pulling things out of the cupboards again...

Zachary's 100th Post!

Zachary loves dressing up and had a wonderful trip to the museum to try on a new outfit. He then ran around the balcony repeatedly to show off his royal clothes, charming a group of school children who playfully bowed down to him.

Zachary has grand aspirations

Admiring himself in the mirror

Zachary has been out and about in Exeter, enjoying time with friends and taking lots of walks in the rain. Last weekend we had a lovely lunch with Lucy and Rob from church and Zachary had fun playing with Zoe:

Zoe loves giving hugs; Zachary's not so sure about receiving!

Story time with Lucy

We had a wonderful afternoon stroll along the Exeter Quay in the sun (mostly) and met lots of swans up close.

Swans tried to peck the bread out of Zachary's hand

They walked for nearly two hours around the Quay

On a more delightful note, Zachary left a little present in the bath for Daddy the other day...

A second later, Zachary reaches to pick up the strange brown lump

He loves to blame Daddy for everything, so when we asked him who did the poo, he said it was Daddy!

Zachary's afternoon fun

Recently, Zachary has altered his naptime to around lunchtime, so we have been out and about enjoying the afternoons following several late lunches. Here's what we got up to yesterday...

Zachary helped Mummy do some planting in the garden (the first time we've touched the garden since we moved). Zachary loves copying everything we do so he enjoyed holding a trowel and helping with the digging.

He wants to be like Grandad Harry when he grows up

Digging away

Unfortunately Zachary had a little accident and somehow ended up face-down in the mud. Here he is, trying to taste the mud while Mummy ran for a wipe.

Mmm, just like chocolate!

Then Zachary wanted to go for a walk (his current favourite thing to do), so we headed down the hill. The first things we always reach are the recycling bins and Zachary can't resist pointing out the warning sign of a man falling after climbing on the bins.

That's what happens when you climb on things, Zachary!

There is a children's playground very close to our house and we go there regularly. Unfortunately, most of the equipment is for older children, but Zachary enjoys watching the other children running up and down after school. Zachary can put one foot in front of the other in a straight line to walk on the balance beam (with Mummy's support) and he also loves jumping between the stepping stones.

The balance beam

Here's Zachary sitting on a hanging tyre, but he wasn't too sure.

The chain is clearly the most interesting thing to look at

Zachary has a thing about gates - he always has to be the one to open/close themn and it's always difficult to get him to move on and leave the gate behind!

Opening the gate to leave (or perhaps not)

We usually see at least 3 buses when we go out and Zachary is still enthralled with them. Heading into the town centre is always a delight for him, as there are buses all around him.

We headed home and whenever we get back, Zachary always loves to help put things away. He'll bring Mummy's slippers and put her shoes back on the shoe rack. He'll put hats/gloves away, turn the light off in the understairs cupboard and close the door (he can't quite manage to hang coats yet - he just needs a bit more height!). 

Zachary headed to the lounge to get his toys out and have a game in his ball pool.

I don't think he realised it's not quite on the floor properly