its been half term this week and we've had a busy few days. on thursday we went to ferry farm park.

liv got brave and held a few animals. i particularly liked the baby guinea pigs. i really wanted one...

liv even rode a pony, which was very brave for her, she normally freaks out at the sight of an animal. she was very proud of herself.

i'm still loving the guinea pigs


how cute is that?!! it fit into one hand. i want it!!!!!!

liv even plucked up the courage to hold a kitten.

there were piglets just running around, and calves and tiny kid goats - so cute!
ty got to ride a car with adz and loved every minute. he kept trying to push adz out the way to drive it himself.

making daddy work hard!

on friday morning we went to an event at sure start with the fire engine. liv went on a school trip to the fire station a few weeks ago and thought she knew it all. ty was too scared to get on.

friday afternoon we went to markeaton park to use the paddling pool. the weather has been beautiful the last few days and we decided to take advantage. we are lucky to have markeaton nearby. it has big adventure playgrounds, acres of green fields, the paddling pool, crazy golf, boat hire, and a train and its all free. good stuff. unsurprisingly, we go there to play a lot.

adz was brave and got in the water to supervise while i sat on the bank and took photos.
on saturday, we went to an advertised pond dipping at a nearby nature reserve. i've lived around here for nearly six years and never knew this idyll was so close until today. they do outdoor concerts in the summer - can't wait!!

there were an abundance of little stickleback fish to catch and soon liv was proficient at getting them. we spent about three hours on the edge of the pond, enjoying the sun and relaxing. if adam had been with us it would have been perfection.
our catch went into a tray so we could examine the findings. we caught water boatmen, tadpoles, beetles and water snails as well as fish.

ty showing a new talent.
we had a great few days. too bad its back to school next week. long live the good weather though!