Animal Encounters Birthday!

The summer birthday season is upon us! As Sam and Cole's birthdays are only 3 weeks apart we have often had joint birthday celebrations for the boys. I know this can't go on forever but for now it works. We have always had a pretty low key home party (except for last year when we hung with Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy!) but this year we decided to do something different and booked a party at Little Gym. Everything was good to go...and then Cole broke his leg. I couldn't possibly imagine having a party for him where he couldn't participate so the party was canceled (and as a credit to Little Gym they gave us our deposit back!) and we started looking for alternatives. Any gyms or bouncy place houses were out of the question. Parks? Too much running and climbing? We debated having a party at home but we didn't know what shape Cole would be in and we didn't want him to feel like he couldn't keep up with the activity. We needed something where he could just sit...

Enter Animal Encounters. They bring amazing animals to your home. They teach you about them and their special features. And you sit and cuddle animals. What could be better for our new three year old who can't run and play? And what could be better for soon to be 5 year old who loves animals? The boys have been really into the show Wild Kratts which features two brothers that look at animals and all their unique features that help them survive in their habitats. An animal encounter would be perfect.

And it was. They truly did a great job. John came and got everything set up and the fun began. We had nine special animals join us for the afternoon and it was totally amazing. We...

-Snuggled a variety of different bunnies

-Learned that guinea pigs need haircuts

- Rescued baby chinchillas that escaped from their cages (and then cuddled them)

-Held a Kenyan sand boa

-Wrapped a ball python around our necks

-Watch a scorpion glow under black light

-Listened to hissing cockroaches hiss

-Watched a monitor lizard hunt for slugs

-Fed Ruby the wallaby some fern leaves (and gave her lots of pats)

Our boys (and their guests) had a wonderful time and John said he was impressed with how gentle all the kids were with the animals. The boys still can't decide what was their favorite - they loved it all!

Our birthday boys ready for their party to begin

Cole was getting excited as the animals arrived. Soon after this photo was taken one of the mom's noticed that a baby chinchilla had escaped while John was getting another group of animals. After rescuing him once, the little guy did it again! We had to keep a close eye on that little one after that!

Bunnies! John had told me bunnies were a hit but I didn't think boys would be so excited about them. Boy was I wrong! So glad we included them in the list - they were a hit!

I love this picture. I line of little boys and their bunnies. So cute

Grammy snuggling the sneaky escape artist chinchilla

Eliza and Atlas were into the bunnies, and each other. Eliza kept crawling over to him to give him kisses.

Ruby and Gavin LOVED these bunnies. These two probably held these guys for about 20 minutes!

Cole and his snuggly bunny

Love this picture. Ruby was in heaven holding a baby chinchilla

A baby chinchilla. We didn't know John was going to bring these guys - what a fun surprise!

A monitor lizard. This guy was amazing. A real highlight.

Totally into the animals

It still amazes me that he wanted to do this. He is usually my more hesitant one. Not this time!

Cole could not get enough of the Ball Python.

Cole has no fear. He was so close to this snake. At one point he tried to put his nose right up to it and the grown ups yipped at him to back up. As gentle as this snake might be, there is no need to be nose to nose to a python. Oh Cole!