Safari West

 We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas present this year from some aunts and uncles.  We were so excited to plan our trip to Safari West that we arrived on the first day they start letting people stay for the season.  We left on Thursday after school and headed toward Napa/Sonoma area.  It was a beautiful drive and when we arrived we were greeted with such excitement.  We were the first guests of the season.  The place was beautiful.  They drove us to our tent cabin in a jeep (we already had some excited kids).  Our tent cabin was very cool and overlooked the hills and areas with giraffes and many other animals.  We could sit on our porch and see beautiful animals.  We spent the afternoon walking around and seeing all the animals that are in enclosed areas.  There were monkeys, 4 cheetahs, lemurs, and hundreds of types of birds.  The kids just loved it.  We took a quick drive to Santa Rosa for dinner and ice cream and then made the hike out to our cabin in the dark.  It was very cool to hear all the animals making their noises.  Our cabin was chilly so the kids took warm showers and got cuddled into their bunks with electric blankets.  Our night sleep was cozy but very loud.  They have hundreds of ginny foul that never quite sleep.  We could hear the animals all night!  The kids thought it was very neat to hear them.  Friday morning was very chilly.  I loved snuggling with all three kiddos in our bed and we opened the door to watch giraffes walking by.  We got bundled up and headed out to breakfast.  We nearly had the place to ourselves.  After breakfast we walked to visit animals again.  They began letting all the giraffe out.  They have 14 giraffes.  It was the coolest thing.  They would walk over and eat over the fence.  We could have touched them (but that's against the rules).  It was very neat.  The kids also loved lemur island and the coi pond.  After our morning walk we were ready for our safari trip.  It was a nice day and we were very lucky to have a very informative guide and a small tour.  We jumped in the safari jeep and started checking out the back hills.  We saw many different types of animals.  We saw most animals they have, which he said doesn't always happen.  The zebra we saw from a distance, but he said we were lucky to see them at all.  It was a beautiful ad bumpy ride.  We got to take turns riding up top on the truck.  The boys were in heaven.  We learned so much on our ride!  After about 2 hours in the jeep we went on a 45 minute walking tour.  I loved watching Luke take pictures.  He was very serious about it.  Speaking of Luke...do you just love his outfit of the day?  That boy just makes me smile.  He has his own style and could care less what others think of him.  He was in all camo (unmatching) and his little hat.  I could just squeeze him.  He acts like a little old man.  After we left Safari West we stopped at the petrifies forest for a quick hike and then it was time to head home.  It was a wonderful and beautiful get away!  Thank you for a wonderful Christmas gift!!

 these are Luke's folders he made before we left for us to put all our information in.  This boy is so creative.  He even made "zebra" fringe around the edges.

 the noise makers