A visit from Santa Claus

Santa. Santa! SANTA!!!

How have you been? I hope you keep warm while you make your deliveries. Do you need to borrow my hat and scarf?


I have been a very, very good Hippo all year.


So why is my stocking still empty?


I even helped decorate for your arrival. There are monkey ballerinas swinging from the Christmas tree.

O Christmas Tree

I am very excited about my first Christmas, so I went to see the National Christmas Tree. There has been a national tree since 1923, but only a live one since 1973. Around the big tree are more than 50 small trees--one for each American state and territory. I took a photo of the Michigan tree since I have non-hippo family there.


Most of the ornaments on the tree were mitten-shaped like the state! It was cold out, but not cold enough for me to wear my mittens.

I liked looking at the trees and thinking about all the presents you could fit under them, but the best part was the trains running under the big tree. These trains were almost big enough for a tiny little hippo to ride!


Ho, ho, ho! Just 2 more days to go!

Zoolights

I have been such a busy little hippo-getting ready for Christmas and seeing all the cool decorations around the city! I went to see the Zoolights display at the National Zoo. It was very cold outside, but very pretty right after our first snow.

There were lions...


...and tigers...


...and bears! Oh my!


I got very hungry thinking about pumpkin pie,


so I warmed up with a steaming hot funnel cake!


There weren't any light up hippos, but the flamingos and elephants were fun.



There was also a very scary python! I wonder if he is the one named Amazon in my building who keeps getting all the presents....


After I ran away from the big scary snake, I went to see an octopus


and a lot of monkeys.


By now, I was really cold again, so I went into the Think Tank to study how smart animals are. Of course, I already know all about that.


Even though it was really cold, I felt all warm and fuzzy (inside and out!) seeing the lights and my friends at the zoo. I hope they all get everything on their wish lists!

First snow

On Monday night Hippo got an early Christmas present to prepare for the winter festivities: a scarf, a hat, and mittens! They are colored in Spartan Green & White and Wolverine Maize & Blue, his four most favoritest colors.

So last night he wore his pajamas inside out and went to bed still wearing the hat and mittens. And this morning... SNOW! Time to try out Hippo's winter apparel.

This season, fringe is in. Fringe on the scarf, fringe on the tasseled cheek warmers, and poofy fringed cap top. Knit mittens keep delicate paws warm on blustery winter days and chilly winter nights.

Hippo has noticed that Santa is sending out delivery vans to get a head start on his Christmas Eve deliveries. Most of the packages so far were addressed to Amazon or Fedex. They must be a snake and a dog that live in our building. He's keeping his eyes peeled for a big truck labeled HIPPO.

All this modeling and waiting made Hippo hungry, so he tried catching a few snowflakes on his tongue as a little snack.

Looking for Santa

The weather has turned cold, snow has fallen, and we've finally finished the turkey from Thanksgiving. So that means it's time for Christmas! Hippo's looking all over for where Santa hid the presents.

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Well, I already have a hippopotamus. But hippos are so popular that people write songs and record funny videos to make their Christmas wishes clear.



Hippo is still working on his own Christmas list.

Happy Hippo Thanksgiving!

Over the river and through the woods to Grammy's house we go! (Well, we really just took the car, but we did have to drive over a creek and through some woods to get there)


Hippos love Thanksgiving--hippos love any holiday that is all about eating! Hippos are vegetarians, so we don't eat turkey. Personally, I think that it is all about the pumpkin pie! It was hard work choosing the perfect one to bake.



I like the biggest one.


I practiced my manners all day so I could be a good, polite hippo during dinner.



...And worked up a good appetite playing in the leaves.



By the time dinner was served, I was really hungry.



After a few helpings, I was stuffed!


But there is always room for leftovers.

Football Saturday

After a season of initiation, Hippo is learning to enjoy Saturdays on the sofa watching football. He cheers for the Heffalumps. Tigger likes the Woozels.

Veteran's Day

Hippo took a drive over to Annapolis, Maryland to get a look at the autumn colors. We crossed the Severn River and walked up to the scenic overlook for a view of the Naval Academy and the Maryland State House in the distance.

Below the stone porch is the pillared World War II memorial. Hippo tried to salute, but it's hard to reach one's forehead with such short arms.

Ippopotamus-hay

Hippo discovered that Hippolotofus, the international hippo society, has an educational page explaining how to say "hippopotamus" in other languages. In American Sign Language:

With each hand, make a fist and stick out the thumb and pinky fingers. Align the right hand on top of the left hand (palms facing each other). Move hands apart from each other in an up and down motion to simulate the opening and closing of the hippo's jaws.

Hippopotamus tails

If you ever see a hippopotamus wagging his tail, run away! He's not just happy. The Brookfield Zoo explains that hippopotamuses "have a unique way of marking their territories — they scatter feces in a wide swath by wagging their tail rapidly back and forth."

A bad hippo

Hippo wants everyone to know that the hippo in this movie is not him. She is a girl hippo and she is a bad girl. My Hippo is always nice.

Railroad disobedience

Hippo went for a ride on the Walt Disney World Railroad and saw an odd sign. It says to sit still and hold hands. Do not dance!

Hippo likes to hold hands, but he just can't stop himself from dancing. Especially not in the Happiest Place on Earth.

Disney World

Hippo's wish came true. He got to go to Disney World!

Hippo's visit started with a shuttle ride into Magic Kingdom

There is Cinderella's Castle. See? See?!

Hippo tried hard to act grumpy at Eeyore's Gloomy Place, but I still see a happy twinkle in his eyes.

Joy of joys, we found Hippo-sized Mickey Mouse ears. And a light saber.

There was so much to see on It's A Small World that we rode twice. Double the hippopotamuses.

It's hard to steer a Dumbo when you're very, very small.

Ooh, this way to tigers. Can we pet them?

Somebody stuck a bunch of flamingo ornaments in this pond.

Hippo didn't know that he would need a bathing suit.

Hippo does a happy dance after finding a Hippo-sized sombrero at the Mexico pavilion in Epcot.

Taking a rest in the shade, Hippo watches the glockenspiel in Germany.

I see Paris. I see France. I see Hippo's happy dance.

Boo at the Zoo

Hippo took a stroll through the National Zoo on Sunday to enjoy the Boo at the Zoo decorations. He dressed up for Halloween, but I don't know what he had in mind. Do you?

Happy Hippo Halloween!