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.