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.