♥ Chapter 6: What a Spectacular Safari! ♥

Before we go on a safari, let's first review what happened in the other chapters in the book!

♥ Introduction to Olivia's Summer Vacation ♥

♥ Chapter 1: Welcome to the Farmhouse! ♥

♥ Chapter 2: A Valley of Tulips ♥

♥ Chapter 3: A Surprise for Everyone ♥

♥ Chapter 4: Fishing and Journaling ♥

♥ Chapter 5: It's Time to Skate and Play Laser Tag! ♥

Okay, now that we're reminded about Olivia and her family, let's read the next chapter!

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In celebration of Uncle Ken's win, the family loaded up in the bus to go get supper.

"Where ya wanna go for supper?" Uncle Ken asked the family as he turned right out of the skating place.

"Chick-Fil-A!" shouted all the kids, even little Josh chimed in. 

When they got to Chick-Fil-A, the little kids ~ Josh and Julia ~ played in the Play Place playground indoor arena while Uncle Ken and Aunt Rosemary ordered and Emily and Olivia picked out a booth to sit.

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The family enjoyed a nice dinner at Chick-Fil-A eating chicken nuggets and French fries after a long, satisfying day. The next day, Olivia and her relatives headed to a local zoo named Spectacular Safari.

"Our first stop is the lions!" Uncle Ken said after looking at the zoo map.

"Yay!" cheered the kids.

The lioness slept peacefully.

They looked through the glass window at the lion and lioness. "They're sleeping!" Hope said. And the lions really were! They were enjoying a pleasant afternoon nap.

Not long after this, our group headed over to the zebras and anteloupes. Emily snapped a few pictures of the animals there. "That zebra -- he's looking at me!" Julia said with a concerned look on her face.

Heading over to the two-humped camels, Hope asked, "Can I ride one?"

This two-humped camel posed proudly.

"Not this time, Hope, but maybe next time we visit the zoo." her mother replied compassionately, remembering when she had asked the same exact question as a young girl to her parents. 

They watched the camels munch for 20 minutes on some nearby grass. 

"It's like they're chewing bubblegum!" Emily declared.

And then the four camels slowly walked over the muddy swamp to take a bath. 

"What are they doing, Daddy?" Julia asked her father curiously. 

"They are taking a bath in that water over there, Jules." Uncle Ken replied.

"Where's his rubber ducky?" Julia asked.

For some reason, that question made Emily and Olivia laugh. 

Holding back a chuckle, Uncle Ken replied, "Camels don't use rubber duckies, Jules, although that's a good question."

"What do they use then, rubber camels or camel duckies?"

At that crazy question, Uncle Ken couldn't hold it back anymore. He burst out laughing, and Aunt Rosemary had to answer her next question. She replied, saying, "I think they use a little bit of both, but they're too scared to show people their rubber duckies." 

Next, Olivia and her relatives walked with Josh in a stroller toward the seals. "Ladies and gentlemen," a lady dressed in scuba gear announced excitedly. "Welcome to the seal and sea lion show! The seals and sea lions will do tricks for you today! Enjoy the show and be prepared to get splashed for those of you in the soak zone!"

A man, who was also dressed in scuba gear, walked toward the lady and said to the crowd, "This is Emma," pointing to a seal. "She wants to wave to you today. Wave, Emma!" Emma the seal waved her right flipper to the audience.

"Awww," the audience said together. Emily took a quick picture of the seal. She then flipped the setting on the camera to video to record the rest of the show. The female announcer drew attention to another seal. "This seal wants to give you guys a splash! It's his way of saying 'hello!'" The second seal used its flipper to swiftly sweep water into the crowd. Hope and Julia were really looking forward to getting wet from the seal's splash. After they got wet, they were super excited because that refreshed them on this hot day! 

"The next trick Emma the seal will perform is a back-flip." Trick after trick went by as the crowd watched in admiration. But soon, the seal show ended and it was time to visit the other animals. 

"Can we see the gorillas, Mommy?" asked Hope.

"Maybe," Aunt Rosemary replied, then turning to Uncle Ken, she said, "Honey, are we near the gorillas?"

Clutching the zoo map in his hand, Uncle Ken glanced at the zoo map, then said, "Yep, we're not far from there."

As they walked up to the gorillas, Emily took more pictures of the animals that she saw that day to remind her of the great fun she and her family had.

The day progressed and this family had a nice afternoon at the "Spectacular Safari Zoo."