Okay, I'm finally getting around to catching up with some very overdue blog posts. These photos are from our trip to San Diego, waaaay back in July. I might get around to finishing our Italy blog posts someday. Or I may not.
Fletcher woke us up bright and early on our first morning in California. We arrived at the zoo well before it opened, which luckily left us with plenty of time to jump off logs.
One of our first stops was to admire the albino python. It was love at first sight.
"That snake loves me!"
"That snake is my friend!"
Watching the mama and baby hippos snuggle.
Exploring the hippo art
Fletcher was inspired to snuggle our baby
You know what's awesome? Moving sidewalks are awesome!
Really, really awesome!
Fletcher took a photo with my camera. It's a lion.
We rode the cable car across the zoo to get back to our car, which certainly took the sting out of leaving.
The creamer family held an impromptu dance party while we waited for our breakfast at Parkhouse Eatery.
It was worth the wait! Pictured: Chilaquiles
Gourmet sandwich, made with house-made PB and J. Of course.
Meanwhile, the faithful suitcase family waited patiently for us back at the hotel.
We started our birthday festivities with some blueberry pancakes.
Heart-shaped ones...but that goes without saying, right?
And then...presents! Including his new friend, "Gaga" the snowy owl, sent by Papa and Grandma, who were inspired by one of Fletcher's favorite books, "Owl Babies".
You mean there are three year olds out there who don't have their hearts set on a ukulele stand for their birthdays? Huh, how very odd.
Every time I mentioned his birthday in the preceeding weeks, Fletcher would ask me patiently: "Is that when I get my guitar stand, Mama?"
You can put your guitar in it!
And then you can take your guitar out and play it!
And you can put an inflatable guitar in it, too! The fun never ends!
Gaga came with us to Zilker park for a train ride and post-breakfast chocolate ice cream.
And then...Grandma Bonnie appeared! And there were more cupcakes! And they were still chocolate!
Blowing out candles is serious business, folks.
Luckily, Fletcher practices at least once a month.
No, we have not figured out what we're going to do when the new baby arrives, but yes...cupcakes twice a month is a distinct possibility.
He's a pro at this by now.
And after naptime, we took my car to the carwash! Hey, when it's your birthday, you get to pick the activity, okay?
Fletcher did his best to blend in the the mural in the "Kids Korner".
Dinner was at the Short Bus sandwich trailer, naturally.
Finally, we finished our day with his German birthday wreath and a skunk cookie from Quack's. Why a skunk? Why not a skunk?
After all that excitement, it was understandably difficult to wind down for sleep. This is Fletcher singing "Ride My Giraffe" (a Neal Kassanoff song, as if it needed to be said), as heard through his door.
