Andrew is Three!

Today Andrew turned three! 
We headed to the Zoo for some fun. 

I sometimes wonder why I take my camera to the zoo.  The pictures are really always about the same.  The animal look about the same and perhaps even the same as the postcards you could find in the gift shop. But the zoo just seems like a photographic place to me.  And now that I have so many zoo pictures I could compare them if I wanted to.  "Look how tall Calvin has grown" or  "When that picture was taken we were at the zoo with Kaley" or "Andrew was the age the Truman is now!" 

And then, there are times, when something magical happens and a snapshot turns out more stunning than I expected.  Like this... 

And then there is the possibility that an older gentleman with three children and college-age grandchildren of his own, will offer to take your picture. I told him he was very kind. I told him that it was a true gift he had given me. I wanted to say more, but I was suddenly fighting tears.

Look boys, there is a mama who actually takes you to the zoo!
So perfect! Even in its imperfection!

But on to the tour!

That gibbon is making faces at my Birthday Boy!  And then he (the gibbon) swung around and around his enclosure like, well, a monkey!

Truman is almost asleep, but not quite, and then we missed the window.  No nap for the 6 month old!

Who doesn't like otters?

The proud mama keeping watch.

This was our first time to see the new cubs.  They were dozing while we visited but the docent said they frolic and play throughout the whole exhibit.  (They are almost 3 months old.)

Bearded Dragons getting breakfast!

The animals must like the cooler (but still in the 90s) Fall weather because every one seemed to be out-and-about. 

Here's a little artistic close up for you Kimberly.

The new elephant habitat is coming along nicely. A lot of the fencing was open today so we could see all the way through the new area.  Calvin wondered which rocks he would be able to climb.  Obviously, we can't wait to see how it turns out. 

I am pretty sure that this majestic animal is always thinking, "I would just as soon eat you as to look at you!" Maybe that's just my insecurity talking. 

Anyway, that was our Birthday Trip to the Zoo! 

Then we headed to Chick-fil-A with my sister and her kids.  No pictures there, but I'm sure you can imagine four kids with ice cream cones!

And then we came home and Andrew helped me make cake.  That's what birthdays are all about, right?

Calvin helped frost.

Andrew placed the candles.

Daddy lead the singing! 

And Truman supervised. 

All in all, it was a perfect day!