Sam is 4!

It has somehow become a birthday tradition that it is someone's birthday when in the morning they come down the stairs and find balloons. It is very exciting to come down and see those balloons and know that it is finally your birthday!



I truly hope that our kids will always be this excited to get birthday cards!


For Sam's birthday adventure we actually had another destination planned and it was to be a surprise so they didn't know where we were going when we left that morning. However, plans were changed because Sam was completely convinced that we were going to the zoo. It was such a beautiful day, so we changed our destination and went to the zoo! Of course, we all have to check out the map and plan our course!


They seem to have grown since last year and they no longer all fit in the rental stroller!

Sam really likes Batman, so he was thrilled to go in a real bat cave!


We stopped off in the petting zoo and brushed the goats. They took their jobs very seriously!

Here Ben is asking the goat if he would like to be brushed! How nice of him to ask!

Sam enjoyed watching the Polar Bears.

But I think he had more fun climbing on the polar bear statue,


and playing in the bear trap. They were pretending it was their house and they were laying down to have a nap.


Some kids really did need to have a nap!

They were not afraid of the alligator,

or the lion.


They thought they were all lions!

Sam enjoyed his chat with "Zaboomafoo"


And seeing the big animals. We saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, and rhinos!

But probably the highlight of the day was watching the leopard (aka BabyJaguar!). We could actually hear him growling!


After the zoo, we came home for cake. Sam wanted blue & red, so he got half and half! Pretty fancy! Blowing out candles is serious business around here!
I think he was happy with the day!
And I was teary when he was grateful for his presents!