Boogaloo turns 2.

Well, our favorite angel turned two this past month. Funny the difference a year can make. Whereas last year, she was awkward and astonished and didn't really know what was going on at her own birthday party, this year she really understood that it was all about her. She was a little shaky on the cake. Daddy had to blow out the candles, of course, but she knew that it was cake, and cake is good. And I think she enjoyed the process. The weekend after her birthday, my parents came over, and we all went to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Boogaloo loved every minute of it. For starters, we had more cake. It was also a gorgeous day, one of the first nice days we've had all year. She got to pick out her own clothes, she got to ride in the car, and she got to see "manmals." Point Defiance Zoo and Acquarium isn't a big zoo. It's in Tacoma, which is a city of average size but isn't the population center, that being Seattle. The zoo and acquarium are part of a private park belonging to the city, and so they make up in uniqueness and beauty what they lack in size. This is the view from the entrance. The PDZA has been part of several reclamation projects like the red wolf and the Asian elephant. It has walruses, sharks, a tiger, sea otters and river otters, injured birds, Asian creatures, elephants, seals, native fish, exotic fish, ugly fish, and just about every variety of sea horses imaginable. This is our friend, the tiger.

This is Annika and myself in the kids' exhibit looking at the snakes. This is Annika refusing to pose for the camera. "Annika, look at the camera. Look at mommy."

This is Boogaloo finally consenting to look at something, in this case, meerkats. Sea ottersBoogaloo and daddy looking at the monkey. Boogaloo and mommy looking at the fish. "Sharfs and sishies"After we got home from the zoo, Boogaloo opened her presents from mommy and daddy and grandpa and grandma. Last year, we had to open her presents for her. This year, she knew those presents were hers. She jumped right into them. And much to mommy's delight, she liked them. Look at that expression. She promptly christened the dog "Max." Then we all went out for dinner and a happy end to the day. Boy, can't you tell she's in charge.