What's in a name... a fun little game!

Sarah loves her new gift from Papa!

Once we had our naps, she woke on a mission.

She asked each of us to come up with a name for her leopard~

a name that included the word ZOO since that's where she came from!

She wrote them all down and then went upstairs.

She stayed in her room with paper, tape and pen.

She made 5 sheets like this one, listing each of the names

we all gave her.  Plus two names she choose herself.

Notice to the right of the names~ you see another piece of paper

taped to cover part of name paper.

She gave each of us one paper like the one above.

Sarah asked us to CIRCLE the name we liked best.

On the paper above, the name ZOOELLA was circled.

She then collected them back and called out each name~

"Who circled ZOOELLA?"

She gave it back then and we had to peel the tape away to reveal

what was written underneath.

Like this...

If you saw this...

You did not get to choose the name.

Sorry

The Winner's paper had a drawing of the leopard

and that meant your name would be the one for her

leopard~

Sarah had arranged the papers with the winner's paper last...

Cayden had the winning paper~

Sarah calls her leopard...

ZOOWILD!

I think Sarah is brilliant!

Papa goes to the ZOO!

Bridget, Sarah, Molly, Cayden, Mya and I took Papa to the Zoo!

Dave hadn't been there in YEARS!

I think he forgot how fun it could be~

since he agreed to go with us again!  HA!

Our Cleveland Zoo is BIG!  

I do not much care for the way it is laid out~

You can spend the whole day there, yet the time spent

looking at the animals is minimal to the time you spend

walking and walking to each section!! 

It's a workout people!!

But we did have a fabulous day!

Each big kid declared an elephant to be "theirs"~

I love how they were each drawn to a certain design, one that truly suits

who they are...

Sarah choose this "Peace" loving little guy!

Molly adored this polka dotted "pretty" little one!

Cayden liked the "rainbow" ~ all the colors of the world "friend"!

They watched the "real" ones for a while too!

This little guy was a big hit, running in and out of its hole!

Molly was a great helper with Mya

She and Sarah will make great babysitters one day!

Funny little creatures~

Following Papa, 

where ever he may go!

We took pictures with the wolves...

Molly

Sarah

Cayden

Sarah worried he might fall off!

He wanted to get on just like Molly did!

Rock climbing Rosie!

Whatever Sarah does...

Molly does too!

Mya took a lot in from the comfort of her stroller!

Sarah and Molly telling her to look!

Polar bear in the palm of her hand!

Gone are the fun days when you could feed the seals

but we still liked watching them swim and play!

Cayden~ "it's a pony"

Sarah~ "no it's a donkey"

Cayden~ "it's a pony Sarah"

Sarah~ "Cayden, I'm telling you, it's a donkey"

ENOUGH!

We left the zoo

exhausted but happy~

Papa got everyone a little friend to take home!

Sarah got a leopard~

Mya got a monkey~

Cayden got a shark~

Just look at that tired little face on Mya Brynn!

Molly got a little tiger in a purse~

We got home and promptly went upstairs for

NAPS!

People who say, "My kids will never takes naps"~

 well, I have the secret

for you!

See Molly...

See Cayden...

See Sarah...

Here's the secret... sshhhhhhhh

See Me?

Simple pleasures~

While Bridget ran into her fun store... Victoria's Secret,

Cayden Molly, Sarah and I walked around the mall.

Mya stayed home with Papa to take her nap!

Thank goodness Sarah had her purse

which was full of quarters!

Quarters she readily shared with her sister and cousin!

Molly got some peanut m&m's

Cayden choose Mike & Ike's

Sarah picked plain m&m's!

She then treated herself, Molly and Cayden to rides~

How fun!

Even my Layla bug was having a treat

from her Aunt Tammi!

I want to be where she is...

Happy Birthday to Sarah~

She made us 

Meme & Papa

They named her Sarah Rose

"Rose" just for that someone special~

She fills our hearts with love~

She makes me feel like I know Grammie Gert felt~

so loved!

She brightens our days with laughter~

She shares her sweetness everywhere she goes~

Can she be this grown up already?

Happy 7th Birthday Miss Rosie~

You are the sweetest thing ever~