Before we left you also rode your first carousel which you enjoyed very much after having your fill of slushy and ice cream treats.

Other than revisiting the Monkey’s and Elephants we didn’t really tread new ground. Although you did manage build up your courage to let the Flamingos eat from your hand! You were tickled.

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You had quite the extended birthday this year.
It started with a visit from your Nana, who left with LESS luggage than she arrived with, in mid-June. Next up was a visit from Mam and Poppy in early July who brought gifts from the whole family. Your Maw-Maw, Scott and Aunt Elaine were able to join in the festivities thanks to a video feed streamed live over the internet.

The week before your birthday a package arrived from your Granddaddy, and it wouldn’t do for you to wait so we had to open that right away. Needless to say by the time your birthday finally arrived on the 18th of July 2009, you were inundated with sticker books, new clothes, art supplies and plenty of cards.

Unfortunately late July is a bad time to have a birthday in Europe, as all your Spanish friends were out of town or busy over your birthday weekend. So instead of a party your Mom and I took you to the Madrid Safari which you enjoyed quite a bit (the original plan was to go to the water park but the weather proved to be a bit to cool for that).

When you wandered into our bedroom that morning you said to your Mom, “I saw the presents and I heard a voice in my heart telling me not to open them and I listened to it”. Luckily you didn’t have to wait long as we opened presents first thing and followed that up with some of Mom’s CHOCOLATE CHIP pancakes.

We arrived at the park just as the bird show was getting started. This performance featured birds of prey circling high above us before screaming down to pounce on a “rabbit”. There was also a fox and two wolves.

From there we took a walk over to the petting zoo to see and feed the goats. As usual you were less than thrilled to have the goats eat out of your hands so I had to brave the throng of goats, pigs and deer with a bag of carrots. Nothing makes you more friends in a petting zoo than a bag of carrots.


After the worlds worst hamburgers (again if you are going to any “park/zoo” in Spain it is best to bring your own lunch) you went for a much anticipated ride on a pony. From there we visited the aviary to see the tropical birds. Our last “walking” stop was the mini-zoo where we saw a really big tiger, some raccoons (funny to see raccoons in every zoo), a close up visit with the birds of prey and, of course, the monkeys.

Finally we made it to the drive through safari where the animals were free roaming (except the lions and elephants) and very happy to slobber on the window in hopes of a carrot. You were very nervous about the animals getting into the car and insisted that the windows stayed up anytime an animal approached, especially the Emu towards the end. There were two elephants, when we first drove up one had his trunk in the other one’s ear, you mommy said “he is tickling his ear”. Shortly thereafter the elephant moved his trunk to the bottom of the other elephant at which time you commented that he is “tickling his bottom”.

That evening you Mom and I went out to see Lucinda Williams at the Joy Eslava theatre for our first evening out since coming to Madrid while you slept peacefully with MariaJose watching over you.

Your birthday, however, didn’t end there. Your friend Alaia had a little party for you as well later the next week, sure looks like you girls had a good time.

At long last the remaining pictures from our visit to the Madrid Zoo (you know, where Lilah got kissed by Eddie the sea lion?)

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Well the “Why” game has begun, it started innocently enough earlier in the week as Lilah tested the waters with her first “Why” series which only went 2 levels deep.  However, today as we walked to the Madrid  Zoo and Aquarium she really started in earnest; “What is that people doing?”, “Riding a Bike”, “Why?”, “Because he enjoys it or maybe has somewhere to go”; “What are the cars Doing?”; “They are parked”, “Why?”, “Because their people are in the Zoo”, “Why?”, “To see the animals”, “Why?” this time we were able to distract her and put an end to it relatively quickly, however, I have a feeling that the next time will be a bit tougher (and if you ask my Mom, I have it coming….)

By the way the Madrid Zoo and Aquarium is quite depressing, even more so than the usual Zoo experience as the habitats are smaller than you typically see and the water and pens are absolutely filthy as people seem to be allowed, and even encouraged, to throw any and everything to the animals.  That being said Lilah really enjoyed her day at the Zoo, she was able to pet a Camel, get kissed by a sea lion, see the elephants, see lots of monkey’s, and had the opportunity to touch a Flamingo but chickened out at the last moment.