Feldman Cubs

Dad makes the fanciest quesadillas you’ve ever seen. Sure, they have cheese and tortillas, but he also uses a special third ingredient:

OLIVES!

Oh, yes. They’re good.

Srsly.

You know they’re good because Zoe even puts them in her toes.

See?

Here–try this one. She prepared it just for you.

To celebrate my 365th day of existence, the parents put away the organic gravel and shade-grown wood pulp to feed me …

… grabbable cake!

Interesting!

I can really eat this?

Cool!

Hmm … Am I ready for cake?

YES I AM.

She really is! This brings back memories!

Oh yes. Cake is just fine.

Cake is old news to big sis.

Ba ha ha ha ha!

Whoa. Buzzed.

Apparently, people around the globe are sending me toys because I’m so good at eating cake.

How exactly do you open these things?

Big sis to the rescue!

Big sis played with the toys while I ate the packaging. Win-win!

Aunt Ellen is visiting my fine square state, so we all went to the Butterfly Pavilion and lunch today.

Dad says that “short lighting” is flattering for those with ample cheeks.

Whatever! I have carrots on my face!

Yeah, this is pretty much what usually happens when Ellen’s around.

Big sis was impressively patient at lunch …

… especially for a not-quite-three-year-old.

Ellen’s friend Julie came to Butterflytown with us.

Riley showed her the water fountains, which I have to admit are pretty great.

Dad did his usual thing.

You know the drill.

Riley started out throwing like this …

… but it didn’t take long for her to iron out her mechanics.

Rosie the tarantula is pretty much Riley’s favorite buddy in Westminster.

I wonder how long it will take Riley to realize that people have their own Rosies as pets. HEY MOM!

Yep–Riley had fun with Aunt Ellen today, avoided most of the likely trouble spots, and even picked out a surprise birthday gift for Dad (which she told him is a dinosaur).

Riley really wanted to see owls at the zoo today!

Now, keep in mind that there are no owls at the zoo.

Oh, no! No owls!

That’s OK. Mom and dad just pretend that the zoo’s tawny frogmouth bird is an owl. Riley buys it every time.

The tawny frogmouth lives in the zoo’s Bird World building, where I am now. There are birds everywhere. Um–wait–did I step in something?

Curse you, roseate spoonbill!

Even when she was looking at the penguins, Riley was really excited about going to see the tawny frogmouth owl.

Here it is. Hrm. I know owls. Owls are friends of mine. Tawny frogmouth, you’re no owl.

It worked out, though. Riley thought it was an owl, and then we all went to feed the lorikeets.

They were super hungry today.

Riley was super hungry today too. She ate a gigantic bowl of strawberries after lunch.

Usually Riley spends three-quarters of her time in Lorikeet Adventure washing her hands at the magical sinks, but they were out of order today. So she had to focus on the ‘keets.

Mom had five of them on her arms at one time! Sorry–there is no photographic evidence.

They even perched on dad.