Happy birthday to Dr. Seuss!

I'm excited to celebrate with my

classmates today!

This is normal for us

This is what a sleeping angel looks like

Why YES, I do always wear a Princess crown while brushing Stitch's hair

This beauty a went to see Beauty and the Beast

Over Memorial Day weekend, I went with some of my preschool friends (past and present) to see a narrated production of Beauty and the Beast at Descanso Gardens. I had a wonderful time, and I learned that I love the non-Disney version of this story even more!

After the show, we enjoyed a lovely picnic, then rode the train, played in the garden, and went in search of fairies. We also stumbled upon the museum and explored the Dangerous Beauties exhibit, full of photos and paintings of natural disasters, fires, tornadoes and the like. Dangerous beauties indeed! 

Happy 200th birthday, Verdi!

To celebrate Mr. Verdi's 200th, we attended a children's program put on by the fabulous LA Opera. Mommy was thrilled that I enjoyed it -- and she's counting the days until we can be season ticket holders to the opera again! Daddy was hopeful that he wouldn't have to cram his knees into the seats at the Dorothy Chandler Theater if I was willing to go with mommy. And you know me - I'm a team player! 

Baba can fall asleep anywhere

Even sitting up, in the middle of a conversation, at Aunt Pook-Pook's house. 

This sea glass was as much of an attraction as the animals were!

Isn't it lovely? I admit I took a few souvenirs. 

But I did use her on share day to discuss the PMMC's important work

Sealie told my friends at preschool all about the sea lion and seal hospital. 

Edutainment at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach

I learned the difference between a sea lion and a seal (hint: it's in the ears) and about the mysterious reason the PMMC is overwhelmed with these cute residents like the ones behind me right now. 

I also got a new stuffed animal. It's a seal. She's really cute. Daddy said he can't leave me and mommy alone for even a minute! 

I got to eat in a choo choo train!

Mommy loves The Old Spaghetti Factory. We went there this weekend to celebrate her birthday -- and we got to sit in the choo choo train! Stitch and I were so excited. It was great fun. Then I ate mommy's spumoni ice cream. I'm sneaky! 

Star fish sometimes feel shy, too.

Peekaboo. I see you! 

A colorless sea anemone!

The tide pools were full of animals we had seen in books, but this was new - and rare! We were thrilled to see a colorless sea anemone. This is a phenomena that only occurs when they are buried in sand for extended periods and manage to survive. Boy, are we lucky!

I've clearly not had any trouble making friends at my new preschool

This is one of my new friends. Mommy likes her mommy, too. We've met so many nice people here so far! 

Crabs galore!

I watched them scurry about for a long time. They were so funny!

Sea slug!

We went to the tide pools!

We got 65 of our friends from my old preschool, my new preschool, and mommy's friends together to visit the tide pools in Laguna Beach. We hired a naturalist and a lifeguard to guide our adventures - and they were SO informative! 

In preparation for this special field trip, we checked out some books from the library to teach us about tides, tide pools, and their animal inhabitants. I was practically an expert before we even got there!

We ventured through several areas of the tide pools and saw tons of sea creatures ranging from sea slugs and slews of crabs to star fish and bountiful blenny fish. It was great fun! I can hardly wait to return. 

Here I am with a Gibbon monkey

A cutout anyway. They're wild animals, after all. 

This monkey got her face painted!

Don't I look just like a butterfly?

Wait, are we looking at Gibbons or are they looking at us?

I need clarification. 

We had breakfast with Gibbon monkeys!

Mommy heard about this event at a nearby Gibbon conservancy -- and immediately bought tickets for us to attend yesterday. Amma and Baba joined us, as did Aunt Cody, Uncle Kyle and little baby John, who are big fans of zoos and all things animal-related. I was excited to see live Gibbons and to hear their beautiful morning melodies. 

As expected, we had a terrific time! We enjoyed learning about Gibbon monkey behavior on the tour, and getting up close and personal with some of the monkeys. We even met a baby Gibbon called Goliath. He was quite small -- and had almost as much energy as I do! We met another who likes to beg visitors for food. Silly monkey. 

Best of all. we dined like Gibbons (and learned that they're vegan) and were encouraged to sing like them! So not only did we learn about them, we also got to pretend to be Gibbon monkeys! 

Happy birthday to my friend Madison!

It was so nice to see her and some of my friends from my old preschool! 

Uncle Kyle came to visit

As you can see, he and daddy spent quality time together. 

I made a friend at USC today!

She's a cheerleader. We cheered for Tommy. 

At the USC rose garden

The flowers at my future alma mater are so lovely. I wanted to pick one, but elected to leave it there to keep USC beautiful. I'm a giver. 

Butterflies!

I went with a friend of mine to the Natural History Museum last weekend. It was so much fun! I got there early, so I started the day by learning about turtles and even touching one! We explored the Hall of Dinosaurs and looked at both the African and North American mammals. 

After lunch, my friend had to leave for a birthday party, and I spent some quality time at the Butterfly Pavilion. I was wearing a flower in my hair, and one butterfly landed on it! It was so cool! I even got a book about metamorphosis and a butterfly ring!

Bear!

What's all the excitement, you ask? There was a real live bruin bear on our street for several hours today. It wandered down from the forest. Apparently this sort of thing happens here a lot. 

By all accounts, the bear spent a few hours right in front of our house. I have to assume that it left us alone because of all the cardinal and gold at our house. Everyone knows that bruins fear the wrath of Trojans. 

My first baseball game!

We rooted for the home team and snacked on the infamous Dodger Dogs - and cooled down with a refreshing ice cream sandwich. I can get used to this. 

Berries!

I don't share. Don't even ask. 

We have green thumbs now!

Mommy and daddy famously had black thumbs for years. They even had an evergreen tree that they had to rename the NEVERgreen tree. 

Things seem to have changed. Just look at these delicious blueberries! We have bushes full of blackberries and raspberries, too. And we're hoping to have the same luck with our fruit trees. 

Give me an inch and I'll take a mile!

I asked daddy if he would share a slice of his BBQ Chicken Pizza from CPK with me. He said yes. I had my slice, plus a bite from each of his other slices. Ha ha ha!

It's hard to get excited about a FAKE dragon

Lame. 

World's Strongest Princess

That would be me, thankyouverymuch. 

Speaking of Rome

Here's my daddy with the obligatory turkey leg. 

Entertainment for all!

Especially the kids. 

A demonstration of scale

He's a big dude. 

Daddy is protective

He warned the camel what would become of him if he upset me. I assume the camel got the message loud and clear, because I had a great time!

Cute little guy, isn't he?

A total ham, too. 

When in Rome...

We went on a camel ride. For real. 

Katherine and I explored a castle!

I met the Queen!

And she was smart! Somehow she knew I was a little Princess.