Colorado vacation part III

Phoebe spent her actual birthday on vacation in Colorado. She began her morning by checking out her shadow. She said it was bigger because she was five.

 Then she went for a spin on her scooter, wearing her new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sweatshirt.

 We headed to the zoo and Phoebe got to ride in a fancy birthday chariot, er, wagon.

 The zoo was just the right size and not crowded, so we saw lots of animals and got to get up close and personal with a few.

 Bruce and Phoebe like to take advantage of every cheesy photo opp and there were plenty at this zoo.

 Perhaps someday I'll put together a whole book of the weird places we've had our picture taken.

 I could also put together a whole book on weird places we've slept. Vacation needs to be relaxing too, right?

 This little spider was not in a cage at the zoo, but isn't he cute?

 After a few hours of the zoo, we went to Golden Corral for lunch. I didn't realize just how much Phoebe would love it.

 "I can get whatever I want and I don't even have to eat all of it!" After a taco, noodles, and rolls, she had a few chocolate-dipped marshmallows. Yes, it was that awesome.

 At one point the waitresses gathered around and sang some weird version of the birthday song; Phoebe pretended that she did not hear them. After lunch, we went to the local YMCA for some swimming (for the second time that week) and climbing...

 Bruce picked up climbing quickly and actually enjoyed it despite being a bit risk-averse.

 I took a turn on the wall too. I climbed the easiest route and felt proud of my wimpy self.

 And then Mark climbed up a ridiculous hard route and put us all to shame.

Phoebe was told she was too young to rope up and belay, so she took to the wall as far as Scott could reach her. She wanted to go higher of course.