Meet Turtle (or Al, or Snake, or maybe some other name)

After signifiant lobbying, much research, and several visits to the East Bay Vivarium, we decided to surprise Clara with a snake for her birthday. They're not cheap, but I have been fully convinced that they are good (and easy!) pets. Hopefully this will bear out to be true. I was the hardest in the family to be convinced, but I was won over by a combination of Clara's determination, her research and fact-finding, and actually holding the snake at the store (it's way nicer than I expected).

It's an amelanistic corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) and here are some pictures of the snake at the store and at home:

Happy Birthday, Clara!

You're 11 now -- a lovely palendromic number to go with your amazing self!

I've been a bit of a slacker on the photos this year, so hopefully this pre-birthday gift giving photo will do for now. : )

You've started middle school and are settling in to new routines and new independence. Over the past year you finished your first year on the gymnastics team, working hard to develop those skills.

Here's wishing you another great turn around the sun with tons of love!