We did something! We HAD to go to Denver. The zoo happened to be (literally) on our way home. So we stopped. We had lunch. She smiled. She had fun. She knew that we had absolutely zero problem with going home at any given moment. She knew not to test that theory because we have arrived at the zoo before and she has tested us, and we HAVE put her back in her car seat and driven home without ever walking away from our van.

It's important to make your position known and to keep your stance firm because this:
and this:
are sweet and adorable and cuddly looking, but can go from this:


to this:

at any moment...
it's also always good to remember, that it is always kinda this:


but still, she managed to stay (carefully) at this:
until the zoo closed!