Life album
Newest memories first
Projects, firsts, school chapters, family adventures, and the big little moments that make the whole story feel like Zoe.
Age 5 into 6: lemonade stand, Japan, Disneyland, and the leap from kindergarten toward first grade.
Disneyland 70th Anniversary
Zoe's first Park Hopper during Disneyland's 70th Celebration — Fantasyland, Galaxy's Edge, World of Color, Mother's Day, and a brave run of big-kid rides.
Zoe Turns 6!
Six arrived with kindergarten confidence, a fresh passport stamp from Japan, and a whole new appetite for big rides, library projects, and stories she gets to help shape.
Japan: Cherry Blossoms & Bullet Trains
Zoe's first trip to Asia — cherry blossoms in Kyoto, bullet trains, ramen, and a traditional machiya stay. Eight days in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Zoe's Zesty Lemonade Stand
Zoe and her friend Elia served up lemonade at Shoreline Park, raising $117 for the Santa Barbara Public Library.
Read more →Creation Station
Zoe's AI video creations — short films she dreamed up and brought to screen.
Watch now →Block Blast
A block puzzle game with Zoe's reactions, combos, and a family leaderboard. Can you beat her high score?
Play now →Age 4 into 5: kindergarten begins, Hawaii surf, NYC carousels, and creative projects move onto the screen and page.
How to Catch a Pugicorn
An illustrated picture book about Zoe's quest to befriend a magical pugicorn creature. 10 pages of rhyming verse and original artwork.
Read the book →Palm Springs — Grand Hyatt Indian Wells
Desert pools at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells, then Oak Glen apple country on the way home.
First Day of Kindergarten — Laguna Blanca
Zoe starts kindergarten at Laguna Blanca Lower School.
Hawaii: Surf & Sea Turtles
Zoe stood up on a surfboard for the first time at Turtle Bay. Five days across Aulani and Ritz-Carlton on Oahu's North Shore.
Kindergarten Class of ’38
Zoe's Laguna Blanca kindergarten crew — family photos and notes for all 19 classmates.
Meet the families →New York City & Long Island
Eight nights across Long Island and Manhattan — ferries, carousels, museums, Central Park, and a very big July 4th crowd lesson.
Zoe Turns 5!
Five was the big-kid bridge year: preschool behind her, kindergarten just ahead, and enough travel stamina for New York, Hawaii, and desert apple picking.
June Lake Ski Trip
Zoe's second ski trip and first with friends from The Oaks, staying at Double Eagle Resort in the Eastern Sierra.
Age 3 into 4: theme parks, snow sports, cousins, and Zoe's first international flight.
Los Cabos, Mexico
Zoe's first international flight and first passport stamp. Grand Velas resort on the Sea of Cortez.
SLO & Atascadero with Aunt Ashlee
Zoe's first extended-family road trip — Central Coast with Aunt Ashlee and cousins Beckham and Harper.
Zoe Turns 4!
Four brought more independence, bigger opinions, and the first true theme-park year.
LEGOLAND — First Theme Park
Zoe's very first theme park experience. Park Hyatt Aviara, Miniland USA, and all the LEGO she could build.
Big Bear Ski
Zoe's first mountain snow weekend — a VRBO cabin near Snow Valley, sledding, hot chocolate, and a fast yes to future ski trips.
Age 2 into 3: preschool starts, birthdays become adventures, and animals become a durable theme.
First Day of Preschool — The Oaks
Zoe starts preschool at The Oaks.
Zoe Turns 3!
Three got the full adventure treatment: a birthday morning with sea otters at Monterey Bay Aquarium and a Carmel Valley weekend around it.
Monterey & Carmel Valley — 3rd Birthday
Birthday at Bernardus Lodge and sea otters at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Snow Leopard Festival & Sledding
Zoe's first time seeing snow — the SB Zoo's Snow Leopard Festival.
Age 1 into 2: aquariums, first family trips, local Santa Barbara routines, and the first signs that Zoe liked the energy of being out in the world.
San Diego Family Trip
San Diego Zoo, Gaslamp walks, waterfront city energy, Hodad's, and Pendry as the hotel base.
Santa Barbara Summer & Fall 2022
Local parks, Fiesta-week rides, bikes, home rituals, Goleta pumpkin patch, Boo at the Zoo, and Halloween night in one calendar-ordered chapter.
Open 28-photo album →
Mexico for Mimi's Birthday
Puerto Vallarta flights, a Punta Mita beach base, pool mornings, cousins, and a sunset birthday-trip chapter for Mimi.
Open 15-photo album →Long Beach Aquarium
Zoe's first aquarium visit — a family day trip down the coast.
Zoe Turns 2!
Two-year-old Zoe was already curious, expressive, and ready for waterfront mornings, museum stops, garden jobs, and little day-trip rituals.
Open birthday photos →Age 1: the first-year close, the 110-night relocation scout, and the first Santa Barbara fall after the family found home.
Santa Barbara Beginnings
The first post-road-trip home year: East Beach, Halloween walks, zoo and museum stops, garden hose jobs, turning two, and Lil' Toot harbor rides.
Open 50-photo album →
The Great Road Trip — 110 Nights
Austin → Texas → Atlanta → Memphis → Asheville → Raleigh → Virginia/D.C. → Long Island → Charlotte/Atlanta → Texas → Orange County, all before Santa Barbara became home.
Open 32-photo album →Zoe Turns 1!
One year old, just before the family packed up for the long road-trip chapter that would help choose Santa Barbara.
The beginning: a newborn year at home, in the strange quiet of the pandemic.
Welcome to the World, Zoe!
Zoe Sheppard was born on April 7, 2020 in Austin, Texas. Her first-year album starts in the hospital room and follows her through tummy time, Francis check-ins, tiny hats, and early music experiments.
See the first year →