Free to roar

Here are some sweet pictures of Ariel, now she's free. Actually, I'll start with one with her still in the (inner layer of) packaging:

The packaging looks so plain like this! 

 

So sweet, with her tail tucked behind her head! 

I don't think she looks quite as good upright (I couldn't get the pets to balance). 

This shows her bib the best. Unfortunately, the left "ear" is crushed, as her position in the box meant she was leaning on it for 10 years. It's intact, but is pushed into her body - trying to pull it out results in it moving straight back as soon as I let go. So I guess she only has half a mane (and one ear!). 

It's actually taken me this long to work out what the bib is: the yellow parts are mane, and the orange is the ears! It's only taken me 4 months of having her! 

I've also just realised that her pets are one of her cubs and one prey animal; poor giraffe! In fact, if you include all the pets I've got so far this year, she has one other cub (Ellen's pale lion), and all the rest are prey! On the other hand, maybe Marina's dolphin and seahorse will be safe. 

She's in the same crawling position as Maribel, and her hairstyle is different to all the others this year (although I do own others with the same hairstyle!). There only are a small number of hairstyles, so I guess I'll have one with the same very soon.

I'm so pleased I unboxed Ariel, and I can't wait to do the same with the remaining three!