Hogle Zoo

Today we went to the zoo with Marla, Wendy, and the Marshall family. We had a picnic lunch and then started walking around the zoo. Gabby started acting like she wasn't feeling well when we were eating lunch so we put her in the stroller and she fell asleep.
The Elephants were eating when we went over by them. They hang the elephants food way up in the air. I'm not sure why.
These cute monkeys had their tails wrapped together.
Now here is a funny but very effective way of pushing a double stroller with 2 kids in it up a hill. I was pushing the stroller and Marla was pushing me:
Now back to more cute kids pictures:


After we walked around to most of the animals the kids really wanted to go on the carousel (well, all the kids except Gabby, and I had to convince her to go on it...that's how you could really tell she isn't feelin well today). So, we headed over to the carousel. (Marla forgot she was supposed to be taking pictures)

Then Nicola and Kelly took their kids to the playground while Marla, Wendy, and I headed to the zoo train with our kids. I think that Nicola's playground idea ended up being much safer. As we were on the train we went through an area that the Buffalos are in. We have been on the zoo train several times and this has never been a problem. Today however, it was a big problem. First, one of the buffalo were on the train tracks but it moved when the train got close, and then the other buffalo started running and jumping at the train RIGHT where we were sitting. That was the scariest train ride I have ever been on. Luckily the kids were on the opposite side of the train. After it ran and jumped at the train a few times it just walked away. I don't know why, but while I was freaking out I thought "I have my camera. I have to take a picture of this."

On our way home from the zoo Gabby fell asleep again.

Then when we got home she was up for a while, but decided she still didn't feel well, so, she went back to sleep.

Boondock's

Today after picking Kaylee up from school we headed up to an amusement place called Boondock's. Marla got a gift certificate for Christmas that she hadn't used yet so we went to use it. Wendy and Roman met up with us and we had lots of fun.

When we first got there the kids were bubbling over with energy so Wendy and I got the kids wristbands to go into the "Kiddie Cove" play area. It's a fully enclosed area with slides, and tunnels, and all sorts of stuff to play on.

Here's my...well, interesting, and sad story of what happened when we first got to the "Kiddie Cove". The kids were all playing and were all the way up in the top of the play area and Gabby came racing down as fast as she could saying that she needed to go potty. Unfortunately, it took a bit to get down from the very top and she didn't make it in time. I didn't have a change of clothes for her so we resorted to what Wendy had. Those "Capris" that Gabby is sporting in the pictures are actually Roman's 12-18 month pants that still fit Gabby just fine except they were capris instead of pants.

After playing in there for over an hour they were done playing and wanted to play arcade games. They had lots of fun but when the tokens were gone they were ready to see what else we could do while we were there...

Outside they have a speed track, and mini golf, and bumper boats. Roman wasn't tall enough for any of them (except maybe mini golf) and the girls were begging for SOMETHING to do. So, Wendy sat out with Roman while Marla and I took Kaylee, and Gabby on the Bumper Boats.

To read more on our adventure at Boondocks you can jump on over to Wendy's Blog.

Weekly Review Feb. 15-21

Wow! I'm getting my weekly review done early this week. My kids are watching a movie, and my house is clean...so I have a little bit of time to update.

February 15 – Kaylee got a birthday present that made its way slowly from Texas through people and finally got to her. It was a toy violin that plays songs from my cousin Tiffany and her boys. We also celebrated Janeene’s, my dad’s, and Savannah’s birthdays.

February 16 – Wendy, Marla, and I took the kids to Fashion Place Mall. The mall was beyond crowded because of President’s Day.

February 17 – Last night when we got home from being at my Parent’s house since Thursday, and we had a VERY unwelcome surprise. Our house was only 53 degrees, and our furnace wasn’t working. I called Mike Solomon (Paul’s best friend) and he drove all the way down to Spanish Fork from Kearns to diagnose the problem, and then came back today with the part to fix it.

February 18 – Everyday Kaylee has a Math page, and Phonics page of homework. Here she is focusing on her math.

February 19 – Wendy, Roman, and Marla came to our house to play. The kids all piled on Marla on the couch and were just being silly.

February 20 – For some reason the kids were everywhere today. It was a very crazy day. I was trying to get the house cleaned up for the weekend (in hopes that someone would come look at our house, and want to buy it)…so, I got the girls (after several times of asking) to clean their bedroom.

February 21 – Today after cleaning our house this morning I wanted it to stay clean, and the girls have had a lot of extra energy lately. So, we went to an inflatable jumping amusement play place called Jumpin’ Jacks.

Jumpin' Jacks

My kids have had a lot of extra energy lately...and with Paul gone (to Hawaii in case you forgot)...I have had to take care of all this extra energy by myself. So, today after we got the house all cleaned up (I didn't want it to get destroyed again after all my hard work) we hopped in the car and went to a place called Jumpin Jacks. It's an inflatable jumping amusement place. They had tons of fun and completely wore themselves out.

Long Lost Friend

About a week and a half ago my brother called me from a cookie social after church at his singles ward...kinda wierd and random...I know. He said "Guess who I found at my singles ward? I'll just hand them the phone and if they want they can tell you who they are." Even more wierd? Yes...My brother is random, and wierd but I still love him. The person picked up the phone and said "Hi Becky, this is Melinda." I almost DIED!!! I was so excited. She was one of my absolute very best friends in elementary, middle, and high school!!! Then she got married (to a control freak) and I never heard from her again...only to find out that she only lived an hour away from me in Washington...WHAT? My best friend lived in Washington?!?!? and I didn't even know!!! Okay, so I haven't seen her in about 7 years, and I haven't talked to her in 6 years...and there she is at my brother's singles ward. I was going to my parent's house for the weekend, so she came over and visited with me for a couple hours. It was so much fun seeing her again. I would love to see her a lot more now that I know where she is!

Cousins Birthday Party

Saturday, February 14

Janeene had a birthday party for Jaren and Savannah on Saturday (Ariana was born a week before Jaren's birthday so he didn't have a party in November). The party was at my parent's house and there were at least 20 kids there! Kinda crazy...but the kids had fun. Janeene had hot dogs, chips, and some food if people hadn't had lunch, then the kids made magic wands since it was a princess and knight party. They played games (Simon Says, Hot Tiara (aka hot potato played with a tiara), Dragon Tag, etc), opened gifts, and had cake and Ice Cream.

Valentine's Day

Paul sent me flowers for Valentine's Day. The floral arrangement was so big that it was taller than Roman and Gabby. Paul sent Kaylee and Gabby each a single red rose. Kaylee wouldn't stand still long enough for me to take her picture (She was too busy playing with her cousins).

Build-a-Bear Valentines

Friday, February 13

Since Paul is gone to Hawaii already and wouldn’t be here for Valentine’s Day I decided that I wanted to take the kids out for Valentine’s Day. Wendy and I took Kaylee, Gabby and Roman to Build-a-Bear.

Kaylee chose a pink bear with flowers on it:

Gabby chose a Pink Monkey with Hearts on it:

and Roman got a doggy...full details can be found on Wendy's Blog

They washed their animals and then dressed them. Kaylee's bear was dressed up in a valentine dress, Gabby's monkey got a monkey gem shirt, and denim skirt, and Roman's dog wore a soccer uniform.

Here's how we carried our bears on Wendy's stroller:

Gabby figured that if the bears fit to sleep in the box...then maybe she could too: