The Living Planet Aquarium

Today we went to the little aquarium with my family. The kids had SOOO much fun there. They zipped through the first of the fish pretty quick. We managed to get them to sit still enough to take a couple pictures and then they were off again. The first section had fish that you would find in Utah lakes and rivers, then we went to the section that had ocean fish, and coral reefs.


Jaren, Savannah, Kaylee, and Gabby

Tiffany (Marla's roommate) helping Gabby at the stingray pool
There was a coral play area that was pretty cool. The kids sat for a picture here but I can't say that they sat still. It's amazing that they are all facing toward the camera.
My dad was trying to avoid my camera. It's funny that I caught him and that it looks like he's smiling because he was trying to be shy. Hee hee hee...I gotcha dad!
Israel and Gabby had fun at the aquarium too. I guess Israel though Gabby was pretty light and Gabby thought it was a blast.
Gabby kept saying "Ahoy, Captain" while she pretended to steer.

Kaylee thought it was fun to touch the stingray, starfish, horseshoe crab, sea cucumber, etc.

They had a "boat" in the Utah lakes section that took you on a "tour" of the Great Salt Lake. When it starts up it has a rumble feel and the kids LOVED it. After we were done looking at everything they wanted to go back to the boat.

According to Kaylee and Savannah this is what would happen if they were on a real boat when it starts to go. It was so funny to see them pretending on this boat.

After the aquarium Marla, Tiffany, Kaylee, Gabby, and I all headed back to my house (and eveyone else went there own seperate ways) and Gabby zonked out! She was so exhausted. I am very happy to say though that after we got back we washed Marla's car and my car while Gabby was asleep, and Kaylee had fun watering the lawn. Gabby woke up right after we finished drying them. Believe it or not...My car really is white, not brown from all the dirt that was on it.

Stephanie Meyer Book Signing

My lil sis Brenda and her sis-in-law Catherine
(Catherine took a pic of me there...I'll see if I can get it and put it up here.)

Yesterday my little sis, Brenda, called me and said that she had an extra ticket to a book signing event with Stephanie Meyer...She figured I just finished the Twilight series and loved it so I would probably like to go with her and her sis-in-law. I convinced my little sis, Marla, and her roommate, Tiffany, to come babysit for me and I went to the book event. I decided I'm a bit pathetic when it comes to the Twilight books...I went on line and read all the outtakes from the books, looked at pictures, read midnight sun, etc. But, I'm not NEARLY as pathetic as some of the people who were there. Some people camped OVERNIGHT to get a good seat even though they had a ticket, once they were inside they took pictures of themselves standing at the microphone like they were speaking at the event, they dressed up, screamed any time they thought they saw Stephanie (even if it wasn't), etc. I got to the event about 20 minutes before it started (thanks Brenda for saving me a seat) and took a few pictures from where we sat. I feel a lot better that I don't get to carried away with books.

Anyway, not only did Brenda call and invite me to an event that has been sold out since it went on sale, but she also handed me a copy of The Host and said "Don't worry about paying me back, Happy Birthday." Thanks Brenda for a wonderful b-day gift, and thanks for inviting me to go.

Stephanie didn't talk about the twilight series much. She did say that Breaking Dawn is the last book in Bella's story, but she may go back and write the books from other character perspectives. She answered a lot of questions about The Host, and life in general as a mother and writer. Going to this event and listening to her talk about things only makes me enjoy her books much more. She is an amazing person as well as an amazing writer.

Page 123 Tag

My friend had this on her blog and tagged anyone who reads her blog. I guess since I regularly read her blog then it includes me.

The first is called Page 123

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.

The nearest book to me is "Eclipse" by Stephanie Meyer from the Twighlight series. Here's what the next 3 sentences say:

Jacob Wasn't Smiling. His dark eyes were critical of my reaction. "It's a little bit more powerful than that. More absolute."

Now I'm supposed to tag 5 people so here it goes...I tag Wendy, Janeene, Maria, Tiffany, Jess F., and Tanya.

Here is a totally seperate side note but I'm so happy about it I had to comment...My next door neighbors have MOVED!!! The last couple days they have been packing up trailors and taking it away. I have been having the biggest celebration that they are moving. I have NEVER had neighbors as aweful as them and I'm sure no one will be able to top them.

Zion National Park

Here's a shocker!!! Paul got Friday, Saturday and Sunday off this weekend! This is the 3rd weekend in a row that he has had off. Paul REALLY wanted to camping this weekend but my sister borrowed our tent, and all the camping spots at Zion National Park were completely full. He did find a cabin at Zions that was available. So, Friday afternoon after picking Kaylee up from school we headed to Zion National Park.


Kaylee and Gabby thought it was so fun staying at this cabin.

First thing this morning we hurried and ate breakfast and started our day of exploring and hiking. Overall, the girls did really well hiking. I had to remind them several times not to walk on the edge of the cliff, but honestly I was stressed even when they were on the complete opposite side of the trail from the dropoff. Our first hike was to the emerald pools since it was right outside the cabin we stayed at.
Some very nice hikers offered to take our picture as a family along the trail.
After a while Kaylee was really tired from walking (Gabby got Paul to carry her on his shoulders) and kept saying "I think this would be a good place to sit for a picture" just so she could sit and rest for a minute.
The girls (and Paul's) favorite thing was the water...whether it was a river, waterfall, dripping from rocks...if it was water they thought it was great and that it SHOULD be played in. While the kids were playing in the water I snapped a few more shots of the scenery.

At weeping rock Kaylee thought it was funny to take a shower in the dripping water.

Cove Fort

On our way home the girls were sick of being in the car and ready either to go to bed or get out for a few minutes. We decided to stop at Cove Fort and take a little tour of the fort. I have been there tons of times but Paul had never been. As the missionaries were giving us the tour the girls wanted the tour to speed up and kept saying "I want to go to the next room now."

It was fun to get out and get away from our regular every weekend stuff. Especially since Paul doesn't get many weekends off. Hopefully since we made the kids hike from 9:00 to 3:45 they will sleep REALLY well tonight.

What do you do when your lawn gets dirty?

You vacuum!!!














My next door neighbor's kids spilled doritos all over my front lawn and she had been vacuuming her van so she just pulled her vacuum over to my house and vacuumed my lawn. I thought it was too funny and she was vacuuming my lawn not just with the vacuum hose but with the whole vacuum.

Family Picnic

Today was a family picnic with Paul's family. We were all going to meet at the park and have a picnic at the pavillion there but when we got to the park it was Freezing cold and the wind was blowing pretty hard. We walked around the park for a few minutes to see if we could find a place where the wind wasn't blowing so much but we ended up ditching the park idea and went to Paul's grandparent's house for the picnic instead.

Before we left the park the kids wanted to go across the bridge and look at the stream.

As we left the park to head for the car the girls and Paul formed a train.
Paul went in the back yard to play blocks with Gabby...but Gabby enjoyed watching Paul play with the blocks instead.
Gabby and her cousin Kyra were pretty quick to find the empty vegetable garden and use it as a sandbox.
John Tyler we quick to find his way up the tree.
The other kids found the trees too. (Yep, Paul's one of the kids that found the trees)

ABC Tag

My sister-in-law tagged me with this ABC tag. It looks like fun so here it goes:

ABC Tag
A-Attached or Single?- Attached
B-Best Friend?- Paul, Wendy
C-Cake or Pie?- Cheesecake Cake
D-Day of Choice?- Friday
E-Essential Item?- Dr. Pepper
F- Favorite color? I like a lot of different colors but I'll go with Green or Blue
G-Gummy Bears or Worms?- Worms
H-Hometown?- Magna, UT
I-Favorite Indulgence?- Mint Chocolate Brownies
J-January or July? July bring on the heat baby!
K-Kids? Kaylee and Gabriella
L-Life isn't complete without? Paul
M-Marriage Date?- Dec 31, 2001
N-Number of brothers and sisters? 4 Sisters, 1 Brother
O-Oranges or Apples?-Apples
P-Phobia and Fears? Heights, dark basements late at night, my kids getting lost
Q-Quote?-Any bug can hit a windshield but it takes guts to stick.
R-Reason to smile?- All the funny things my kids do and say
S-Season of choice?- Spring
T-Tag ten people?- Janeene, Wendy, Nicola, Maria, Miriam, Elaine, Tiffany, and April
U-Unknown fact about me?- I'm ready to move...(I'm not that fond of my neighborhood anymore, and my skin hates the dry air. I got used to the Washington humidity.) I just wish Utah were more humid.
V-Vegetable?- tomato fresh from the gardem
W-Worst habit?- staying up too late at night
Y-Your favorite food?- I like variety...I'll go with Chicken many different ways.
Z-Zodiac Sign?- Cancer

There you have my tag. Now it's Janeene, Wendy, Nicola, Maria, Miriam, Elaine, Tiffany, and April's turn to do this tag.