Baby animals at the zoo!

We took the opportunity last week to go to the zoo to see all the cute baby animals we have right now!

By far, my favorite was the elephant. Her name is Zuri. She was born at the beginning of August, but has just recently been brought out for display.

She was quite playful while her mom ate.

I've never seen an elephant nurse before, so this was a treat! I've always wondered how they get their trunks out of the way....and you know what...I still don't know!

Here's a close up. Still can't tell!

Here she is playing in the mud!

Look at this adorable furry belly! Just makes me smile!

Then she was just plain tuckered out...so down she went!


Then we made our way over to the penguins. I was happy that this guy posed for me, just long enough for this shot! Isn't he cute! Love the pink around the eyes! I'm not sure what breed of penguin it is, but I like it!


Eventually we made it over to the giraffes. There were actually 2 babies, but only one of them looks like a baby! (These are for you mom!) :o)
This is the momma...she was really trying to get close to check out my camera!

Check out the eyelashes! And they say that animals don't have eyebrows...um..check out the giraffes!

And now I'm convinced that baby giraffes are no different than a four year old that doesn't want his/her picture taken!

Then this little cutie finished eating, and went and stood in the doorway! Love these shots!





Then we went on to the big cats. We have tiger cubs and snow leopard cubs.


Check out the paw on the BABY!


Then of course the zoo favorite is the carousel! And the animal she chose this time was the zebra. She had to wait in line a few times, cause apparently it was others' favorites too! But once she mounted that zebra she was in heaven!




Then a quick train ride and it was time to head out! And since I didn't take too many pics of anyone else...here's my cute (older) girl and my honey!


And now it's time to go home with our zoo treasures! Carissa has been asking about this silly "explorer backpack" since the last time we went to the zoo, and we finally allowed her to get it! And she couldn't wait to get home and go exploring!


And now my favorite shot of the day:

State Fair & First Gymnastics Class

It seems that throughout the past year, we have heard at least once a week, ask us if it's time to go to the fair yet! So as the opening of the fair was getting closer, we looked at our schedules and realized that we would only be able to go with Carissa, and the big kids would miss out this year. So when we told her that "today was fair day"....she was ecstatic! Everything seemed to be going perfect!

Well it was REALLY hot the day we went, and we were unable to stay late enough for it to cool down, so the parents were miserable. But we tried to have a good attitude, so that she would have fun. When she saw this "skeleton" she was pretty excited! But I'm pretty sure it's a pumpkin thing. But hey, I wasn't going to argue when she's willing to stand still for a picture!



All she wanted to do was ride the rides. Well we got there early enough that NONE of the rides were open. So we had to WAIT....and WAIT....and WAIT....almost TWO hours!!! And that was the LONGEST two hours....EVER! We were getting so frustrated with her. We tried to get her something to eat, but my incredibly picky eater noticed that no one had Happy Meals! So there was MORE whining involved with that!

So she wouldn't eat lunch, so we decided to head over to the Little Farmer's Market.



That was a smart idea. Until we got behind a HUGE group going through together from a preschool...so they were taking FOREVER at each station. Eventually we couldn't handle the whining (again) so we snuck around them! (which caused us to miss the cow milking barn....so we had to go back for that one)


So NOW the rides are finally open. We purchase the ultra expensive overpriced wristband, thinking she will just be happy to ride all day! She had been talking about going in the hot-air balloon ride all morning. Ya, as soon as it went up ONCE, she was screaming her head off. So the next ride we tried was the helicopters...again screaming. (the picture was obviously before the screaming started!)


Since she had been looking forward to the "dragon coaster" we headed over there. As soon as it was off and moving...she was DONE!


So much for all the anticipation. We even tried to get her to go down the giant yellow slide, and she was terrified of it. But she did enjoy the pony ride. And we got extremely lucky when she was the only one riding for a bit. So she ended up getting almost a 10 minute ride, until all the ponies were taken! So I guess if that made her happy then the day wasn't totally wasted!


I've been wanting to get her in a gymnastics class for a while, but because of her separation anxiety, I've held off. But after her tremendous success at preschool, I figured it was time to TRY and see if she could do it. We got there a few minutes early to have a look around and hopefully have time to prepare her for the class, and hopefully meet the teacher. Well the teacher had hurt her back, so another teacher was filling in. When it was time to go in, Carissa was a bit hesitant, so they allowed me to sit inside the gym room with her.


Then as the teacher began to ask her to "do" things, she kept saying it was "too hard"! She would come back to me and I would encourage her to just go and try and do her best. Eventually she re-joined the class, and did what she does BEST...running in circles!!!


Then the teacher used the word "cartwheel" and she had an "I can't do that" moment! So the teacher, seeing that kids were having confidence melt downs (Carissa wasn't the only one) so she started calling it "monkey jumps" and low and behold, she was really into that!

(not the best picture of her doing her monkey jump...but it was the only one without the teacher in the way!) And the best part is, is that she's been practicing ALOT since we've been home from the class. And she's actually extending her legs pretty good. I'm super impressed! And the scary thing is that I think she's got what it takes to be fantastic at gymnastics and it scares us to death...since we both did gymnastics in our younger years. Well more Andrew. But I tried. Then I went to dance instead.

Then she had the kids do some tricks on the uneven bars. I was pretty impressed with how strong her tummy muscles are!



But she was an absolute rock-star on the balance beam! She walked across that thing like she's been doing it her entire life!


So we'll try this for a bit, and see how she does. But over the past week, she's improved on her "monkey jumps" and she is constantly doing handstands on the couches! (usually with a running start...NOT something she was taught in class! Like I said, I really think she is born for this....but that terrifies me!)

Preschool SUCCESS!

Last week Carissa had her first day of preschool. She's returning with the same teacher she had last year, and she's attending with a friend. Just to remind you, last year was NOT a success. I spent EVERY single class sitting in the teachers' home. I tried to sneak out ONCE, and I payed for that mistake for the rest of the school year! So we spent the summer talking about being "dropped off" like the other kids. And she seemed to grasp the concept just fine, and was SO excited to have Kassidy join her! But then the week of school approached, and we continued to talk about the "drop-off" process....and she started to freak out! She would say things like, "you can drop me off, I'll just come upstairs and check on you later". Well obviously we still had some things to work through. But on the first day arrived, Kassidy came over, the girls ate their lunch together, and then it was time to go.

But first they had to have some pictures taken!





Then they started getting silly!




Isn't it great when you can go to school in flip-flops??? That's the BEST!


In the car on the way to school!



Once they were unbuckled...they were OFF! So excited for school!


Waiting at the door!


They both had a great first day! And I even got to hear them talk about what they learned, which was mostly the rules...but they remembered! I was hesitant to toot my own horn after the first day...but now after 3 classes under our belts, and she has successfully gone EVERY time with no incidents....I can finally shout HOORAY! (of course she might revert...and I'm prepared for that..but for now HOORAY for CARISSA!)

Little change

I've had some issues with some people not being able to access my blog, so I've taken it off private for a bit. If you would like to continue to read my blog, and I don't have your information, please leave me a comment and I can get you added to my list. Until blogger can figure out the issue they are having, I figured this would be the best solution.

Labor Day Fun

It seems that all summer long, my sister and I try and make plans to get together, and for one reason or another, the plan just doesn't come together. In theory it shouldn't be so hard to get together, but it always seems complicated. But as the end of summer approached us, we said to each other...."we must get together labor day weekend"! So we decided to go up Provo Canyon and have a picnic and play for a couple of hours. (Warning: LOTS of pictures...but when you take over 500 in one day, that tends to happen)

While we were waiting for them to get there, I snapped this shot of Nikelle's scarf she was wearing.

Her eyes!

How bout that gust of wind????


There was a cool ampitheatre that the kids (Andrew included) put on a show! In fact he was the announcer. But by the time I heard about it, the "show" was over! But Carissa did enjoy running around with some kids that were there. They danced, they cheered, twirled...anything to get applause!


Then there was lots of rolling down this little hill! At first I had to show her how to roll...but then she got it!


The kids all wanted to go stick their toes in the river. And pretty soon the challenge was to go across. The water was surprisingly swift, and deep. Hannah went with her dad, and she only made it halfway. Carissa was very hesitant to go in very far, and was content to stand in the 2 inches of water (thank goodness)!

Then Nikelle wanted to try it. But she really struggled with her balance...and probably got the most wet!

This face was her "Ooooooo.....it's slimy"!!!

Oooooohhhhhh.....she's gonna fall!

Almost recovered.....but down she goes!

"You didn't get that...did you???"

Cousin Josh coming to help her!

They made it to the other side!

Whoooo...not again!

All is good! (If they weren't cousins...I'd be concerned...isn't that the sweetest picture?? And it's REALLY hard to get Josh to smile, so I especially LOVE this one!)

And just when they thought they were on the homestretch, Josh slipped and went down!
(Ahhhh...she just finds that SUPER funny, huh?

She reigns triumphant!!! She did it! (And no dry clothes to change into, and it's a LONG drive home)

Man, I love photographing her!

And look there's that awesome smile! (see Mom, he's not grumpy ALL the time!)


Then as I went looking for what Carissa was doing, I found her with her cousin Camille. And they were telling "jokes"! Well Camille was making up things that were complete nonsense, and Carissa would laugh hysterically! Camille would just giggle back, since it was SILLY...but not really "funny"! But to see Carissa trying to get the "jokes" was pretty comical!




Then it was back to the ampitheatre to "perform the jokes". But when they got there, there was another family using the stage for their picnic. (Um...hello.....that's what the MILLION tables are for!!!)
So Nathan ran behind them pretending he was on a "basketball stage"! He's REALLY good at pretend dribbling!


The big kids got together to play football with some brave adults! It was a fun game! I was in the grass with my zoom lens sneaking shots of them!
Here's one of Donavan (who was less that cooperative to get photos) and it looks like Josh is about ready to pummel him! Which he probably was!


Those of us not willing to get hurt playing football, enjoyed some time laying in the field. Have I mentioned that I love photographing this girl!


Here's my cute niece Hannah. She turnes 10 today! (Happy birthday cutie!)


And because I had my magic zoom, I caught these two little cuties off playing. Nathan was confused cause Carissa just kept running around, and he kept following her everywhere. I'm not sure if she was trying to get away, or if she was leading the game! They were busy picking grass, and finding leaves, and twigs and various items to make an "ant house"!


Then I focus my attention back on the game. Trying to get a smiling shot of Josh (just to prove to myself that it happens more than once per day!) And there was a pretty funny catch involving Glen (you can see his head in the corner) and you can tell by his wonky hat, that the catch was pretty stellar!


Then as I look around to see where the little ones are again, I see Carissa, again running away from Nathan.

But once he caught up with her, they were able to play at the water fountain.


Now apparently, there had been some severe taunting to the above mentioned "catch" (or maybe lack of...I'm not sure really) and Donavan was teasing Glen about it. Glen asked me he had my permission to take him down...to which I replied...ALWAYS! So Glen turned around and put him on the ground! Which is funny to me, cause when they were all little, they would "wrestle" with Uncle Glen and he could lay there and none of them were strong enough to move him. Ya, things have changed. I think I actually saw Glen using real muscles to hold him down!


And after all was said and done. We had a great time! Some of us a bit wetter than others. Some of us sore from using muscles that haven't been used in a while (Hm, Andrew!) and some of us itchy from laying in the grass too long! But I wouldn't of traded anything for that day! It was awesome!

And here are my favorite shots of the day!

Carissa, "trying" to hide from me taking pictures! (When will she learn???)


And my #1 favorite....she's looking at me! (and no weird faces!)


Well if you made it to the end of this post, and you aren't my mother, or the mother of my nieces and nephews, you should get a prize! (I did warn you that there was an abundance of photos!)