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A Weekend with My Cousins in Tetonia

5.17.2022


I got to sneak away with just Ezra in tow for an unexpected visit with my cousins and their families in Tetonia for the weekend.  When my Uncle Jeff's mother passed away, his family had a graveside service for her burial under the Tetons where she grew up.  I'm not exactly a part of that side of the family, but when my cousin Rachel invited me out to see them, of course I dropped everything to see her!  

These girls feel like a second set of sisters to me!  I love them so much.  I hadn't seen their kids in years.  I got to meet Emily's little Declan for the first time; he's just six months younger than Ezra.  The pair were a funny little duo together, stealing each other's sippy cups and jabbering nonsense.  And Rachel's oldest, Luke, is now 15 and is a totally awesome kid!  I wish he lived closer so his coolness could rub off on Jed.  I arrived Saturday afternoon, just in time to hug Grandma Smith and my Aunt Mari before they headed back to Utah.  The whole group of us stayed in an oversized cabin, ate too many sweets, and did not get enough sleep.  It was exactly everything a family reunion is supposed to consist of!            

On Saturday evening, Rachel whisked Necia and myself out of the cabin during golden hour for an impromptu moose hunt.  We spotted 11 moose!  Admittedly, I had more fun taking pictures of my cousins taking pictures of the moose than I did actually seeing the moose. 😆

It took all morning to get the family moving on Sunday, but we eventually made it to Teton National Park.  Ezra woke up from his nap in the back seat and excitedly pointed out the window at the Tetons.  He intuitively knew those peaks are something special!  We hiked around Jenny Lake to the waterfall.  There was still so much snow on the trail!  Ezra held onto a tiny truck and happily jabbered in my ear most of the way.  He loves to go, go, go!  It was just beautiful.  We could not have asked for a more beautiful day for hiking. 

Conrad on the Playset and a Quick Update

4.09.2018


The weekend consisted of a photo shoot in Pocatello turned date night/road trip with Bron, lacrosse games in Boise amid a microburst wind storm (we lost one and won one) and Levi getting a half inch gash on his head as we're already running late for church!  The good news is that he managed not to get any blood on his white shirt.  WHY DO THEY ALWAYS BLEED BEFORE CHURCH?!?

The week prior, I found all three of them playing in the front yard in their church clothes.  Conrad was just doing his thing, Levi was sunbathing on the courtyard wall, and Jed was sharpening swords (aka sticks) using his bike tire. It was quite the sight!  This crazy life with little boys is keeping me on my toes, but I sure am enjoying it.

^^Conrad scaling the playset ladder for at least the 50th time; it's his new trick.  I'm half terrified every time I watch him!  But he's pretty confident.  And strong.^^

I'd love to capture how motherhood makes me feel in word or picture, but I never will.  It's the way Conrad lights up when I walk into the room, his sweet miniature hands on my cheek, his open mouthed smile and the way he waves before careening down the slide.  They're all very little details that bring me overwhelming contentment and joy.  Living in and enjoying the present moment while I still have a baby.


P.S. Our grass looks like shag carpet right now, don't you think?

Weekend!

3.19.2018


I think we survived what I hope is our very last snow storm of the season.  This year, it feels like winter never wanted to start and now it never wants to end!  We woke up to an inch of snow on the ground Saturday morning.  Needless to say, we are all counting down the days til our trip to St. George, UT for Spring Break!  It's coming so soon!  I'm really looking forward to some family time, relaxing with no real schedule or list of chores and adventuring in the sunshine with the people I love most.

But until that happens, let's review what happened this weekend because I want to remember what real life looks like these days too.

::  Due to snow on the ground Saturday morning, our lacrosse clinic was canceled.  But no matter, I got to tag along to Jed and Levi's wrestling match in Wendell, ID instead!  I'm so glad I got to go.  Both boys have improved so much since last year.  And that's all I could ever want for them: to increase their talents and enjoy what they do.  I'm so proud of Jed and Levi.  Levi won two matches and lost two matches.  Jed lost three matches but pinned a kid in his second match.  Then Bron bought them popcorn.  I'd say our morning on the mats was a success!

::  I participated as a violinist in the pit orchestra for the Stake Easter Cantata for I think the 7th year in a row.  Has it really been that many years?!  Blows my mind.  I admit, I'm a diva and was disappointed when I didn't get to play any solo parts this year.  Apparently we violinists take turns instead of auditioning for the solo parts... which is not what the choir did, but whatever.  My pride is just stinging.  Anyway, it was still good for my soul to play music in praise of my Savior.  I really do enjoy this tradition at Easter time as it gives me a chance to reflect upon the life of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for me; it really helps put my priorities into line.

On another note, I got to meet a particular Elder Kartchner on Sunday night.  This Elder happens to be my sister's nephew from Pima, Arizona.  I made sure to introduce myself after the Cantata performance.  He said he knew who I was as soon as I opened my mouth!  Haha.  Lauren and I sound so much alike.  Small world.  It was fun to make that connection.

::  At 16 months old, Conrad is officially the most exhausting toddler ever.  I'm not sure if it's truly because he's that much of a busy maniac or if I'm just more relaxed (because hello, he's the third!) and distracted by other things to keep up with his messes.  But really, he is super busy.  He delights in destruction and emptying drawers and eating out of the garbage and is completely irrational.  Conrad has just come upon the 'terrible two' fits, throwing himself onto the floor when he doesn't get exactly what he wants.  He is getting good at screaming and yelling.  I suspect he just wants to be heard in this already loud house of boys.  He's very attached to his mama right now and starts to freak out if I'm preparing to leave the house, but if he has his shoes on and coat in hand, Conrad knows he's leaving too and stands waiting at the door.  He has one word in his vocabulary: Mum.  He says it over and over and in varying intensities from happy to downright angry.  Conrad is also a runner.  He speeds off only to turn around and grin, just making sure we're following him.  Can you imagine what church looks like for us right now? 

All Bron and I can do is lock all the doors and laugh.  We laugh a lot actually, because no matter how much work Conrad is right now, he's ten times cuter.   And that cuteness is what makes it all worth it.

Conrad just gets under our skin with the biggest hugs, the most charming grin, and his dance moves.  I can't get enough!  Just yesterday, he made a b-line for my room when he saw the baby gate open.  I followed and came in to see him holding items from my dresser drawer with the biggest cheesiest proudest grin.  He's such a happy tease!  I couldn't help laughing out loud and scooping him up into a hug.  As exhausting as this age is, it's truly one of my favorites.  Stay little okay, Conrad?  We love you and your naughty cuteness!          

The River Dash Kayathlon

6.11.2017

 ^^The Dashing Darlings: Shelly, Jessie, and Tiffany^^

RUN. PEDAL. PADDLE.

Saturday morning, Bron and I took on the River Dash Kayathlon.  I did it as a relay team with these cool ladies above.  We called ourselves the Dashing Darlings and we came in second!  Tiffany ran two miles, I biked ten miles, and Shelly kayaked four miles.  It was so much fun!  I conquered my leg in about 52 minutes.  Our total team time was 2 hours and 12 minutes.  (I'm all pumped up for training for Pierre's Hole now.)  We ladies have a competitive streak that makes us want to first, train, and then come back next year and dominate... er, do better!  Haha.

 ^^The Galloping Gingers: Bryce and Bron^^

Bron and Bryce took on the race as a team, mainly because it's faster to paddle up river in a tandem kayak.  I'm not surprised.  These men took first in the team category by about 25 minutes!

The little boys got to witness it all and cheer us on.  I think their favorite part of the morning were all the Orange Leaf fro yo cups! 

Til next year, River Dash!   

How We're Teaching Our Boys to Work

6.05.2017


Dear Boys,

I want you to know that I'm making this parenting thing up as I go along.  I really have no idea what I'm doing.  I'm pretty clueless, actually.  After all, you didn't come with a manual--though sometimes I really wish you did!  However, I know I want to give you my very best.  I love you more than anything on earth and want to give you the childhood you deserve.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you will turn into responsible and kind adults despite my many mistakes. 

One of the characteristics that I admire most about your dad is that he is self-motivated and a hard worker.  He grew up on a dairy farm; it was a natural place for him to learn work and responsibility.  But we've chosen to live in a neighborhood.  You dad and I have talked at length about how to instill a good work ethic in you boys.  We've come up with a few ideas.  I'm sure they'll change and evolve as time goes on, but so far, I like what I'm seeing!

First, I made a chore chart.  Your old one fell off the wall and broke.  But no matter, it was time for an update anyway.  You've grown up quite a bit and are ready for some new tasks!  I hot glued magnets to the backs of wide popsicle sticks.  On the sticks are written various chores: make your bed, practice the ukulele, scrub the toilet, feed the dog, clean your bedroom, etc.  I change them up every day.  Each chore is worth either ten or fifteen cents.  When you're done, you bring the stick from your board back to me in exchange for some money.  I'm excited that this immediate reward system seems to be working!

But there's a catch.  I also added some "chores" that have no monetary value--do something nice, play with Conrad--because I think there are some responsibilities that should just be done out of the goodness of your heart.  And that's where yesterday's trip to the South Hills came in.

Memorial Day Weekend on the Dairy

5.31.2017


We spent most of our three day weekend out on the Nelson family dairy farm.  They just installed four robots to milk the cows.  It's an incredible new operation: the cows walk into the parlor and a robot cleans the teats and milks them.  (My favorite part is when the robot wipes its own eye!  Haha.  It just seems kinda funny.)  Then off the cows go to the barn or pasture to eat until their udders feel full and they wander into the parlor again.  24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It was fun to watch!

But as neat as technology is, some things never change.  Nothing beats a good old fashioned bike ride along dirt roads.  Conrad even got to visit the zoo for the first time this weekend!  Momma Nelson runs a regular bed and breakfast as all her sons and family rotate through her front door.  But I'm grateful for warm food and family conversation and that my boys get to play with their cousins.  So many good memories are being made on this farm, and whether she realizes it or not, Merri Sue is at the center.

The Nelsons Climb Tiny Town

5.22.2017


On Friday evening, after Levi graduated from preschool, Bron met all of his brothers for a night of camping at Castle Rocks with their families.  I graciously bowed out.  May is way too early in the year for me to go camping with a baby who already has a snotty cold and isn't sleeping well anyway.  But the boys had a blast roasting hot dogs and getting to sleep in a tent with Dad!  They can't stop talking about it.

I met everyone up at Castle Rocks the next day for the best part: rock climbing!  Even Flint and Merri Sue joined us.  We must have looked like a gypsy community with our combined 19 children and gear.  Haha.  But there were plenty of snacks, three ropes, and everyone got to climb who wanted to.  We adults chatted while the kids played among the rocks with warnings not to step on any cactus!  I'm not sure how many bathroom hikes to the outhouse I took the kids on, but the day went a hundred times smoother than I anticipated.  We all had a ton of fun together!  Even Merri Sue tried a route.  I'm so glad she did.  This climbing hobby has become a family affair.

Some pictures towards the end of the day:

Girls' Weekend in Utah

5.09.2017


Five days after getting home from our trip to St. George, I turned around and headed back to Utah to meet my mom, grandma, aunts, and cousins for a day at the BYU Women's Conference.  It was a girls' only weekend ( plus a nursing Conrad, of course).  And oh, did we take advantage and have a lot of fun!  I love those ladies.  My cousins feel more like sisters, my aunts are just plain awesome, and Grandma makes me feel so loved.

I attended Women's Conference at BYU on Friday, skipping around the campus from class to class with my cousins.  We sat in an overflow during one class eating brownies.  Delicious!  So obviously, we took our learning very seriously.  As uplifting as the conference was, I couldn't help thinking how weird Mormon culture is.  I hope I'm not the only one who looks around and thinks, "Wow, this is corny!"

I was lucky enough to have my cousin, Devin, babysit Conrad during classes.  Conrad saw ducks and waterfalls and even took a couple of naps in his stroller.  He was so well taken care of.  I can't thank Devin enough for doing that for me!

On Friday evening, we all gathered at my Aunt Mari's house for food and swimming in her pool.  Conrad splashed and splashed.  He was our entertainment for the night, he loved the water so much.  One of my favorite parts about having a baby is watching him experience the world for the first time.

All of Saturday was spent shopping.  Literally.  My cousins live in teeny tiny towns in Arizona and they know how to shop til they drop.  So that's exactly what we did!  I was even fortunate enough to take my mom into Ulta to treat her a week early for Mother's Day.  It worked out well.

Grandma spoiled us with fresh fruit, giant salads, ice cream, and all the love and conversation she could muster.  She really is the salt of the earth and possesses so many qualities I hope to emulate.

Funny story though: Grandma is 80 years old and her heart is giving her fits.  Understandably, she lacks the energy she used to have.  When she showed me the room Conrad and I would be staying in, Grandma asked that I sleep on top of the bed and not in it because she didn't want to make the bed again.  "Grandma," I protested, "I can put fresh sheets on and make the bed.  I don't mind."  But Grandma insisted that I use one of the extra blankets she'd laid out instead.  Haha.  It wound up being so warm that I wouldn't have slept with the covers on anyway.

Three cheers for family and a girls' weekend getaway! 

Spring Break in St. George

5.03.2017


The idea started as a conversation among friends at church but snowballed into an actual Spring break adventure getaway!  The last weekend in April, Bron, Conrad, and I along with five other couples (and two more babies) drove down to St. George, Utah to enjoy the sunshine, climbing, biking, hiking, and shopping.  I still feel so lucky we got to do this!  It snowed on I-15 as we made our way down, but as I stepped out of the car on Thursday evening underneath a palm tree, it was a balmy 70 degrees.  It strangely felt like home.  Bron immediately turned to me and asked, "Wanna buy a condo here?"  My reaction was immediate, "Yes!"  Well, that condo it still to be determined, but we didn't miss a beat jumping into some fun.  With the last of the daylight, we all did a little climbing on the red rock.
   

Delay of Game in the City

4.24.2017

^^Brotherhood is soaking up the sun like a pair of lizards.^^

Though winter seems she does not want to relinquish her hold on the earth, we're so excited that the sun is ultimately winning the battle this Spring because warmer weather means rock climbing!  Saturday, we met Kaleb and Chantee in the City of Rocks for just such an adventure.  Talon and Amber and their crew of cousins joined us too.  We happened to find one of the tallest sport climbing routes in the park open!  Down inside the canyon, the wind was partially blocked and the sun's rays reflected off the rock wall warming us all up.  So we set up our day camp, taking turns climbing the wall and simply enjoying one another's company while the kids explored and climbed and ate all the snacks.  

It was a successful trip to the city... except for the part where I accidentally sunburned Conrad's cheeks; it was so cold it didn't even occur to me to put sunscreen on him til afterwards!  And then Levi fell off a boulder and screamed in pain; he sprained his ankle and couldn't even walk to the truck.  Finally, Conrad threw up the entire contents of his stomach on to me.  I was soaked clear through my underwear.  In fact, that rancid milk got all over the front seat of the truck too. Bron still can't get it all entirely out of his fancy air conditioned leather seat.  Pee-yew!  The latter two things all happened around 6:00PM, so needless to say, I was ready to call it a day.  Life with kids.  You win some, you lose more.  Or at least it feels like that some days.  Haha.

Pictures from our day:      

24 Hours in Sun Valley

4.03.2017

^^I didn't bring my camera or take a single phone picture all weekend, so these sweet daffodils from our front yard will have to do for this post.^^

On Friday afternoon, Bron and I left the big boys with a babysitter and escaped to Sun Valley for a quick--but very quiet--overnight getaway!  (With Conrad in tow, of course.)  I think Jed and Levi were as excited to get rid of us as we were of them.  Hehe.  Bron's company hosted a meeting there at the Sun Valley Inn for a number of dairymen and their wives.  I don't mind being social, so I was all over this trip.

The hotel was charming.  The meals were delicious!  I beat Bron bowling twice.  And while Bron and the dairymen sat in a meeting on Saturday morning, Conrad and I went back to our room for a little snooze.  When we woke up, we did a little shopping with the gift card J.D. Heiskell handed out.  I bought myself a new hat and a bunch of chocolate from the candy store.  And that's when I spotted the heated outdoor pool.  It was steaming in the mid-40 degree sunshine!  So Conrad and I donned our swimming suits and went for a little dip.

It was Conrad's very first pool experience.  He's a little fish!  He allowed me to hold him on his back with his ears completely submerged.  Conrad was all smiles.  He couldn't help giggling from all the one-on-one attention as I helped myself to his squishy exposed thighs.

Oh, it was blissful!  It's been a long time since I felt so relaxed.  There were no meals to prepare, no chores begging to be done, and no obnoxious children to listen to and reign in.  I was happy to be reunited with my boys Saturday evening, but I wouldn't have minded staying another night!

We topped the weekend off with LDS General Conference on Sunday.  If anything, that was definitely coming home for.  There were so many golden nuggets of spiritual upliftment and inspiration to do better and be better.

I wouldn't mind putting that weekend on repeat a couple of more times!

Hello Spring!

3.14.2017


Goodbye Winter!  Hello Spring!!!  The snow has finally melted and it's suddenly warm enough to venture outside wearing just a sweater.  We've been enjoying every sunny minute.

The warmer weather means that all the snow from our very long winter is finally melting.  We had this grand idea to see how Shoshone Falls was looking last Saturday afternoon.  Apparently, so did all of Idaho and their dog.  Literally.  Haha.  I've never seen the park so busy.  But everyone was kind and patient as we all ooohed and aaaahed over the powerful spectacle.  Shoshone Falls usually runs at about 3,000 cubic feet of water per second.  On Saturday, it was running around 16,000 cubic feet of water per second and is expected to run over 20,000 cfs in the near future.  Wow.  Just wow.  It was incredible.  And as an added bonus we got to see some pretty rainbows rising from the mist!  How lucky are we to live so close to some nature's most extraordinary attractions?! 
    

Meeting Great Grandma Smith

2.25.2017


Conrad got to meet his Great Grandma for the very first time.  During our weekend trip to Utah we of course made time to visit my grandma, the boys' great grandma!  We met at Sizzler for lunch with my Aunt Mari before heading over to Grandma's home to visit for a while longer.  Conrad and Great Grandma hit it off together.  She couldn't stop saying how "tickled" she was.  Then when our visit was over, she sent us on our way with Valentine's notes and candy. I can't adequately put into words my love and admiration for this woman.  I guess it's her love that simply transcends everything.  I'm a sap and treasure these captured moments so much.  I can't help it.  The last time I had a baby this age I was grabbing pictures with Levi's Great Grandpa in them too!  Time and the people we love are fleeting.  I'm sure grateful to know that families are forever.

A Wade Family Reunion

2.24.2017

^^Our view from the cabin's balcony our first evening.^^

Just a few short weekends ago (February 9-12 to be exact) we were able to enjoy a wonderful weekend tucked up in the mountains of Utah with family I only get to see once or twice a year: my dad and family and my sister and her family!

We had many un-adventures, beginning with the basement of the cabin we rented flooding!  We've had a crazy snowy winter here out west and everything was frozen solid for weeks... until the week that everyone came to visit, naturally.  Roads and farms and basements were flooding everywhere.  It was a circumstance out of everyone's control.  Thankfully, the water damage was concentrated mostly in one room, so Bron and I picked up the mattress and moved it to the basement tv room to sleep.  There.  A makeshift bedroom.  Problem solved.

On the second night, we discovered that the oven didn't work and that the lasagnas I'd brought wouldn't bake.  Bummer.  So Don graciously raced to town and brought back some pizza.  On the third night, the electricity went out!  Liz happened to be in the shower at the time.  Bron and I looked at each other and knew exactly what would happen next: because the cabin gets its water from a well, the pump wouldn't work without power and she'd run out of water.  And, of course, her hair was full of suds as the last of the water dripped from the shower head.  Liz asked nine year old Mia to get her some water bottles.  Mia grabbed them from the refrigerator.  Hahaha!  All of us in the house got a good chuckle hearing her chilly screeches as Liz washed her hair in ice cold water.  Finally, Monday morning, my sister texted me saying that there was a mouse in the bathroom!  Poor girl is deathly afraid of rodents in the bathroom.  It HAD to happen to her. 

However, we didn't let those unfortunate happenstances overshadow the weekend.  They're just good stories to remember now.  Our Wade reunion was actually an overall success!

The Boys' First Snowshoeing Adventure

1.18.2017


On Saturday we beat the winter blues and took the boys out on their very first snowshoeing adventure!  I need days like these: fresh air, sunshine, a little exercise, and family time--especially during the cold winter months.  Days like these make me feel refreshed and alive.  The world is a gorgeous place all year round and I've learned it can be really enjoyable if you have the right gear!

We borrowed the snowshoes from our good friends and started up the Wahlstrom Hallow trail in the South Hills.  I was impressed!  Jed and Levi took off through the snow like a pair of naturals.  I mean, it is just walking, after all.  Jed cruised through the deep drifts zig-zagging off trail showing us how it was done.  Levi struggled a little more, but he is only four.  He took his falls like a champ.  We hiked less than a mile round trip but I'm calling it a success because everyone made it back to the car wearing a happy smile. 

The pictures tell the rest of the story:

Hiking in "The City" and Other October Highlights

10.30.2016


This Fall has been a little different for me.  I just haven't seemed to have the energy to get out and go and do {and photograph!} all of the fun seasonal stuff that I love.  But that's understandable.  I'm very pregnant for the third time.  So I'm cutting myself some slack.  But we have managed to squeeze in some fun and beautiful colors.  And I don't want to forget it.

On Saturday October 22nd, we joined our friends at the City of Rocks.  We meant to help the kids do a little rock climbing but the place was crawling with people.  Imagine that.  A super nice day in October brings people out.  :)  So we wound up hiking and exploring.  It might have been even more fun!  (Side Note: Let me just insert here that hiking up and down rocks at 36 weeks pregnant is no easy task because I can't raise my legs more than 90 degrees; there's a baby in the way!)  The views from within "the city" are just incredible.  Such a unique place out in the desert.  I feel lucky we get to visit so often.

A Baby Shower + A Girls' Night Out

10.24.2016


My sweet friends threw me a baby shower Friday night and words cannot express how lucky I feel to have their caring presence in my life! We began by stuffing our bellies full of some AMAZING homemade soups for dinner followed by opening presents.  Amy knew I had my eye on a Rock 'n Play Sleeper so the girls all pitched in and bought me one!  I'm seriously over-the-moon excited about it.  It looks so comfy.  I kind of want a grown-up version!  Then we all went to the mall for manicures and pedicures.  Ahhh, those massage chairs are where it's at.  I could have stayed all night feeling those rollers knead my back into smithereens.  And of course, a true girls' night isn't complete without a trip into Ulta where Shelly helped Dani and me find just the right eyebrow fillers, a new-to-me add on to my makeup routine!  Then we headed back to my house to finish it all off with chocolate cake and a late night chat.  It really doesn't get any better than that.

Thank you!!!

Grandma's 80th Birthday

10.14.2016

^^Grandma with five of her great-grandchildren: Jed, Levi, Jaxon, June, and Carter^^

We spent the most memorable weekend with extended family at a cabin way up in the La Sal mountains outside of Moab, UT.  We all gathered there to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday!!!  She just radiates love.  Words cannot describe how much I admire that woman. There was no cell service and it was wonderful to truly unplug from everything: no internet, no advertisements, no pressures of the everyday grind. It was just family (noisy family!) and food (sooo much food!) and some small adventures. I wish we could relive it because I'm missing my weird but loving tribe of people already!


On Friday morning, I dropped off this studly man (and my uncle Ed) at 11,000 feet at the top of a mountain to ride 27 miles of what is called the Whole Enchilada.  Pretty incredible, yeah?  You bet I was jealous!

You guys, I married a good one. I can't imagine my life without this man. He's the one I talk late into the night with, adventure with, work and plan with, and parent with. He is patient and loving and involved and does his best in every facet of his life. I couldn't ask for a better husband. I love you, Bron!


View from the front porch of the cabin.  These horses just wandered in and out of the yard nibbling on the grass (and pooping all over the lawn).  And would you look at that scrub oak?  The leaves were changing colors and it was beautiful in its own deserty way.  

One afternoon, my cousin Rachel, Aunt Becky, Kelsey, and I all went for a little exercise walk that turned into a hike!  And another afternoon, our family of four strapped on helmets and took off in the razor that my Uncle Jeff rented.  That thing was buttery smooth over the dirt trails!  We let the boys take turns riding in the front seat.  "Step on it!" they commanded.  It goes without saying, they had a blast. 

Trip to the Hogle Zoo

10.13.2016


We spent the most memorable weekend with extended family celebrating my Grandma's 80th birthday!!! But first, I want to reminisce about our pit-stop a the Hogle Zoo on our way south.

Jed had both Thursday and Friday off from school.  So we packed up the car and headed out Thursday morning, arriving at the zoo in the early afternoon.  The boys were sooo excited to see all the animals!  Jed was especially excited to see a rhino.  He was pretty fixated on that and wanted to find them right away.  Ha!  (I think the movie Hatari may have had some influence on that.)  We've found that Fall really is the best time to visit the zoo.  It wasn't crowded and the weather was cool and overcast, which meant all the animals were out and active!  We spent over three hours exploring and re-exploring the different attractions.  I was quite impressed, actually.  The Hogle Zoo is small but really nice and harbors all of the major large animals.  I am so glad we have zoos to help foster a love and fascination for animals.

We wrapped up the afternoon at the gift shop by purchasing the boys stuffed animals to remember their trip by.  Jed chose a rhino.  Levi chose a snow leopard. They're inseparable new best friends and kind of go everywhere with us now.

Pictures!

A Family Afternoon in the South Hills

9.19.2016


This weekend left me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.  I think we all needed a little mountain air and family time!  It's been a little different this year, modifying the way we explore and adventure together.  Being so pregnant, I'm just simply not able to be on my feet for long periods of time. So the four (and a half) of us spent all of Saturday afternoon together in the truck meandering down new-to-us dirt roads way up in the South Hills.  We periodically stopped to hop out and wander down some short trails and especially enjoyed soaking in the first of the Fall colors.  We rounded out the evening around a campfire roasting hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores.  Pretty dreamy, right?  Exactly what I call a good day.

Take a peek at what we found!
 

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