Zoo

My sister Melanie who lives in Flagstaff came down here to the desert while her husband was out of town.  So, since my other sister Becky and I both live here, we all went to the zoo together with all the kiddos.  We have a membership so we go fairly often, but the new DRAGON exhibit enticed us to return.

 

It was a very nice day and good times together. 

How do babies sleep like this?????? 

 

Mel’s baby boy Etienne is six months old so Conner and him are super close in age.  Fun!

 

 

 

What a poser!

 

 

Here’s another poser—this lady baboon couldn’t get enough of the camera.  Geesh!

 

 

Since this exhibit was brand new on the day we went, the zoo was pretty packed.  We actually had to stand in line to see these guys, but it moved pretty fast. 

 

And here she is in all her glory.

 

We realized that this situation was screaming for a photo op.

 

Ella LOVES her Aunt Becky.  She is always coming over and playing with the kids and stuff and lots of times when we pull up in the driveway from somewhere Ella will say, “Aunt Becky?  Aunt Becky?” hoping she will be there.  We are so blessed to have her close by.

 

You know how it is..one person decides to take a picture through the hole in the cave, and then before you know it…well, you can see for yourself here what happens.

 

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!  Can’t wait to get out of town and have fun in the White Mountains…I better finish up that packing. :)

Every once in a blue moon…

I tend to really get into Halloween.  The last time it happened we ended up as The Peter Pan family.  (In case you are wondering who I am, I was the dog Nana—yeah, I usually get stuck with whatever leftover costume works in somehow.)  Sunny was Wendy and Angie Tink.  Why was Jack Peter Pan instead of Captain Hook? Well, because Logan already had the pirate costume!

It was fun to do  a movie theme,  but definitely more work than our usual preparation, which involves my saying, “Okay kids, Halloween is in a few days/hours/minutes.  Find your costumes from dress up and what not.  I bought a family make-up kit so let me know what you are.”  After a few years of a break from Halloween creativity, this year we decided to try it again.  Here’s the end product:

My awesome sister decided to join us as the Wicked Witch of the West—she totally went all out huh?  And yes, yet again I am not a main character, but simply a “citizen of Emerald City”.  And yes, I had to explain that many times to people during the night.  Conner was also a citizen with me, or a munchkin I guess.  He was basically just a cute baby in a blanket.  Well, here’s some more pics of the cast:

 

We had two fun nights of Halloween fun—Friday we went to a Fall Festival in Chandler, and then on Saturday our ward Truck or Treat and trick or treating.  It was fun to see Ella through it all—she was sort of scared at the Trunk or Treat, but by the end of the night she had definitely gotten the hang of it!  Something about getting candy from strangers brings out the cuteness in kids I think!

Now that Halloween is over it’s time to start prep for Christmas right?  And now we have officially entered the joyous “sugar season” that basically lasts until February—oh what joy and rapture!  Hope everyone had a fun and safe Holiday—if you have any chocolate in your goody bag that you don’t want I’ll be happy to relieve you of it.:)

By the Way--

 

Did you know what’s only TWO days away????

 

This little witch looks like she’ll miss out on it.:(

But that doesn’t mean you have to—so get geared up folks!

Carve your pumpkins—eat your apples--

It will be here soon……

HALLOWEEN!!!! 

Does everyone have their costumes ready?  We do.  Want to guess what we’re gonna be???  I’ll give you a hint—We’re off to see….the people… the wonderful  people who will give us candy……

Yeah for FALL FUN!

(By the way—there’s another post below—when I rain, I pour I guess.:))

Around our House…

toddlers get into a little light reading together,   

 

 

cousins find a cozy spot to play,

Dads hold a sleeping baby while helping Mom can peaches on Saturday afternoons,

children find ways to entertain themselves,                                

     

aunts drop by just to read a story,

 

babies take baths,

kids make cookies,  

 

and then happily at the end of our days, we all go to bed!

My Attempts To Be Like Nie Nie

 

Don’t we all just love and adore Nie?  (If you don’t know what I am talking about, google Nie Nie—it will be worth your time.)  And I will be the first to admit that she has influenced me—I hope for good.  Reading her blog has never once made me feel guilty, but it always inspires me to be better—to CREATE things in my home and family.  So I decided to try my version of her little dinner celebration with crowns.  In honor of this little man……

(Yup, he’s SMILING now!)

 

And we had a special theme:

Be Thou an Example—which happens to be the YM and YW theme for the year (1Timothy 4:12)

I thought it was very appropriate to celebrate four older siblings!

 

My sweet mom helped with some of the decor and all of the food—we go over to her house for FHE about once a month anyway and she always feeds us dinner. 

  

The princesses and prince were all crowned and told what great examples they are and will be.

  

Then we ate.

Thanks for dinner Mom!

And everyone took a turn sharing what they felt it meant to be an example of whatever virtue was decorating their place setting—except Ella, she just ate. 

And Conner looked on in wonder.  And had no idea that we all were so excited to be examples for him.

And then we went to the dollar theater to see Night at the Museum 2—again.  Because we love that movie that much.

 

It was a really nice FHE.  Thanks Nie Nie.