Zoo Camp

  Mikele attended Zoo Camp at our local zoo this year. It was FABULOUS! It was a 3 day camp for 3 hours each day. The 3 kids in her group (that included her) did experiments, games, crafts, learned about the animals and their environment and had some fun hands on time with some of the animals. Mikele looked forward to it every day and was sad when it was over.  There is another session in August if your child would be interested. Here is a link to the zoo's web page. If you click on the "willow park zoo summer adventures" link in the main body of the page you will find more details about the camp she participated in, the registration form and prices.

Spoiler alert: If you don't like snakes don't check out the last 3 pictures. I don't know what is with this child of mine but she loves her snakes. Oh wait I know the problem. She has her Grandpa Norris's blood.

Blog Updates

I have been updating blogs all morning!  Here are a list of new posts:

1. I first updated my business - scrapbooking and photography blog.

2. End of School Start of Summer celebration

3. Hogle Zoo.

4. Fourth of July.

5. Yard Project completed. 

The Yard Project is DONE!

 I can't even put into words what a beautiful site it was to watch those sprinklers run. We have been working on our back back yard for about two years now. We put the swing set in a couple of years ago. Then we added the sand box, replaced the fence and built a larger kennel last year. Finally this year we finished the edge and bark under the pine trees, killed all the weeks (again), put in the garden area, put in our own sprinkler system and then last Wednesday the guys came to hydroseed! Now we just have to wait and watch the grass grow. 

 Love that green tint! I can't wait until it is a carpet of green grass.

3rd of July

In Cache Valley our fireworks show is on the 3rd of July instead of the 4th. I don't actually mind. It works well especially when the 4th is in the middle of the week and Jason has work the next day. We found a great spot outside the stadium to watch the show. Our friends the Davis's and Glenn's joined us to watch the fireworks. The kids enjoyed playing around, chatting, glow sticks and glow in the dark bubbles as we waited for the big show to begin. 

 It was really cool to watch the moon rise during the fireworks show.

On the fourth of July we enjoyed a big breakfast then worked outside on our back back yard. We filled in all the sprinkler system trenches, leveled out the ground so it is ready for hydro-seeding and then we headed over to Calvin's for a fun barbecue with Calvin's and Jared's family. (sadly I didn't take any pictures of the barbecue. I even brought my camera)

Hogle Zoo

  We took a little mini vacation with our kids the end of June. It all started when we watched the movie "We bought a Zoo" (very cute movie by the way). The kids were obsessed with going to a Zoo.  Jason suggested that for Allie's birthday we take the kids to Hogle zoo. So we planned the Saturday after Allie's birthday to go. Then I worked out a free family photo session with a photographer I admire (long story). Well she was available Saturday morning to take the pictures. She lives down in Pleasant Grove so we decided to drive down the night before, stay in a hotel, stop in at Cabelas for pretzels, take the kids to dinner and then take the kids swimming. The next morning we were up bright and early for our family photo session, went back to the hotel for breakfast and to check out and then headed to the zoo.  Pretty impressive how I can turn a day trip to the zoo to a weekend get-a-way!
  We all enjoyed the zoo despite how hot and busy it was. It is fun having our kids get older so that these activities are more fun then work.

 Staying cool!

 The Prairie dog play area. The cutest kids kept popping up.

 Waiting for the Elephant presentation to begin. Last time we were here the Mamma elephant was pregnant with the little guy below.

 The new area of the zoo includes a polar bear and seals.

Jason got in line to buy tickets for the carousel and in the 2 minutes that took Allie crashed! We had to take her out of the stroller to go into the bird show (a favorite attraction). Allie fell back asleep on Jason's leg.

 The last time we went to the Hogle Zoo Kassie was 18 months old.  We took the picture above while waiting for the bird show to start.  Kassie and I took the  picture below at the same bird show. She is now 5.5 years old.

Kassie took this picture of my hotty husband and I.

It was so fun to spend the day with my kids and Jason. My kids are such good friends and we love just being together. After the zoo we headed home. We stopped for dinner at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries. I love their burgers!