We love animals...just not pets!

Apparently, March was Animal Awareness month for us. We got a zoo visit and a Wild Animal Park visit within a few weeks. Have I mentioned that I love annual passes because it takes the pressure off to make a long park visit with a baby in tow=) born valentines day...look at that sweet little elephant along side its huge mommy.
Just need to get a little closer!

Thank goodness for that glass between my loud, pestering 4 year old and the hungry lion.

Got wet at the splash pad...now showing off the guns.

St. Patty's Zoo trip with Grandpa

One of Shane's favorite exhibits

A petting zoo...never knew there was one
Ended up being Grandpa and Shane's favorite spot of the day

Look at those cute bugs!!

YEAR one..Pinewood Derby

For doing no research and making most of his car the day of the event...he actually did okay...I think he got overall 4th place. He had a lot of fun. Which was obviously most important. And props to the leaders who set it all up. I have never seen the equivalent program that sets up each heat making sure all lanes are rotated and each car is raced against every boy in each lane. It was very high tech. I remember back to my brother's derby days...it took 10 minutes between each race to determine all that! The cheering section
christian and his best buddy Jacob

the derby racers

"pretty bird, oh pretty bird"

I'm sorry little birdie that you ran into my sliding glass window...which in reality is NOTHING like a Windex commercial because it is riddled with little finger prints. Nonetheless...I am glad you survived and somehow got away 10 minutes later. Because frankly, I was unsure how I was going to explain your death to my 4 year old...and Gav was on call and couldn't bury you for a long while. GOod luck in your training...of which, you obviously need much more of.

The flavor of the month

STAR WARS

Where did these last 6 months go?

I cannot believe baby Joel is 6 months old. Time flies...even for the mommy. As he neared the 6 month mark...we tried rice cereal...which he liked. but his bowel did not. it stopped him up to the point of being uncomfortable. which was defeating the purpose....to make him fuller=more content. so we nixed the cereal for a while. then last Saturday Gav fed Joel his first baby food...carrots. which he LOVED! we're still not consistent with it...he does enjoy it when he gets it.

Movin on up...

Even though he is still several months from being 9...Christian has already completed and earned his Wolf. He hasn't started on his Bear yet, but he is really pumped to do the scouting requirements. I love that Gav and Christian get into it together...whenever we have down time they pull out the book and see what fun thing they can pass off together.

Who needs a holster?

When you have underpants????

Utilizing Gav's time off...

and our Disney passes that have been a little dormant since Joel was born...what a better way to finish off a family vacation week than with a trip to DISNEYLAND! And sincew we did this almost 2 months ago...i should get off my lazy rear and post some pics. This was Gav's first time to ride with Shane on his big rollercoasters. Truly a bonding moment for a dad and his growing boy.

Back to the promised land...

After a week in UT...here's the first thing we did when we returned...

..enojoyed the beautiful place we call home!