Hogle Zoo

One of the traditions that we have started for our little family is making a trip to the zoo every summer!  We were especially excited to go this year because the boys were older and plus they just opened a new polar bear exhibit!  We got there right when it opened at 9:00 and it was perfect...there were not very many people there and the animals were all super active and eating their breakfast!

The first stop...the eagle's nest!

 We went straight to the new polar bear exhibit hoping to get a glance of the bear before it got too crowded...and boy did we get there at a good time!  As the lady next to me said "This polar bear definitely knows how to be a zoo animal!"  He would take a lap around his little pool and then swim under the water and come up right at the glass where we were watching...he did this about 15 times each time touching the glass right where we were standing!  It was so cool!  Paxton was a little nervous but Tegan loved it!  Here is a great shot of Tegan and the bear!

 Paxton preferred to watch from a little farther back!

 Next we went to go see Andy's favorite animal...the tigers!  They were also pretty active this time!  This big guy would come right up to the fence where we were standing and give us a little growl as we passed.  We also got to see the other 2 tigers swimming in their little pool and they were growling at each other and almost got into a cat fight...taking swipes at each other!  Again...super cool!

 Posing by the lions!  We heard that they are working on a new exhibit that will open in 2014 that will bring lions and other big cats back to the zoo!  We are excited about that!

 As we were walking to go see more animals, the tiger followed us to this little bridge.  He and Andy had a little stare down and the tiger was growling at him.  I was starting to get a little bit nervous especially considering there was only a net separating our family from this huge tiger!

 Paxton was so excited to see his giraffe!  They were eating and started to walk over towards us but didn't want to get too close!

 After that we met up with Andy's family for the elephant show!  Paxton was so excited to see his cousins!  Here are some of them waiting to see Zuri the baby elephant!

 Tegan was pretty excited!

 We got to ride the carousel...which is one of my favorite parts of the zoo!  Paxton rode the hippo and Tegan rode the donkey!

 Paxton was not to excited to ride this time...so I had to stand right next to him practically forcing him to stay on the ride!

 You can't go to the zoo without getting this classic shot!

Paxton is as big as a juvenile monkey...

 Tegan is as big as an infant monkey!

 Finally after 4 hours exploring the zoo (a record for us!) Tegan was exhausted and fell asleep!

 Paxton got to make a trip to the gift shop and picked out this stuffed polar bear...which has been by his side since he grabbed it off the shelf!  It is his new friend...yesterday he taught the polar bear to play catch!  He is so funny!



Roasting Marshmallows

We had a fun night with teaching Paxton the fine art of making smores...

 Too bad he wasn't too impressed!  He got bored roasting the marshmallos and prefered to eat all the parts of the smores seperately!

Good thing Jessica, Trevor, and Jerika were here and Anita and Jared and the kids came over so that they could enjoy the deliciousness with us!

Potty Trained...Finally!!

I think we can finally say this boy is officially potty trained!!  It only took a month of serious effort on our parts (no I don't believe in 1 or 3 day potty training methods!) and lots of bribery but now I think he has got it down!  It is so nice not having to buy dipers for 2 kids!

 Way to go big man...we are super proud of you!

Feeding the Ducks

Another thing we love about summer is feeding the ducks at Salem Pond!  We have been saving our bread and finally made some time to go down and see the ducks!

 Last year there were ducks and ducklings everywhere we went...this year we had a hard time finding some ducks to feed and these were the only baby ducks that we saw.  We did manage to get rid of our bread pretty quickly...especially because Paxton was feeding it to them a half a slice at a time!

 As for Tegan...that kid does not like to be tied down or strapped in to anything!  He spent his time being silly and trying to find a way to escape the stroller...luckily he was not successful!

Camping in the Backyard

Summer is quickly approaching and we are so excited!  Andy is convinced that we are going to do some serious camping trips this summer...I, on the other hand, am not so convinced!  Andy decided to do a practice run with Paxton and set up camp in the backyard!

They built a fire in our fire pit!

 Paxton got all of his bedtime supplies...his blankie and his friends he has to sleep with (about 5 stuffed animals)...

 The pitched the tent and set up camp!  Unfortunately since we live so close to the canyon we get a canyon breeze most nights...that night the breeze turned into a major canyon wind and Paxton was not about to sleep out there with the wind howling!  Andy and Pax spent about 30 minutes setting up camp...about 15 minutes "camping" in the tent...and it took Andy about 30 minutes to get it all taken down and put away.  Oh well, at least it was fun while it lasted!



Tegan's 1st Birthday Party!!

We had an awesome time celebrating this little man's 1st birthday last weekend!  Long ago we decided on a monster theme because this sweet boy is definitely our little monster!!

 Here are some of the fun things we did for decorations!  I was a little bummed because it was supposed to be cold and rainy during Tegan's party so I didn't dare do any fun outside decorations.  The Dining Room Table

 Tegan's First Year in Pictures!  It is so cute I still have not taken it down!

 The Birthday Banner!

 The Food

We did lunch and had pulled pork sandwiches, green salad, cookie salad, fruit, veggies, and chips.

The Birthday Boy in his Birthday Chair!! 

 The Cake

I know...it is pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen!  My sweet sister-in-law Eliza made it as a gift to Tegan for his first birthday!

 Tegan's Monster Cake!

 The Cousins

We were luck to have some of Tegan's favorite people come and celebrate with us!

 Tegan with his Monster Pinata!

 The kids were so excited to break open the pinata they quickly got in age order line and took turns trying to break open this bad boy!

 Tegan got the first swing...

 Pax got the 2nd, and each kid got about 5 after that!  Finally we brought in the big guns and had Uncle Jacob bust open the pinata!

 The kids (and Jerika) were so excited to get some candy and prizes!

 Then we opened presents...our family was so generous and brought Tegan lots of fun toys and clothes!

 Thanks everyone...each one of these things have been worn, played with, or spread around our house already!  The boys (yes Pax is letting Tegan play with some of them) love them!!

 The Birthday Boy with his Cake!

 This was while everyone was singing Happy Birthday.  I love the look on his face...I don't know what he was fascinated by more, the song or the fire on the candle!

 He always knows something great is about to happen when we strip him down and put him in his high chair...I love the look of anticipation on his face!

 He was a little bit hesitant at first...that lasted about 20 seconds!

And then WHAM BAM he went right in for the good stuff!

 He seriously downed about half of that cake before we decided that he had had enough!  He was a pretty happy little man!

Thank you everyone who came and helped us celebrate Tegan's big day!  I feel like their first birthday is such a huge milestone...that you actually were able to get this kid through an entire year!  It was as much a celebration for me and Andy as it was for Tegan...we definitely couldn't have done it without our our families and friends so THANK YOU!!

Easter Baskets and an Egg Hunt

This year we were able to spend Easter weekend in Richfield with my Mom and Dad!  On Saturday the weather was great so we were able to play outside, go on 4 wheeler rides, and see the new baby sheep! On Sunday we went to church in my parents ward...all was going well until Paxton yelled out, in the middle of the sacrament, "No Picky Nose Mommy!"  He knew it was funny because people around us were trying not to laugh so of course he had to repeat it a few more times just for added effect!

We have a tradition in our family that the Easter Bunny hides the Easter Baskets around the house and you have to find them to get your treats!

Paxton quickly found Tegan's basket...

 The Easter Bunny wasn't too excited about giving candy this year so instead Tegan got his favorite snacks...goldfish, marshmallows, and graham crackers along with a book and some bubbles!

 Paxton found his basket in the recycling bin!

 Pax was super excited to get treats, bubbles, and a new baseball mitt and ball!

 Andy found his basket in they dryer!  It was filled with all of his favorite Easter Candy!

 Later that afternoon the boys were able to go on an Easter egg hunt in Grandma and Grandpa's yard!  I don't know who was more excited...Paxton or Grandpa!

 Paxton was very good at finding the eggs!

 He was quiet excited about his "b-ball eggs!"

 After Grandpa helped Tegan find a few eggs, Tegan just wanted to get down and explore with the dogs...

We had a great Easter weekend in Richfield!  Andy and I enjoyed a little break and a fun date night and the boys loved being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa!