Once We Went to the Zoo

Back in August Jamie's family came to Utah for a quick trip, but she let us tag along while she used her birthday present (a membership to the Hogle Zoo). I had to be the child care provider in order to get in free with her pass, but it was worth it. The boys were so good.

This is how the afternoon started.

 First stop the new train ride. Alden loves trains so this was a must. Poor Jamie though the giraffes kept avoiding her on the train.

 They have opened a new exhibit at the zoo since the last time we went, called African Safari. As a result they moved this cool drinking fountain from the back side of the zoo to the front. All of the boys thought it was pretty cool.

 We were at the zoo close to feeding time so all of the animals were up and about. The boys loved that the animals were active and fun to watch.

 The elephants were the best. They walked over next to us and then played in the mud to cool off.

 Classic family photo spot, too bad Alden refused to go anywhere near the fake gorilla.

 At the zoo we also rode the carousel. This was the first time for the boys and they loved it! They loved it so much we had to go right back on because they were crying when the ride stopped and we had to get off. Here are pictures of all of us enjoying our carousel ride.

 Along with animals and the carousel we played a little at the splash pad. Jarom wasn't sure what to make of it, but mom helped him warm up to it.

 The last sop before we left was the polar bear. He paced back in forth in front of us for quite a while. This is the most we have ever seen the polar bear.

 This is how the day ended. Jonathan had so much fun he couldn't stay awake for all of it.

Thanks Jamie for letting us tag along. We love the zoo and we love your family too!

Work Retreat 2014

I got a new boss at work about two years ago and he decided last year we should start doing a yearly retreat to help increase the unity in our team. This year we hiked to Timpanogos Cave, had a bbq, and then went for ice cream in the beginning of August. It was a fun day where we got to know our co workers in different ways. Here is a picture of our whole group with our tour guide before we went in. The poor guy didn't know what he was getting in to.

 The girls I am closest to at work.

 And the shenanigans started once we were in the cave. Kari is trying to catch a drop of cave water in her mouth.

 The boss trying to look innocent.

 And the whole group inside the cave.

I am grateful to have a job that allowed me to provide for our family while Cass was sick and then looking for work and even more grateful that I enjoy my job and the people that I work with. I hope everyone gets to experience what it is like to enjoy going to work.

Pioneer Day Camping Trip and Hudson's Blessing

 For the Pioneer Day holiday we went to the annual Taylor family get together At Miller's Flatt. We spent two and a half days just hanging out enjoying family, four wheeling, and getting dirty. Alden loved getting to hang out with all of his cousins.

This was Alden and Sam's version of catch. Then they would both run after the ball because neither one could catch.

Uncle Brian and Aunt Carolyn brought a treat for all of the second generation cousins, but in order to get it they had to line up for a picture. This is most of the little ones. It is a fun weekend for these guys because they just get to run around and play for hours.

 And here is the treat. Because they don't get enough sugar anyway.

 

One of the days we decided to take a little hike. There is a trail that has been closed for years and it was finally open so we decided to see were it goes. We took a few extra kids with us and sent our little one in to town with grandma and grandpa so he could take a nap in the truck.

Our hiking buddies, Brigham, Treygann, Jazin, and Sophie.

The trail followed this pretty little stream and eventually it met up with another stream.

 The whole cew

 Alden loves bugs right now. He stops and watches aunts, points out flies anywhere we go, and even convinced dad to let him bring a beetle home from the park one day. So when we found a lady bug that allowed him to it for quite a while he was super excited and curious.

 And of course there was a lot of four wheeling.

 We left the camping trip a couple of days early to head to Las Vegas for Hudson's blessing. We were there less than 24 hours, but enjoyed every minute of it. With so many things going on though we didn't pull out the camera much so this is the only good picture of Hudson and his proud papa.

Thanks for an excuse to come visit BJ and Shawna wish it could have been longer, but you have one adorable son.