Petting Zoo

While we were visiting family in Utah we decided to head down the road and also visit the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point. We packed some lunches and met up with our friends adn made a day of it (not all of it at the zoo - we headed to the Smith household afterwards!)
Jace really loved all the animals and thought it was especially cool to touch the calves. I'm not sure why he's the only child petting the calf here but they all did get in on the action in some of my other pictures! (He really wasn't being a cow hog!)



Here we are with our friends that we went with - Jace, Abby, Brooklyn, Addie and Elle. You can tell which children recognized my voice when I shouted "Look here and smile!"


After walking around the farm we finally made it to the prison which was possibly one of the highlights of the trip! We got to see cows, pigs, ducks, geese, horses, hens, peacocks and more. The kids had a great time and even got to go on a pony ride at the end. A day well spent!

Utah Swimming

We just got back from visiting family in Utah and I thought I'd better get some of these pictures up! Grandpa Ed took us to the rec center in Lehi and the kids had a ball. The pool was indoor which was fine by us since the weather was rather cool. This is the bucket that fills up and then dumps over everyone and everything. It hurts if you're not ready!



Darren and Brook




Brooklyn made it most of the day without a life vest but eventually we put one on her just to stay safe. I'm not sure who chose the vest but it seems a bit big......that's right. We play it safe.

This is where Jace could be found. It was a smaller pool area with a couple of slides and bouncy swings (which he didn't care for) and he was able to navigate it really well. Check out his swim trunks. We are the proud owners of the lost and found camo swim trunks! We (really Darren) forgot them at Ed and Dena's (they were last year's and we weren't sure they fit anyway) and so the workers at the pool kindly gave us these! I'll remember that for next year - maybe we can score suits for Abby and Brooklyn too:)

Abby got a beach ball from someone. I hope they knew she had it....

Jace and Grandpa Ed

Jace taking it easy in the fountains before we left. He loves showers, warm water, being wet, everything to do with water.

Brooklyn was ready to go home by the end of the day. And so was I!

Fishing

Darren took the kids on his first ever no mom fishing trip! Which meant that I was left at home alone with no children to look after!! Which meant my only slightly guilty conscience allowed me to watch a couple of HGTV shows, read a bit, and then feeling more guilty, clean the house.

Here are the kids - and they aren't even wet or dripping in mud. Amazing.


Jace working on catching a big one. It works only a little better when the line is actually in the water:)



The kids with their catch for the day. What little fishermen! Brooklyn informed me that she had a ton of "fighters" and those are the best. Way to go kids! And way to go Dad! I was quite impressed that we got pictures out of this trip. And they turned out pretty good I must say. Maybe Darren's new calling in life should be photographer....