Mama's takin us to the zoo tomorrow

Mama's takin us to the zoo tomorrow is one of my favorite songs by Raffi so I had to use that title.  But seriously we did go to the zoo.  My Aunt Marilyn was so kind to take us and get us in for free with her pass. Jack loved the elephants and seals the most.  He seemed a bit confused because the only other time we have been to the zoo was the zoo in Virginia where you got to feed  most animals and ride the elephants.  He was disappointed that that was not allowed here.

Watching the seals.  So funny.

Char staring down her fist.

I don't even know where to start

What? It's mid July?  We have had mounds of fun since we have been here and the lack of posts on my blog are proof that we have barely had a moment to breath (in a good way).  So I have given up on organization and will just post loads of pictures.  So prepare yourself for pictures galore in the coming days.

Playing at the park.

Char snoozing.

Picnic with cousins!

We found some baby birds in the tree house.  

The three babies.  I was too lazy to flip this picture.

Welcome Home part 1

 When we got to Utah we unpacked our stuff and headed to Gunnison for a few days to spend time with family.  Jack was spoiled with love and fun of course.  Here is part of welcome home weekend.

Jack loves playing in the sandbox, especially if there is water and a hose.

Eating gooseberries.  This is heaven for Jack.  It would be like if I got to just sit and eat ice cream off a bush.

Jack invited grandpa to sit with him and to share gooseberries with him.

Logan trying to catch a scorpion and a lizard.

Logan was determined.  This was his life as a boy.  We all gave up after about twenty minutes.  I looked out the window about and hour later and saw this.  He did successfully catch a lizard and a scorpion.

Tractor rides!

Jack playing with a kitten as though it was a toy.  And yes all these pictures are blurry because he was moving frantically about.  Poor kitty.

We got Jack a bike for the summer.  So far not a huge hit but he likes it.  

Mother's Day!

 Yes I am super behind again.  Give me a break, we just had a baby and moved.  My life has been chaos.  My last Mother's Day wasn't the funnest.  Logan had just had shoulder surgery so I ran around taking care of him and Jack.  This year I knew we would be on the road making our trip to Utah and that Mother's Day would again, not be much to celebrate.  That's why I was so surprised to find flowers and delicious Junior Mints waiting for me when I got home from church the Sunday before Mother's Day.  Then to top it off there was a note from a friendly little rat (I don't know why but rats is just a thing when we give gifts).  The rat told me to open the computer and then there was another rat with a note to open the web browser.  And pulled up was a tab to choose a kitchen aid!  What a nice husband :)  He knows me well.  

It says: "Happy Mother's Day!  Open webz browserz 2 see yoor geeft opshunz.  Love, Dead Sizzles" It may seem odd to you, but wonderful to me.  

The Dirty Dash

We recently ran the Dirty Dash at Soldier Hollow in Midway.  I have been wanting to do this race for a couple years now but the timing never worked out.  Although it wasn't ideal timing we made it work.  We drug Miranda, Gracy, Hannah, Heston and Alice along for the ride.  It was a bit frantic trying to get there and ready.  Someone forgot their running shoes... perhaps it was me.  Despite our setbacks we had a super time.  Alice was so kind to watch our kids while we ran.  And after we did the Dirty Dash Jack and Gracy did the Piggy Plunge.  Jack is still talking about it.  We were worried at first that they wouldn't like it but they quickly warmed up to it and had a great time.

Our team was the Rupophobic Runners.  Rupophobia is the fear of dirt.

The back of our t shirts had the definition of Rupophobia on them.

The Piggy Plunge

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Kind Grandma Alice watching Char.

We had some shoe dilemmas.  We left our bag with my and Logan's change of clothes and my running shoes in it.  I lucked out and my good friend Erin had just happened to finish the race right as we were showing up so I took her dirty nasty shoes and wore them.  They worked great.  Then when we were leaving home Logan threw his shoes in the giant donation pile only to realize later he had no shoes to wear home.  Here he is trying to find them.

Opposites

So far Jack are opposites.  Jack has brown eyes and blond hair and Charlotte has blue eyes and brown hair.  Jack was tiny and in the 5th to 10th percentile and Char is chubby and landing in the 70th to 90th percentile.  Jack was a rough eater with his acid reflux and Char gulps away.  Jack was always awake, Char is always asleep.  Jack would loved being tossed around at a young age and pillows thrown at him, but Charlotte doesn't seem to seek thrills and will cry sometimes if you pick her up too fast.  But of course as opposite as they are, they seem so similar too.  Here is a picture of Jack and Charlotte at three months old.  Besides Chars extra cheek fat and lighter eyes, they look quite similar.

I know I am repeating myself, but Jack is becoming a better brother each day.  He is finally coming around to the idea of being soft.  He helps out and loves to give Charlotte kisses and hugs and hold her hand.  We were getting ready for church and Logan was distracting Jack with a short cartoon while I finished getting ready.  I looked over and saw this.  Jack was holding her hand just because he wanted too.  Charlotte was smiling and cooing.  So cute.

Jack also likes to share toys with Char.  

Charlotte's blessing

We blessed Charlotte on May 27th at Logan's parent's house.  We are so transitional right now that we don't really have a home ward so we decided to do it there.  I am glad we did.  We had only immediate family come and then had a light snack and dessert afterwards.  Charlotte is a great baby.  So it was a bit surprising when she began to scream right as the blessing started and through out the whole prayer.  She stopped once it was over.  Haha.  Silly girl.  I was praying she would stop crying through most of it that I missed a lot of the blessing, but luckily my sister wrote it down for me so I read it later.  It was a great blessing and I am so blessed and thankful Logan has the Priesthood to bless our family.

The newly engaged couple Hannah and Heston.

The cousins.

A cool picture of Staci, Scott and me.

Grandma Marian, Lacey, and Levi

Gracy and Miranda

Jack and some beef

Char, her parents, Grandma and Grandpa Pickett and Great Grandma and Grandpa Mathews.

Char with her parents, Grandma and Grandpa Christenson and Great Grandma Marian.

Our family.

Booties made by Grandma Chappell.  So pretty.

Aunt Heather gave her this adorable crocheted flower with a sweet poem.  She wears it as a bracelet at her blessing, in her hair at her baptism and as a guarder when she is married.  So cute.

Daddy helping her stand.  She loves to stand, or do "standers" as we call it.