Our Trip to Como Zoo

We got up yesterday morning and realized that NONE of us had any commitments that day! WOW! How amazing...so we decided to take advantage of the day. We loaded everyone up in the car and headed up to St. Paul to visit the Como Zoo! It is such a fun zoo! They have a wide variety of animals, plants, and rides...yes rides! We didn't make it to the butterfly tent this time, but we got to see lots of giraffes, lions, tigers, sea lions, and monkeys, and gorillas!
Here is Nathan on the giraffe statue. You can tell he is having a great time...right??

Jessi on the giraffe statue...silly girl!

Zach driving his red roadster! That was the highlight of his trip...not only did he get to drive a car...but...(drum roll please...) IT WAS RED! He got off the ride, ran over to me and jumping up and down shouted "Dat was ANSOME!" (Translation: That was awesome!).

Nan ready for her closeup! We did take a picture of Zach on the giraffe too...but it looks more like a blur...that's why we had to post the action shot of him trapped in an already moving car...he hardly slowed down for pictures...just zipped from place to place! Guess we all had fun!

Here's everyone on the turtle! Notice the shadow shapes on the ground behind them. Everyone stood on their favorite animal. Z-Gorilla; J-Lion, S-couldn't decide so just ran from shape to shape...finally picking the seal!

The Girls Piano Recital

The girls had their piano recital on Saturday, August 14th. They both were so nervous! We were nervous for them too, but they both did a great job! We are proud of how hard they worked and how much time they have spent practicing! Since their piano teacher is moving to Utah, they are starting with a new teacher next week, so it was especially fun to have Ashley (their teacher) do the duets with each of them before she leaves. So there are two videos of each of them one of their duet piece and one of their solo piece. Hope this is ALMOST as good as being here!

Nathan Giggles

We were just finishing dinner tonight, when Nathan started being silly! First, he smacked his hands on his high chair. Jessi copied him and then he started giggling. They played that game a few times, Nathan laughing harder and harder. Then Jessi started breathing funny and Nathan started giggling even more...Mommy was a little slow on getting the camera out, so we tried to re-enact...he wasn't laughing quite as hard here, but you can still hear his cute giggle! Enjoy!

Swimming Lessons

I forgot the best picture from Rochesterfest! We went to Breakfast on the Farm (of course...) but forgot our camera (of course). It was kind of a rainy morning, but we had fun anyway! The kids got these fabulous cow hats! I thought they were soooo cute!

Moving on! The girls have been taking swimming lessons at the Byron Pool! It is so fun! They are really learning a lot and becoming little fishes! Here is Jessica during her lessons...she just finished finding rings.

Here is Savannah practicing her back crawl. Isn't she doing great?? We've been going to the pool lots so they can practice their new found skills!

Rochesterfest 2009

Rochesterfest was the last week of June! As I'm sure you've heard me mention in years past...we LOVE Rochesterfest! It is one of the summer things that we ALWAYS look forward to! It is a 10 day celebration of families and summer with all sorts of fun activities around town! Savannah (actually all the kids...) got to ride on the Kaptain Kirby's Express! She chose the pink car, Zach chose the red car, and Jessi rode in the pink car too!

Here are Jessi and Nan in a sack race! I love their fashionable do's! If you look towards the white awning in the back, you will see Aunt Brantly and Uncle Jabbar cheering them on!

These are some of the cute balloon animals that Jessi and Zach got! They got different ones each day, but this day Zach has an alligator, and Jessi is holding a pink poodle!

This is the way that Nathan participated in Rochesterfest! He sat and observed most of the activities from this perch! He also let us know when it was time to go home!

Zach got to help the fireman put out the fire in the house! He was so excited because after all he is going to be a firetruck man!

Jessica got to go swimming with one of her school friends and was captured by a local photographer while she was swimming. Her photo ended up making it on the front cover of the local paper. She said "It was because she was the cutest." For those that want to see the real photo here is the link. www.rochesterpostbulletin.com

Welcome Summer!

Ashley graduated from HS this year! Who can believe it? She is headed off to BYU-Utah in August! Boy are we going to miss her! I made these graduation hats for her graduation party! They turned out ok...but I learned some tricks that hopefully I'll remember the next time I make them!

We are ready for summer! We were sooo glad when the last day of school FINALLY came! Here is everyone on the first day of summer! We are going to swim and play our summer away! We can hardly wait!