The most BEAUTIFUL day at the Zoo!

Okay so the zoo wasn't so beautiful, but the weather sure was!!! 

The other day, the weather man predicted upwards of 80 DEGREE weather!  IN REXBURG . . . . . WHAT!?!  If this was to be true, the girls and I just had to get out of the house.   So we invited some family to go to the zoo with us and have a picnic.  Turns out it was as GORGEOUS of a day as they predicted.  ABSOLUTELY NO WIND!  80 DEGREES!! OF PURE HEAVEN!!!  IT WAS SO GREAT!!!  Okay so enough about the weather, BUT IT WAS SOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!  and on to the zoo part, I promise!

Like I mentioned the zoo part wasn't as SPECTACULAR AS THE WEATHER (sorry I couldn't help myself), but the girls really didn't mind!  A lot of the animals were still in their "winter (I hate that word!!!) homes" so we were unable to see them. Come on people it was 80 DEGREES! Get them out in the open!  Despite some missing animals we were able to see enough animals to call the day a success!   Here is a few things we saw!

Hannah was a little nervouse about looking at the Flamingos!  I don't know why!  But I learned something new about flamingos (maybe I'm just a little late learning this).  Ever wondered why flamingoes are pink?  No, it's not because they were created that way.  Its because of the shrimp they eat. . . kind of like if we eat too much carrots, our skin starts turning orange!  Interesting huh?  As many times as I have been to the Tautphaus Park Zoo, I've just now learned that!

The Momma wallaby. . . kangaroo. . . whatever it is, with her baby in her pouch.

And the peacock on the roof.  I guess I never realized these guys could fly.  (I really learned a lot from this trip to the zoo.) 

The Sloth bear.  This guy (or gal) was sleeping, and no amout of coaxing from us could make it move its "slothful" body.  But when the zoo keeper came around, this guy was all show.  It was interesting to see that they really do know the people that work at the zoo. 

 The sad, mangy looking Camels.  Poor guys. . . did I mention it was like 80 DEGREES outside!

And finally, the tiger.  He was friendly enough to pose for a shot with Michael and Abby (Hannah would not touch the thing with a ten foot pole!).

We then ended our zoo experience with a wonderful, WARM, picnic.  The girls had a great time, despite a few missing animals.  The tortoise was the most missed.  It was the most PERFECT DAY at the zoo (at least as far as the WEATHER was concerned!) 

*The weather has since turned cold and rainy again.... anyone surprised?

Abby's 1st day of Preschool!

Since dance has ended, Abby started Preschool "and College" as she likes to put it.  She attends the little preschool lab that the BYUI students put on.  AND SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT!!!  I worried a little about Abby wanting to go to class, but when the time came I think I had a harder time leaving her than she did leaving me.  (I am totally one of those mom's)  Fortunately Hannah and I have found some things to do while Abby is at preschool.

The kids learned about eggs this day.  Abby's group was able to crack and scramble the eggs, as well as eat them!  She has since learned all about rain and clocks, and is currently learning about drinks!

Really Hannah?

We give you a new bed and instead of sleeping ON it, you sleep UNDER it?

Silly Girl!

A whole lot of everything!!! Part 2

Okay so where did I leave off. 

Hannah's Birthday... that's right.  Well our destructive little angel turned 2 this year.  I can't believe she has been with us that long.  She is a wild child and keeps up very well with her big sister in EVERYTHING!!!  She is sweet, and doesn't say much, but still finds ways to be sassy when she wants too.  We love her anyway.

Hannah on the day she was born

And Hannah on her 2nd Birthday!!

We planned a big party to celebrate at the end of the week, but when her actual birthday (thursday) came, I felt like we needed to do something for her.  So we invited Mike and Becca over for dinner and dessert.  She didn't quite get the point of the candles.  Abby and Mark mostly helped her blow them out.  But it was a fun night with lots of attention for Hannah.

Saturday was the big day!  Abby's final dance recital, and Hannah's birthday party.

Abby's dance group was performing their last dance recital, performing in front of family and friends.  Abby participated in two dances this time.  The learned a dance to "I'm a little teapot" and a Tinkerbell song.  She was in heaven.  Abby has been missing dance since it ended.  She is really looking forward to starting again next year.

 Abby and her dance teacher Michelle.  Abby LOVED her!

 Our pretty little dancer, showing of the flower she got from daddy and her dance pictures.  It was a great recital.

After the recital we headed over to Big J's for Hannah's party.  Since my parents own the place we got special treatment.  I was able to reserve the back room and decorate before the recital.  We bought pizza for everyone, and made a cake to celebrate.  I think Hannah knew better how to act at this party.  She was able to blow out the candles by herself, and was truly the life and center of the party.

My grandpa modeling the decorations. You can't see from this picture but there were balloons...lots of balloons (a must have for any party Abby is attending.)

There's the party girl!

Hannah clearly enjoyed the pizza!  I mean on the forehead, c'mon Hannah



Next came the cake,  Hannah knew what it meant this time.

Finally the presents!  Hannah had A LOT of help opening her presents, thus very few clear shots of her. 

M n'M's,  her favorite.

I love Hannah's face on this one.  Abby had gotten a hold of her new magnents and clearly she waiting for her to give them back.  What a look!

For her birthday, Hannah got promoted to a real bed.  We were very nervous about this transition, but overall it went over better than we expected.  Anyways for her birthday present from us I made this quilt for her "new" bed.  (Project #3).  I made one for Abby for her birthday last year, only pink instead of purple.  Hannah thinks she is pretty cool being in a big girl bed.

Overall I think Hannah had a great couple of birthday parties, and we look forward to another great year with her and her budding personality.  We love you Hannah!

And then there was Sunday... Easter Sunday.  It was such a great Easter.  We started out the day with baskets from the Easter bunny and an egg hunt.  I love that both the girls were old enough this year to really get into it.  This is what the Easter bunny left for them. 

An outfit for each of them (of course matching), treats, a book, and the tractor to go along with their farm they got for Christmas.

They were very excited about the book.

We then quickly got ready for church, where we were blessed to hear a beautiful Easter program put on by our choir, with a few speakers thrown in.  It was really great, and reminded me what Easter is really about.  I am not sure where the eggs and the Easter bunny fall into the whole scheme of things.  But I am truly grateful for what Christ did for us and that we will be able to live with him and our families again.  

After church we were invited to my parents house for Easter dinner.  Definitely your traditional Easter dinner (at least as far as ham goes).  My sister hid a whole bunch of eggs outside for the girls to find.  They loved it, and we loved the beautiful weather.

Both took finding those eggs very seriously!!

Showing off their treasures!

We had a great Easter, and are so grateful for the family we got to share it with.  To all other family members...we missed you very much, and look forward to the next time we get to see you!



A whole lot of everything.

So I am a little behind, but its better late than never right!?!

CONFERENCE WEEKEND

The weekend we returned from Boise, happened to be Conference Weekend as well.  Between sessions on Sunday, Mark and I decided we should take a walk (it was somewhat of a nice day) up to the Temple.  The girls love to see the temple, and I have wanted them to "touch" the temple for a while.  After listening to President Monson speak about temples, it confirmed our decision and we took off after the closing prayer.  It was a great experience, though cut alittle short due to sudden rain clouds and major gusts of wind.

The girls "touching" the Temple.  They thought it was pretty neat.

And much to our very pleasant surprise, the temple grounds had ACTUAL, REAL, BLOOMING flowers.  It almost brought tears to my eyes. :)

This will definitely be an activity we will repeat on a warmer day.

PROVO

So the party wasn't over after our Boise/Conference weekend.  Oh No!  The next weekend was Madison's spring break so we decided to join my family on their way to Provo.  My brother Cody and his wife Anne live there, and it was Anne's baby shower.  We enjoyed seeing them and their apartment, as well as eating good food and swimming at the hotel pool.  It was a quick trip, but we had fun.

This is was we left behind in Rexburg, but to be honest Salt Lake/Provo didn't look much better!

The girls getting ready for a swim.  (It was about 9:00 PM, they all look way to happy to be up so late!)

This is the baby blanket I made for them.  A.K.A Project #2

F IS FOR FLOWERS

If you all remember, I have tried to designated some "school time" with Abby and Hannah to do some fun projects and activities.  Well the week following our Trip to Provo was none else than the letter F week.  (We switched E and F, so that we could do E is for Easter).  So what would be more appropriate when talking about the letter F than flowers, especially with this dreary spring we have had.  So Abby picked out a packet of flowers at the store and we planted them in a pot.  It has been fun watching them grow, and when we have some blooms it will add some much needed color to our lives.

Abby pouring the dirt.

 Abby planting the seeds.

 And Hannah eating whatever it was she was eating. 

E IS FOR EASTER EGGS

So as I mentioned we did E is for Easter during our "school time" the next week.  And on one of those days we dyed Easter eggs.  Abby was really concerned when I talked about "dying" the eggs.  She felt better when I told her we were just "coloring" the eggs.  Well as with any projects you do with kids, it was a lot of fun, but a great big mess too.

The main cause of the mess!

AND JUST A FEW EXTRAS TO ENJOY!!!

The first time they got to jump on the trampoline.  They were SO excited!!!

 Mark bought this foam puzzle for the girls.  They have thoroughly enjoyed it!

 Abby and Hannah were playing Hide and Seek with Mark one day.  I think Hannah found the best hiding spot.  It took awhile for Abby to find her.

 Hannah thought this was funny until I brought out the camera.

Phew!  There you have it... some of the things we have been up to lately.  Stay tuned for Hannah's B-day Party, Abby's final dance recital, and our Easter celebration.