Utah Trip 2015-The Pond

My Sister-in-law Amy, planned a fun cousin's sleepover at her house and then we all went to a fun pond that was close by.  The kids had so much fun we did it again the next day only that time we had uncle Mark and Nathan, who always makes things more fun when they are around.

 

 The kids were obsessed with catching the smallish fish that were swimming around in the pond and my niece caught one using only a bucket.  After that Hunter didn't really do anything else for two days but try to catch fish.  My nephew gave him some fishing line and a hook and he ended up catching three.  He had the time of his life.

 Fishin' buddies.

 My boys are obsessed with pocket knives, but for some obvious reasons they don't have their own.  One time one of the boys bought one at scout camp and came home with it only to cut someone quickly after and reaffirm the no pocket knife policy.  We have told the boys they can have one when they turn 12 and so they all are looking forward to that birthday (it's coming for Palmer soon).  It doesn't stop them from "borrowing" them from friends and cousins any chance they get...

 This is what the fishing line/hook way of fishing looked like.  Most of the kids didn't have much luck.

 Good cousins talks.  I'm sure these two are planning their next amusement park or company they are going to start.  Lincoln has big dreams and he is always planning things he's going to do. It's pretty awesome.

 Fisherman extraordinaire. 

 Hunter put all of his fish back, but he and some of the cousins begged to keep this one alive as a pet.  They brought it home and took good care of it, but accidentally shut the lid to the cooler one night...after a couple of days poor fishy was no more. 

My sister had the brilliant idea to buy a blow up pool to use as a raft.  It was a huge success and the kids had a ball in in.  I wish I had pictures of the uncles throwing the kids out and the kids doing their best to climb back in.  They definitely had a good time.

Utah Trip 2015-Hill Aerospace Museum

 When we lived in Syracuse, McKay used to ask to go Hill Aerospace Museum regularly.  I didn't know if the museum would hold his attention, so I put it off thinking we would go eventually.  Well, I always felt bad that we never went, so it was very high up on my list of things we needed to do.  We went with our fun cousins and McKay was thrilled.

 These planes are so enormous.  Each of the kids were trying to pick which was their favorite.

 Best buddies.  These two have loved every second of being together.  They made these crazy shirts that say "like a sandwich."  They thought they were so funny.  They are definitely on the same wavelength.  

 we got to see the first plane the Wright Brothers few while in D.C. at the Smithsonian and every time I see a plane like this I think those Wright Bros must have been nuts.  We are very lucky not everyone is as much of a scardy cat as I am.

 This plane was a hit with the boys.

I'm pretty sure this museum lived up to everyone's expectations.

2015 Utah Trip-North Shore Aquatic

We went with my sister and her kids to the North Shore Aquatic Center in Ogden one of the days we were in Utah.  We also met up with one of Palmer's favorite friends from when we lived in Syracuse.  It was such a great day.

 Palmer cute buddy.  He misses his friends from Utah so much.  

Utah Trip 2015-Hogle Zoo

 While in Utah we lucked out seeing some good friends from when we lived in Syracuse.  They took us to Hogle Zoo for the day and we had such a good time reconnecting with them.  Some friendships you keep forever, and these people are one of those wonderful friendships.

 The boys had a ball with all of my friend's boys.  It was a day full of climbing, silliness and sharing stories of the last year we haven't seen each other.

 The dinosaurs all over the zoo were so much fun!

 When we were living in Utah, they were working on a new section of the zoo and is so neat! I was a big fan of the bears.

 We have never gone to the bird show  before, and I am so glad that we hit it this time.  It was awesome.

 Two buddies.  Palmer has missed this cute boy so much!

 I love that the lion drinking fountain from my childhood is still at the zoo.  

 Learning about fossils.

We had such a good time!  I am trying to talk these fun friends into visiting us in Georgia!

Utah Trip 2015-Feeding the Ducks

 I love summer nights, especially summer nights in Utah.  While we were staying with my sister, we headed to a pond by her house to let the kids feed the ducks and ride their rollerblades around the walkway.  The ducks were pretty thrilled with the food and it was a bit of a feeding frenzy.

 The kids kept wanting to feed the ducks a tiny piece at a time right into their beaks.  I was so worried somebody's finders were going to get snapped.

 It was such a beautiful night and these pictures don't do it justice.  We miss sunsets where we live in Georgia.  The trees are so high (which was love), that we don't always see the sunset.

 There were a ton of baby ducks swimming around the pond.  Most of them were still yellow, it was darling.