No, this is not another post about birds.

This is a model eagles' nest at Hogle Zoo that my babies all fit into perfectly.

We didn't go to the zoo alone. We went with friends we don't see enough: Anisa and her boys B, J and T and Jacinda and F & S. 

 It's not easy to keep eight kids together, but major attractions like a gorilla statue seem to help.

 Ella and I were very fond of the misters located throughout the zoo.

Ella was thrilled to find one that dripped.

Hey Anisa!

For Dane and Brenner, it was like no time had passed. It was also like they had no parents with them. They were the leaders of the day. No child hesitated to follow them around to where ever they might go.

 Hey Bryce!

Of course I'm ending with a bird! Not my fault, since this zoo helper was right at the exit waiting for us.This is a Swainson's Hawk. It was cool to get so close.

I am so impressed with the changes that the zoo is making. I love the new Rocky Shores (arctic) exhibit. That polar bear is a ham! (Did I mention that a portion of this exhibit is inside and air conditioned?!) It was a great visit. So glad we got to do this and sad that our visit had to end so quickly.

Today was the first day of school for Dane and Ella...

This is my brain on the first day of school.

Ha!

 We got off on the right foot this morning. Dane rises early and he got all his chores done, backpack packed,   dressed, all of it. He's awesome!

Ella worked out all of her nervousness somehow and went to school with the attitude of a champion and she looked adorable, too.

After meeting with Bryce's teacher, we waited for the kids to return to us.

Dane's eye was on the prize. Not a hug from Mommy, but grabbing his much loved little brother.

I hope Ella always runs to me. She won't, I know, but she's got a good (excuse the pun) track record.

Reports of new teachers all seem favorable...
Tomorrow: Bryce's first day of school!

I'm from Spanish Fork, formerly a small town.
In some ways, they're still behind the times. There's no Wal-mart, no decent grocery store besides Macey's, no Target...
Anyway, they've got this great splash pad at a place we used to call North Park. I went there with Mandy in June, but FINALLY got my photos onto my computer.

Ella and Z think about getting wet...

After Z had his fill of flirting with water, we went to the nearby (well-shaded) playground.

Sisters are the best!

Ella is absolutely my brave girl when it comes to tooth pulling, though around here, it's more like tooth flicking.
She's been nursing a fairly loose front tooth since December and last night it was finally ready to be flicked.

 She loves the "weirdness" of having her tooth gone and was happy to get a "golden dollar" coin under her pillow this morning.

Here are Ella's brothers.

Bryce pretending to be asleep so he wouldn't have to go to school today.

And here's Dane, my handsome TEN YEAR OLD.

We begin with Dane. Very excited to be going into 4th grade. After two days of attending, he keeps talking about all the "opportunities" that come with 4th grade. It'll be interesting to see what he takes advantage of this year.

On the same day (July 26th), Bryce got to attend the Kindergarten open house. He loved doing work at all the stations there and meeting his teacher. He couldn't stop beaming and pretty much danced back to the car.I officially enrolled at SLCC, starting small with a required math class, online. One small step for me, heading to the education I've been putting off for so long. No one will be surprised that I'm going for an English degree and I'm really excited about this. The best part is seeing how proud Dane and Ella are of me. They keep mentioning it to other people. Perhaps it's just that it's a novelty to have Mommy go to school at the same time as them, but either way, they think it's cool.This whole school thing seems to be a theme around here as Cam continues to teach at the Univ of Phoenix. He seems to really enjoy it. Its something that probably neither of us could have foreseen as something in his future, but it's been a pleasant surprise.

Today was Ella's first day of school (we met briefly with her teacher yesterday), her first day of first grade. I was so sad after B and I dropped her off. It was quick as we had to rush home to catch a delivery. It didn't bother her that it was quick. She got in line by her cousin (another school surprise) and went right in. My she's grown up! She is so much more confident in who she is. She loves all the girly-girls she hangs out with at school.After the delivery of our kitchen cabinets, Bryce and I rushed back to the school to meet Dane's teacher.

Later, while everyone was at school, after he lamented that he didn't get to go, Bryce used his "squirt-gun syringe" (obtained after this accident) to make designs in water on the deck. He LOVED it!We also worked on his handwriting. I've let him get into so bad habits with his letter forming (though it seems to be a theme with all my children). He had his moments of frustration and elation.

Here comes Ella! Fresh off of her first day. Mommy is much relieved to see her happy face and to hear she had a very wonderful day.We have an assessment Bryce's teacher in the morning. Nothing like jumping right back into things.

Love

these

kids!

Cam and I are SO GLAD TO BE BACK HOME!!!

Have we honestly spoiled the kids to the point that we have to drag them kicking and screaming to the happiest place on the earth?

We spent three days at Disneyland and two days in San Diego for our vacation this past week.

All the kids wanted to do was watch TV or swim in the pool. It was a bit frustrating.

Disneyland and the parents always win in the end. We always start on the train and head round to Fantasyland. It was blissfully un-busy for Disneyland and we really got a lot of rides ticked off on our to-do list.

Sadly, Ella got sick our first night and after a rough night and morning, Cam took the boys to the California Adventure park. After lunch Ella was feeling more herself and the five of us went back together.
After two vacations of trying, Dane was finally chosen as a padowan for the Jedi Training Academy. I may have been more excited than Dane.After training, he helped defeat Darth Maul.

Bryce loved meeting the characters. Here he is with the bears from Brother Bear.

My own Buzz and Woody.

Bryce and I got to meet Mickey. VERY cool!

Ella eating a cool Mickey ice cream sandwich.That night we saw the must-see show Disney's World of Color. If you've heard that it is amazing, believe it! Wow! We all loved it.

The next morning, Ella was sick again and so Cam stayed in with her while I went with the boys.
We went on Dane's favorite ride Grizzly River Rapids twice (Dane's total was four times). Bryce dug it as well.

Bryce's favorite ride, however, was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. That's Cam in the red shirt with Bryce right next to him. We went three times in a row. (Thankfully, Ella was able to finish this day out with us, back to her normal self).

After Anaheim, we headed down to San Diego where we spent our honeymoon.

We visited Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument.

Here is the old Point Loma lighthouse.

Inside the visitors' center we were tried on a replica of 16th century Spanish head gear. The chainmail weighed seven pounds alone.

The tidal pool area closed before the tide went out completely, but we still got some good beach time before the tsunami hit the next morning.

Us above the tidal pools and the vast Pacific OceanWe visited the San Diego Zoo the day before we started our return journey.

We all loved the snakes. Such a variety!The big display on elephants and prehistoric/extinct North American animals was a favorite of ours.

Dane has become such a ham when it comes to getting his picture taken. Here he's being crushed by an elephantine sculpture.
We loved seeing the polar bear exhibit

and I loved the panda exhibit because someone else was telling my kids to be quiet. You had to be quiet to enter this area.
Family trips are always an adventure, that's certain.

Now with all I have to do to get us back to normal around here, I wish the day didn't feel like a stay-in-your-jammies kind of day.

I need some energy!

Thanks for reading about our trip.