Cheerleaders for the 26.2 Miler...

Saturday morning started early thanks to little girls waking up earlier than the sun. We lounged around, got ready and then headed over to the finish line to wait for my Dad. Bailey was in heaven getting to hang out with Rachel and pet Rex.

 Hazel on the other hand was hard at work looking out for Grandpa so we could snap some good pictures.

We just hung out and talked (and only lost Bailey once) until we new it was go time. Then we all split up so we could get plenty of pictures of the last home stretch and finish line. Rob and Aleesha went up about a half mile so they could be the look out and text us all when he turned onto the last street.

 Connie was awarded babysitting duty (Bailey, Hazel, Rachel and Rex) while my Mom and Brandon manned two posts along the stretch. 

 While Sam and I weaseled our way to a great photo position with the video and digital cameras to catch him crossing the finish line. It seemed like the perfect set up with only one slight problem. 

 Robby's legs got tired so he had to sit down for awhile and MISSED him running by. His text only came about an hour after my Dad finished. Good thing it wasn't life or death because pretty sure we would all be dead now.

His actual finish time was much faster than the clock said when he crossed the finish line...like twenty minutes or so faster...He did awesome!

After what seemed like forever we finally managed to track him down back at the car. We loaded up and then headed over to his hotel room so he could shower, rest, and watch a little bit of conference while eating Brick Oven Pizza.

Grandpa is such a trooper. After running 26.2 miles that morning he still managed to carry Hazel around all day and cuddle her to sleep.

Then it was back to the condo so we could all go swimming (or at least those of us that actually remembered our bathing suits). Bailey and Hazel had so much fun...

It was a quick weekend get away, but definitely worth the drive to see everyone and cheer my Dad on. Now the count down can officially be on for our Thanksgiving rendezvous in Reno!

St. George

The Taggarts were so kind and offered to let us stay in their family condo for the weekend so we are off to cheer for Grandpa.

St. George Marathon here we come!

The Zoo

Daddy joined us for our semi-weekly zoo trip. He was definitely the newbie that needed to be escorted and guided by zoo keeper Bails. It was a perfect day and the monkeys were putting on a show. Everyone was enjoying it except for Hazel who was terrified that they kept coming up to the window.

 Anytime they came near her she would throw her arms around my neck and hold on for dear life. 

 She had a firm grim on my arm at all times. Unfortunately for me her little hands are so tiny which mostly meant a nice pinch for my upper arm.

 The elephants don't scare my kids quite as much as the monkeys and gorillas so this viewing tends to be a bit more relaxed. I guess elephants aren't quite the sneaking up and startling kind.

 

 Of course statues aren't really in the sneaking up business either and they still scare the heck out of my little Hazel.

 Bailey did find her brave face though thank goodness.

 Bailey makes me laugh on how she chooses to react to certain things. This peacock could have been chased  around for hours by my little Bails, but the neighbors cat at night time meowed and sent her into a crying panic that resulted in me holding her till we got to the safety of our home. Opposite of me; birds terrify me way more than a silly ole house cat. Most likely because birds poop on me way more than cats do.

 Don't let Hazel fool you. As soon as she realized she was in fact sitting on a seal statue she did start crying.

 

But its nothing a little cuddle and hug can't fix with her.

Like usual the polar bear was the highlight of the zoo. Every time he showed up so did a thousand other kids. Bails usually takes a back seat to being pushed around and just waits to he starts to leave so she can climb on all the rocks in peace. 

 Also, the seals fascinate her which is just lovely since there is always plenty of glass space for her to sit and stare at all of them swimming around.

Another great family zoo trip. I am pretty sure I have gone to the Hogle Zoo more times in the past few months then all 7 kids in my family have been to the zoo cumulatively in their life times. Bails loves it. It is the first thing she asks for when she wakes up and the last thing she wants when it is bed time. Even when we climb into the car to leave she is already asking to go again. 

 

She loves watching the monkeys, gorillas, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, tigers, seals, polar bears, brown bears as well as the other spectator children. She has been known to miss seeing a cool animal trick because she is too busy staring at the group of kids right next to her. We just love living two miles from the zoo.

Run Run Run

Our morning runs require graham crackers, lots of blankets and jackets, a few promises to go to parks later that sometimes get fulfilled, lots of searching for dogs, garbage trucks, and that one deer we saw months ago...

telling every runner, biker and walker hello, and two of the cutest girls around.

High Jump

Its that special time again when finals are abundant and our Dad goes missing for a week or two. Keeping clothes on this one is near impossible and so for everyone's sanity we just go without. We have also discovered a new trick that involves climbing onto the dresser to take a look outside.

 

And then jumping onto the bed when we have decided the cars and buses driving by are not quite entertainment enough.

 

I am still a little unsure how this child has escaped any emergency room trips to heal broken limbs and cuts.

 

 

Lets just keep praying for those guardian angels because with an extremely absent Daddy almost anything is a go.

Little Animal

Her obsession with the zoo has transferred over to her choice in apparel. 

If she wasn't so terrified of every live animal that comes within close proximity to her I would guess she would want to be a monkey, elephant or zebra when she grows up.

Potty Training

Turns out the whole pee in the potty was a fluke. We are all about our Swedish fish treats until it really matters, and then we decide to go in our diaper.

However, on a positive note, the bag of swedish fish has finally been opened after weeks of waiting. Hopefully this doesn't mean that now Daddy can eat them all up before we actually get into a good rhythm.