Zoo-rific!!!

Several months ago some good friends of mine found a great deal online for 50% off a membership to the Oakland Zoo! Once I did the math and discovered it would cost us the same to go once as a family as it would to buy the membership, I jumped right on it. We finally went last week with some of our friends and had a great time!

Mal with her kiddos Payton and Scarlett - Melanie with her kids Mapuana and Mo

Ryan and Austin started off in the wagon...
but it really was musical rides the whole day! The kids LOVED being and playing together!
Austin, Mo and PaytonThe boys loved the giraffes and their long necks! A few more favorites!
The camels... the elephants... and of course the alligator!!! After our walk around the zoo, we found an play area for the kids and they had a great time running and climbing around!

My little stud muffin!

Austy and Payt!

Ryan asked relentlessly to ride the train during our stay at the zoo. I promised him we would look into it on our way out. As we got to the train depot, we found a massive line with a long wait! Since it was past lunch time and well into nap time, we were able to convince him and the other kids to ride a carnival ride instead and that we'd go on the train next time! To my surprise, it worked!

Ryan and Mapi wanted to drive the firetruck!

Payton jumped right into it too!
Mo climbed in too, but got scared at the last minute and wanted out!

No surprise that Austin went a completely different route... the motorcycle "like papa's!"We had a great time at the zoo and can't wait to go again where we've promised the boys we will go on the train!

Front Yard Overhaul!!!

Over Father's Day weekend we did a complete overhaul of our front yard! It's been a long time coming and definitely needed!

Before...

We got started with cutting the previous sod out (aka weeds and dirt)!
Next came digging it all up and wheeling it to the dump pile... with the help of our little rug rats!!! These boys LOVE helping their Daddy do anything, especially if it's outside!

Weed Free!!!

Next came rolling out and laying the sod! The final product!!! A project we actually finished within 3 days! Very exciting! Justin worked his tail off and it turned out great!!!

Funny story! Austin decided that laying in the gutter looked like fun while we were at work, so he did just that! The result...

his pants were so soiled with mud that he couldn't keep his pants up! It was hilarious!

In the end, we spent a lot of time together and Daddy got some relaxation time on Father's Day with his boys!!! We love you Justin, and our new front yard!!!(These adorable matching ties are awesome!!! Pick out your own @ www.neck-strings.com)

Little Fish Update!

Ryan LOVED swimming lessons!!! He is such a little fish and looked forward to jumping into the water every day! He needs a lot more practice to be able to swim completely on his own, but he will definitely learn with more practice!

He enjoyed his teachers a lot and actually had one of the Young Women from our ward as one of them! He thought that was really neat!

Austin and I enjoyed watching Ryan at his swimming lessons each day! He was such a good boy and would ask where Ryan was all of the time! The first few days he didn't understand why he didn't get to go too, but got over it once snacks were presented! Typical Austin!

My little fish!!!

Ryan started swimming lessons this past week and has been LOVING it!!! He loves the water and especially going under! His teachers are constantly laughing at his stories that usually start with "Last night, on my house boat..." which really means "Last summer, on the house boat..." He's quite a bit younger and smaller than the rest of his class, and especially less coordinated, but is definitely the most eager! We'll have to keep working on his technique!
Adorable little fish!
I am amazed at how brave he is! The teachers were worried he'd be scared since they are in the big and deep pool, but he was practically the only one who didn't cry the first day! We'll update you on his progress at the end of his lessons!!!!

Day on the Lake...

While we were up for graduation, Justin took the boys to the lake. They were sooooooo excited and had a great time!
Ryan driving the jet ski in circles with Austin on the back! May not happen again if Mommy is around!While they were playing on the beach, a ton of geese started swimming up to them. After being a little freaked out, they calmed down and started feeding them crackers!
You can say it... He's adorable!!!
I can't believe how close these things got!!!
We can't wait for another nice day to head out to the lake again! Well, another day where there's nothing else planned or going on!!!

Fun at Fast Fridays!!!

Since we were up visiting for graduation, we decided to spend some time with old friends! We got together with my best friend from high school and college roommate Tracy, her husband Brian, her little brother Joel, his fiance Danielle, my sister Ashley and brother-in-law Steve. We hadn't hung out with this group together before, but it was A TON of fun!!!
We met up at a little walk-up eatery called "Taylors," a Loomis institution like the old Cagel's! It was yummy!!!
After stuffing ourselves, we headed to Auburn for Fast Fridays! This is an event at the fairgrounds where some locals race their dirt bikes. It was fun to watch, but the people watching was just as much fun!!!
Steve, Ash, Trace and Brian!
Justin and I!!! I love him!!!
We had so much fun and can't wait to have a night out again!!! You forget how much fun it is to just go and do! It's much harder with kids, although I wouldn't change having them for anything in the world!!!

Grad Party!!!

Later in the day we had a party for Trevor and Luke! It was a lot of fun and neat to see all of the people who came to support them and celebrate with us! It's always those who've helped get them to this point, and that was fun!
Hopefully our future!!! Black and Gold tassels!!! They are ADORABLE!!!
My little Stud Muffin!!!
The boys loved playing outside with any toy they could find!
And Ryan remembered right where all of the toys are at Uncle Martin and Aunt Sherri's house! The helicopter, his favorite!
Ash and I!
One of the men from my cousins ward showed up to celebrate in style! Anyone who knows him and his sense of humor was not surprised!!! We all got a good laugh out of it!