May birthdays field trip to SLC!

Hugh got comfy for the drive to SLC, that is my blanket that he took from me!

The first stop on our field trip was Hogle Zoo of course!  I was a rainy, windy day but we had no idea how much weather we would see before we headed out for the second stop!

The zoo is still under renovations for the African exhibit but there were several new things open when we go there.

Why do we always take a picture of this?

That is one of the new huge male lions on the rock to the right of Hugh.

Even 'stretch' Liam could not reach the huge tortoise. 

Liam added some light entertainment by dancing in the rain for us.

Hugh loved the seal show and wants to study marine biology next year.

Two peas in a pod, these two are so alike.

Not sure why the blog moved this picture but ...Liam and I decided to try the indoor climbing wall at the sports expo...he is a fast little man...I miss climbing.  I did a fair amount of indoor and outdoor climbing when I was in school in Flagstaff.

Here Liam is beating me to the top...he chose to repel down while I was reverse climbing down trying to burn off the junk food I ate:)

Hugh made fast friends with this rescue dog, it followed him around for a bit and kept licking him.

The indoor mountain bike trail course was super cool, though we kept giving poor Bubba fits.  She was pretty sure one of us was going to wipe out and bleed.

We even got Dad onto one of the bikes..and had trouble getting Liam off them.

Dad skipped an obstacle....that one was very rough.

Yep, even I had to play on the fancy bikes.

The slacklines were a favorite as well, I think I may have finally convinced Brenton that we need one of these at the house.

Sitting at the seal show.
We had a family pass to the zoo for the past year and have really enjoyed going there when we have time.  At the end of this visit, we were right near the ape house, a downpour occurred so we ducked into the building at hand.  Then we headed for the next one when there was a break in the rain only to have it start hailing!  Needless to say we worked our way to the front gate and made a dash for the van where we ate our 'picnic' lunch inside:0.  Then we were off to the Adventure gear sports expo...neat time there too...prepare for picture overload.This picture was much earlier in this post but for some reason the pictures of the expo all posted before it.  Too much tech for me.  Hope this was as fun to read as it was to do....

And I blinked...

So a little less than a year ago one of the stray cats had kittens on our front porch, the only one to survive a distemper epidemic was this little calico.  Whom Hugh totally tamed and named "Calico".  We had her 'fixed' and tried to make sure she has a warm place to sleep.

This is Calico today...she is all over the property, catches mice/voles like nobody' business, and is super affectionate.  The boys have begged to let her some in the house.

This is Calico playing field lion in the goat pasture, she has yet to figure out the goat kids.  They are her size but seem odd to her.  I cannot believe how fast the past year has gone. 

This is part of this year's batch of kids, There are 15 in all, three doelings have been sold already.  We are praying that all get sold by the end of May if at all possible.  That way the kids can focus on their lambs and summer projects.  I cannot believe we survived kidding season, it was a long ten days but it was a good learning experience for all of us. 

Gorgeous Sweet Bubba!

Somewhere in the chaos of life in the past year our sweet Bubba decided she had completed her high school studies, aced the GED (required of homeschoolers by university types), rocked her ACT's, got a half scholarship to USU and finally had her senior pictures taken.  I am biased but am glad she still had that gorgeous long hair....

This is is the casual western series....

The pictures were taken at a campground up Logan Canyon...gorgeous area I am dying to go for a picnic there in the spring.

Of course her boy Caleb had to be included, he and I had fun exploring when he was not in the picture..

Such a pretty Bubba!

Our girl!

Caleb much preferred his picture on solid ground, not the rickety foot bridge...

All her pictures were gorgeous!  But I love the three straight above, the thing with Sweet Bubba is that she is just as pretty inside as she is out.....

Just your average Wednesday....

I realize that I am trying to 'catch up' from months past but I decided to just record an average Wednesday today.  Bubba is home today, no college classes and no work (only tutoring for a half an hour later today) but tons of homework.  She is a diligent student and hates college!  We started school almost on time and I am grateful that piano lessons were moved to afternoon, it is just a better fit for me.  I may request a permanent change.  So here is what morning learning time looked like...

The golden boys kept the couch company...

Hugh focused on finishing up yesterday's math.

Honey found a quiet spot under Liam's 'other' desk.

Liam at the computer doing his math as well.  He often yells at the computer during math time.

Bubba, the college student, hiding out in her room.

Caleb guarding the all important college backpack.

Then it was time for morning break and since it is windy, rainy, and starting to slush/snow it was an indoor break.  Which today meant....Nerf War!!!

Hugh getting his weapon of choice loaded.

Liam prefers the straight load type, one for each hand...notice there are no dogs to be seen.  dogs hate Nerf Wars!

Hugh is ready, two barrel loader types....game on!

I hope the afternoon is just as mellow....since we have scouts and piano to tend to as well as Young Men's for Liam, Fire Drill for Brenton and maybe a little Valentine's Day planning?  It could happen!

Finishing up the Fall 2013 family photos.

So I was going to do the AZ trip in this post but still have not cornered the pictures so I will finish posting the photos from this years family pictures.  I am trying to take them every six months but for some reason that is difficult to accomplish...weird.  So here are the three childers who were home for pictures...Cody had some lame excuse about being in France or Belgium not sure which one.

It seems like just yesterday that this young man was my little Irish sprite sidekick!  Wah...not ready for this.

Yes, he is already the tallest member of the immediate family (5ft. 8 in.) and such a handsome farm boy he is!

What can I say Sweet Bubba (cousin Brenda added the sweet, we think it fits) is beautiful inside and out.  Now if I can just find a way to help her reach her dreams...

Hugh is my little man in every possible sense of the term.  He brings sunshine everywhere he goes with his hysterical sense of humor and family trait of quoting movies way too much!

Love that smile...the same forced, painful look his brothers had at that age.

So the kids are adorable as always and the pictures were fun to take, we like being together and the weather was about perfect.  We also took a bunch of pictures with the goats and a few with the dogs.  The goat pictures will hopefully be on their website soon as kidding season starts next month.

I was not as thrilled with this picture as I had hoped, but the dogs are still wonderful!  Yes, they are loved and spoiled, drives Brenton a bit batty I think.

Here we are with just a few of the 'girls', they have been a good addition to the 'hobby farm' program.  I should have engineered a picture by my awesome pink chicken coop!

The owners of Shamrock Farm and some of their 'girls', no pictures of Thor and the boys as they are grumpy most of the time, unless it is Bubba who wants something from them.

So this wraps up the second half of the family photo posts, tomorrow I will share whatever I can find from whatever event I missed in the past 6 months:)!