Hogle Zoo Trip

In August we were trying to do many things in Salt Lake before we moved, we managed to do most of them.  One was to visit Hogle Zoo.  So, while my sister was visiting we made a day of it and had a lovely time.  Amusingly enough Aliya's favorite thing was not any of the live animals, but a giant metal statue of an Elephant.  It has motion sensors in it and when kids sit on it's trunk it "sneezes" a small spray of water.  She didn't actually want to get close to it but loved watching the other kids get sprayed.

Aliya's main attraction for the day

Aliya and Auntie Bella hatching

Auntie Bella, Aliya, and Mommy riding the train

Swimming Pool!

So, we discovered that Aliya needed a swimming pools when one day I had put her in her swimming suit to play with water in the back yard.  We were putting water in a bucket and letting her play in it, well she was playing and I was reading.  At one point I looked up to find her standing in the bucket trying to splash.  That was when I decided we needed a pool :)  She was so cute and so much fun to watch with it.  Here's some proof! (Apologies for the sound on the video but it was too cute!)

Wheeler Farms May Day

So, as a continuation of my catch-up posting....one Saturday in May we went to a place called Wheeler Farms in Salt Lake for their May-Day Celebration.  It's an actual working farm in the city, it's owned by the city and they do all sorts of demonstrations and things. We saw all the usual farm animals, watched a sheep get sheared, and had a lovely time. We timed it perfectly because it started raining just as we got to our car to go home.  Here are a few pics.

Aliya and the Princess who was at the farm.

Aliya in an old fashioned play house.  She LOVED it! I think we were there for half an hour, and she still wasn't happy about moving on.

Aliya and Mommy riding a tractor 

Portland Trip

Wow, so I can't believe I didn't post anything all summer!  We actually managed to do quite a few fun things despite my crazy schedule and training for work.  So, here is a brief re-cap of some of our exploits!  I'm going to break it into a few posts so it's not sooo long. 

  First things first, in May I went to Portland for my little sister's graduation from art school.  I wish I had taken more pics of her amazing work, but sufice it to say that she is amazingly talented and if any of you have the means you should commission her to make you something.  She does metal- smithing (sorry Bella, not sure how that's spelled etc.)  so she makes statues, jewelry, pretty much, she's amazing!  I had a blast but it was strange to be away from Aliya and Daniel.

My lovely sister Elisabeth and the lovely silver teapot she made!

Me, Aunt Patty, and Elisabeth at the tea party

Elisabeth and her thesis work, I wish you could see it better

Me and my beautiful sister Elisabeth (yes I'm the older one, really)

My family after the graduation from left : Quest, Mom, Elisabeth, Me, Dad.

Cannon Beach, the pic doesn't do it justice