Smithsonian Insect Exhibit

Last Wednesday Lilly's Joy School group went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for a field trip. They had been learning about insects and the Insect Exhibit at the museum was the perfect place to go.

When we arrived, there were two scientist letting the children hold some of the insects. Most of the kids stood around and looked at the bugs, but only a few actually wanted to hold these nasty creatures. I mean these weren't normal bugs, they were bugs on steroids. They were all massive! Of course Lilly walked right up to the front and asked to hold them all. She held a cockroach, a black centipede, a grasshopper, and a caterpillar. She is a brave soul.

On the way out of the museum we had to stop and see the dinosaurs!

It was such a fun day of learning!

Trip to the DC Zoo

On Wednesday our Joy School group took a field trip to the zoo. The weather was beautiful! It was the perfect day to get out and enjoy the animals. 

They ran around all day. It's been a long winter.

All the kids were admiring this Tyrannosaurus Rex head, and Lilly just stuck her head right in. That pretty much sums up how Lilly lives her life. Right on the edge.

We were able to see four baby lion cubs. They were adorable! The best part was when one of the cubs walked by his mom and growled and the mom pounced on him and bit his head. I feel like doing that to Lilly sometimes.

I love this picture. Such sweet kids.

The elephants were Lilly's favorite part. After the little performance, the trainer came over and talked to the kids. It was so fun for them.

Lilly Says and Does

One night I went in to check on Lilly after she had fallen asleep. I found her like this. The next morning I asked her why she had worn her sunglasses to bed. She told me that she wanted to wear glasses to bed just like me and Gus do. So cute. 

While we were at KA's wedding dinner Lilly sat by Gus's 22 year old cousin Stafford. After he had talked to her for a few minutes she turned to me and Gus and said, "Well he's a cutie!" We later found out that she was rubbing his arm while he was talking to her. I am scared for her teenage years!

When I picked up Lilly from Joy School one day her teacher told me that she loved the vegetables that she had given them for lunch. Lilly was standing next to me and I asked if she like them and she said that she did. So, the next day I picked up these same vegetables from the store and made them for Lilly. When she saw them on her dinner plate that night she said, "Gross, I hate these vegetables!" I said, "Lilly, you told me that you like them!" She responded, "Well mom, I didn't want to be rude. I always eat my vegetables at my friends houses so their moms don't feel sad." 

I absolutely love that Lilly has such a great imagination. The night we returned from Utah, Lilly made this little sign and pinned it to herself. She told us she was a dog hair stylist and was wondering if we had any dogs that needed their hair styled.

Lilly has been working very hard the last 4 weeks to learn the States song and she finally got it. We were so proud of her!

Another Idaho/Utah Vacation: Part 2

On Thursday morning we set up for the reception which was on Friday night. Lilly had a great time running around with Sedrah while the rest of us set up for about 4 hours.

That night we went to the Joseph Smith Memorial building for KA and Clint's wedding dinner.

On Friday afternoon we headed to the Salt Lake Temple to see Ka and Clint get married. While the adults were inside, cousin Amy took care of the kids. Amy was so great to help out and play with the kids. Lilly loved her!

The kids had fun running around while we waited for KA and Clint to come out of the temple.

Grandpa and Lilly

Brothers

Finally the new couple came out.

That night we geared up for the reception. 

Lilly told me that Taige was the "Present Boy" and she was the "Card Girl" as they sat at the beginning of the line and took presents and cards from the guests.

 Lilly and Amy

At the end of the reception there was a dance. Lilly and Taige hit the dance floor and it was the cutest thing ever. They have some serious dancing skills!

Another Idaho/Utah Vacation: Part 1

We had been home from our Christmas trip for only 6 weeks when we boarded a plane and flew back out West to Utah. Gus's sister KA was getting married and we wanted to be there.  

We stayed in Utah for a few days and then my parents came down and picked us up. They came down for Berkley's basketball game and then stayed the night in a hotel. After the game we headed over to the hotel to swim.

Afterwards we got the kids McDonalds.

The next morning I headed to Rexburg with my parents. Lilly had a great time hanging out with my parents, brothers, and of course the cats until Megan, Mike, and the kids got there for the weekend. 

My dad gave each of the grandkids a penny whistle

On Saturday, the 12th, my mom had tons of fun Valentine stuff to make Valentine cards. The kids had a great time making them. Lilly made one for Berkley and she was SO excited to give it to him.

That night my dad took the kids around on the snow machine. The sled was incredible and could hold all 4 of them. They had such a great time!

We celebrated Berkley's 6th birthday while we were there.

Lilly could often be seen carrying Rocco around like a baby. That poor dog.

We had a such a great time there. Lilly loves spending time with her cousins.

On Sunday, February 13th we went to Sacrament meeting to hear my little brother Brayden give a talk and then we packed up Megan's van and headed back down to Utah.

Before all the wedding festivities began, Lilly and I hung out with Megan and the kids everyday. We hung out for 3 days and did lots of fun things with the kids. I wish we lived closer to them!!

Riding the train at the mall

Eating ice cream at Thanksgiving Point

Lilly says...

Lilly is always saying the funniest things. I usually forget to write them down. But here are a few that I have happened to remember.

"I want to go on a mission to Guam. Then I can learn to play the Ukulele just like MJ."

Gus was brushing Lilly's teeth and she said, "I wish I was a boy. Then I could marry MJ. She is my best friend."

Uh, can you guess who Lilly's favorite aunt is?

Lilly was playing with my dad’s wire cutters. My dad reached down to take them from her right as she clamped them down. My dad yanked his thumb away and looked at his bleeding thumb. Lilly said, “Well, you shouldn’t have put your thumb there!”

One night Lilly started calling for me. I went to her room to see what the problem was. Lilly said, “Mom, I had a dream-good. You had a baby. You didn’t even have to go to the hospital. You just laid on the couch and pushed. I really liked that dream, because I know how much you want a baby.”

Lilly accompanied me to the fertility doctor where they did an ultrasound to see how my eggs were developing. I had told Lilly why we were going there and the doctor even showed her all of my eggs on the screen. The next day Lilly said, “Mom, you probably shouldn’t go ice skating any time soon. You might crack your eggs!” 

Lilly came from Joy School one day and told me how she had told her friend Addie all about Abinidi and how the bad men had set him on fire and killed him. I said,”Lilly, you probably shouldnt tell people things like that.” Lilly said, “Well mom she didn’t cry or anything.”

Catching Up

I have some serious catching up to do.

On January 7th, Gus's day off, we took Lilly and her friend Addie to the Children's Museum in Maryland. It was such a fun place! The girls loved running from room to room. They even had a pet room with baby bunnies. I wanted to take one home, they were so cute!

On the 15th, Gus dropped me and Lilly off at KA's bridal shower. KA had so many friends and family there to support her, and she received so many fun gifts.

Cousin Jenny, Aunt Patty, Lilly, KA, MJ, Me, Cousin Kaylynn, and Emo

On January 21st we took Lilly to Chuck E Cheese's. She always sees the commercials and flips with excitement, so we decided it was time to take her. We told her she could invite a friend and she of course wanted Addie again.

On the way there I was listening to the two of them talking. Addie was telling Lilly how fun it is at Chuck E Cheese. Lilly said, "I've never been to Chuck E Cheese, but I've dreamed about it my whole life." It was hilarious.

The girls ran around like wild animals and would occasionally drop by the table for a few bites of pizza. They had a wonderful time. I did take pictures but then accidentally erased them the next day. Darn.