Staycation 2011 Day 4

Well today we went to the zoo.  The habitats are a lot nicer than they were the last time I went there.  But it was very, very hot!  But we pulled a wagon with a cooler and a baby.  And a stroller with Brecklyn or Logan, taking turns as they got tired.  Tomorrow is the last day and we are going to Park City, hopefully cooler than in the valley!

Waiting for Jamie, who lost her ticket, but all was well, the girl just let her in anyway.

A falcon (I think) close enough to touch.

Waiting for the Animal Discovery show to start.  It was shaded, but still very hot in here.

Brecklyn plays with the roly-poly armadillo.  He rolls into a ball.  He really was a cute guy.

When My mom and I and Tyson were in Texas, we got stuffed armadillos.  So cute. 

Baby Grayson sits in his wagon, eating snack.  The Cheetos were great!  He even looked under the seat below the cooler looking for ones he had dropped.  Oh my, I doubt that the 5 second rule counts here...

This little guy enjoyed watching us as much as we enjoyed watching him.  I wonder if he thought we were the creatures in the zoo, not him.

Mom, dad and baby out for a stroll.  Baby is sooo cute and sweet.  Can we take him home in the van?  I think he MIGHT fit in the trunk if we lay down the 3rd row of seats???

Elephants were fun for all to watch.  We didn't stay for the show, but I am sure it was fun to watch.

Rhino nap time.  They enjoyed the shade just as much as we did.

Lemur Love.

Ride 'em, pardner!

The giraffe was a big hit with the kids.

A final train ride and then its time to go home.  All a tired and hot little group!

Staycation 2011 Day 3

Today we went to see the Smurf movie.  We used to have lots of Smurfs around the house.  But I couldn't find one.  The kids must have taken them or something.  It was kind of funny.  After we went to Quiznos.  Then we got gas at Costco and wanted to find a wagon.  They didn't have the kind we had hoped for and so we didn't get one there and went to Walmart instead.  We found one, but it was not in "perfect" order, so Jamie will need to make a quick exchange.

So it was a light day, but tomorrow is the Zoo.  And I suspect it will be lots of fun and exhausting, all rolled into one.

Staycation 2011 Day 2

Today was the second day of our "Stay-cation".  It seemed a bit (a lot) hotter than yesterday.  We first went to lunch at Pizza Pie Cafe.  I think this is one of the kids favorite places near-by.  I wrote about it in an earlier post.  It is all you can eat pizza, any flavor and even dessert pizza, salads, and pastas.  Ty really loves the pasta here.  So that was the start:

The Gray-man gives a cheer for  cheesey pizza!  He enjoyed it too!

Oreo Pizza, nummy.  Ty enjoys it very much and grandma enjoys saving $8.00 from clipping their coupon out of the local circular!

Here are the troops waiting to go see the animals in the petting zoo.  They loved it because there were babies today.  And they were really cute!

Honk, Honk!  Ty and Logan get in a little practice milking Bossy the cow!  Not much success here, however!  So we settle for water!

This little baby was a hit with all the kids. So tiny, still. Everyone wants to take this guy home!

Taking the horse and wagon ride!

Doin' the jail-house rock!

Checkin' out the Ducks, geese and other waterfowl!

Thirsty little man!

Pony rider!

This is fun mom!

So fun!

No, I don't want to get off!  Please do it again!

Pickin' out my pony!

Little Cowpoke!

Little Rodeo Queen!

Riding Tall in the Saddle!

Together we tip the scale!  No weight reduction programs for us!

Dem bones!

Their favorite part of the Museum!  Let's get down and dirty!

The boys get quite a project going here.  Logan is in charge of finding the dino figures and landscaping. 

A little Jaws action.  Obviously no one is too frightened....

Scary bones, kinda like Halloween??

Well, tomorrow, Wednesday will be a little less active.  We are going to the Smurfs.  That is so funny to me because when my kids were little they were really popular and then they sort of faded away.  Now they are back and have their very own movie!  After that we will use my quizno coupons for lunch.  Tuesday was a hot outside day and the kids loved it.  And it was 2 buck Tuesday.  A major price difference.  Instead of $66. for us at the musuem, it was only 10.  Grandma appreciates!

Staycation 2011

Well, as I checked on my vacation days for the year and  I found out I had to use some more days that what I thought.  So rather than wait till the weather gets bad, I wanted to take it while the grandkids were still out of school.  So we had talked about going to Yellowstone, but the kids had some activities, Karate for Logan, Basketball camp for Ty, Piano and dance for Brecklyn, etc.  So we decided it would be best to have another "stay"cation.  And so Monday, we went up to the canyon.  We took my mom and Spencer went, too.  We put in the 8th seat in the van, which is removable and everyone fit in there.  We found that the river was high and fast and not wanting to experience any bad accidents, went to Mutual Dell, where the river wasn't so close to the picnic areas.  It was nice under the pavillion and there we had a little picnic.  After that we drove to what used to be the old Adventure Learning Park.  It is now owned by the City, and I know it has a new name.  Just can't remember what it is....
Here are some of the pics...

 Up the canyon, the river was fast and deep.  Not a good idea.  So we moved to Mutual Dell.

 A picnic in the beautiful mountains.

 Then on to the park.  Logan sees the little fish.

The rest of us watch the ducks and visit.

 Lots of nibbles, but no fish.  Although Ty does catch one in his bare hands.

Hungry ducks eat most of the treats we brought for the kids.  But they will stay healthy, because the were organic treats.  HA! HA!

No Words Needed-Woo-Hoo!!!! Staycation 6 is a Big Success!!!

Tyson meets KARL MALONE!!!!!
What a great Staycation day 6!

The other 2 kids went with me to the movies and to the splash pad.  The splash pad is the coolest!  It is about 1 mile from home and the greatest fun for a summer's day.  When Ty, Jamie and I were in Germany last summer, we saw one in Freudenberg.  However, there many of the kids splashed sans bathing suit... oh well, not in Highland!

So Staycation was a success.  And we had lots of fun.  And Monday it is back to work for me.:(

I guess good things always have to come to an end.  Then reality checks in. Life is great though and we all need to take time to enjoy the good STUFF.  In other words--don't be work-a-holics, there is too much out there and you don't want to miss it!  Even in your own backyard!