Denver Zoo

Yesterday, July 10, we went to the Denver Zoo with our friends, the Larsen's, and with the Lundgreen's, Turner's and Parker's (who were visiting from Idaho).  It was really hot (92*) but it was so much fun to be at the zoo and to see all the animals.  Elizabeth has never been to the zoo before and was often in awe and super excited to see all the animals that she loves from her books and movies.  We saw zebras, birds, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, bears and tigers, as well as a ton of other animals.  The hippo was under the water and came up as we were watching and later he opened his mouth really big and showed us his teeth.  We saw an Elephant Show where the trainers have the elephants swim and wave their noses.  We had a monkey climb a rope right over us.  And we had some birds dive bomb and almost hit us. Elizabeth was exhausted and fell asleep as we were walking out and slept all the way home.   It was so much fun and we definitely want to do again!!

If you look behind her you can see the hippo.

All the cousins (minus Hyrum and Luke)

 

At the Elephant Show!

Monkey Island- the monkey are let free on the island and run and jump around.

She didn't understand why she couldn't go in the water.

Entertaining a 1 Year Old: Clothes and Accessories

Elizabeth is growing up so big and likes to do 'grown up' things. She has a cute fascination with clothes.  She will help me sort them and put them in the washing machine.  I was sorting some new clothes passed down from Gwyn and she decided to help.  She would go in there at any free  moment and sort those clothes (5/10/2014). One day she would bring me article after article of clothing to put on her until she was a modge podge of different clothes but she was very proud of her creation and we praised the beauty to her satisfaction (5/10/2014).

I love her belly hanging out! (6/22/2014)

Wearing my underwear!

She has also found a love for accessories.  We went to the dollar store and saw some mardigra beads and had them off the rack and around her neck before I even realized.  She loves wearing them and it is really cute to see her accessories herself but the paint rubs off of them and makes her neck funny colors.  She will find anything and put it over her neck as an accessory; scarves, aprons, towels and lately she has loved putting my bra's and exercise underwear on whenever I am doing laundry.  It is moments like that that I realize that we should get her some real dress ups.  

Beads in the Bathtub (6/14/2014)

  Another thing that she decided to wear was our baby carrier (5/6/2014).  She found it in the closet and immediately wanted it on, it is made for adults, so adjusting it to fit on her was a little tricky.  She carried around her dolls in it for a while but decided it was kind of cumbersome, since it almost touched the ground and made walking and moving difficult.  I also put her in it, while I was wearing it, and we laughed at how weird it was; she is a lightweight (I can't imagine carrying a baby that weighs as much as her around in it) but she is tall, so the height made it look funny!

I have been trying to do more with her hair; it is definitely still thin and short but much more easy to work with.  I tried doing it in a bunch of rubber bands (like Erica does with her girls) and it looked ridiculous (6/2/2014) and I love to play with it in the bathtub (6/6/2014).  In the bathtub you can see where there is a lot of hair and where there just isn't; I love that she naturally has a lot of longer hair sticking up in the middle- she is a natural Alfalfa.  

 

 

 

*She also has some great 'wake up' hair (6/17/2014).

Exercise at the Y and Swimming

 I have been trying hard to lose some weight and get a little healthier so I joined the YMCA.  I like going to a gym and to classes because then I feel accountable to someone (verses an at home video- who would know?) and because then there is a set time, beginning and ending! I like the YMCA because they have 2 hours of free day care and the ladies are so nice; they all know Elizabeth by name and she loves it there. 

I have been doing some aerobic/weight classes and kickboxing classes.  I really enjoy these classes! I have also started spinning and running a little bit.  Today I had a meeting with a personal trainer who showed me some weights/resistance training; and my legs hurt so bad right now!

I also went to a Barr class that is taught by one of my friends. Here is a description of the class from their website:  "Pure Barre is a total body workout that utilizes the ballet barre to perform small, isometric movements, which burn fat, sculpt muscles and create long, lean physiques." In layman's terms: Pure Barr distorts your body in impossible positions and makes you hold it while slowly moving until your whole body feels like it is on fire.  It hurts... really bad but I almost kind of enjoyed it and, now that my body is not in searing pain, might go back.

The YMCA also has an outdoor pool and a smaller, gated off pool for toddlers.  Elizabeth and I have gone a couple times.  The first time we went she fell under (no more than 2 seconds) and it scared her pretty bad; she wouldn't even take a bath for a couple days.  But the last couple of times she has done a little better.  She still does not want to leave my side but she will splash and play more.  Last time we were there she tried to 'swim' with her head under; she looked at me, took a big breath and stuck her face (really her forehead and nose) in the water, then came up with a big smile!!

We also went to the Longmont Rec Center pool with Wyatt and Gwyn when they were staying with Mom.  It was fun hanging out with those kids but definitely a challenge keeping track of two toddlers and a Wyatt.  This was right after Elizabeth's water phobia incident and she was so clingy and worried but slowly loosened up and would play with Gwyn.  There was a little slide and they all liked going down it, with me to catch the little girls.  But Elizabeth really just liked to stand at the landing at the top of the slide and wish all the kids luck as they went up.  There was one group of little boys who would talk to her, give her high fives and love on her as they waited to go down- oh no, she is already such a flirt!

Rachel's Birthday Bash!

Rachel has always had to share her birthday celebrations and this year she wanted to really celebrate, so she threw herself a party.  She cooked delicious Cafe Rio Salads, hosted 30+ people and put on a concert; yes, she is amazing.  It was so fun to be around so many people and the atmosphere was so exciting.  They made the back patio the stage on Rachel performed a couple pieces; one with Jon, a saxophonist in our ward. She also had Forsyth and Gee, a band of members of our ward, sing some songs.  It was all so wonderful and such a great way to celebrate RACHEL!