zoo trip four

cousin chase spent the night last night and we went to the days of '47 parade and the zoo. we had so much fun together.

days of '47 parade

turns out parades are the perfect event for nash: lots of clapping, waving, music and horses! he was in heaven and enjoyed every single minute of it. chase loved it too, until he had to go to the bathroom and we had to walk seven blocks home.

nash watching planes, chase posing. one of them listens (sometimes).

clapping & waving for president monson (he waved back!)

chase giving the cops high-fives

waving to the pretty ladies.

ooohhhh, horsies! oooohhh!

clapping for the police (he hasn't learned better yet!).

finally!

nash is finally enjoying the pool! he loved it last year, but up until recently this year he has thrown crazy fits anytime we get him near the water (despite his love for tubs). he's finally relaxed and has been having so much fun with the cousins, splashing and banging sticks. he's even jumping in and is becoming fearless all-too-fast. he loves the thrill of the jump-you can see it in his face just before he lets go. you can tell it's still a bit scary, but he's a brave little boy!

zoo trip three

it was cloudy and cool today, so we decided to go to the zoo again. nash invited james along. the two looked so cute in their matching shirts (they didn't plan it) with their big blue eyes-they could have been twins. it was kind of fun to switch kids with april and hold james (at least for me-but april is pregnant and nash is a tank, so it was probably not as fun for her.)

cute boys. cute shirts, but how can they both have the world's greatest dad?

james giving nash forehead kisses (of course).

playing with the alligator toys (they found this the most fun of all).

{from mommy}

up until i saw nash smile for the first time, i can't think of one instant in my life where i thought to myself "wow. this makes it all worth it." but now i feel like i'm having these experiences on a daily basis:

nash amazes me with the things he knows. i find myself saying aloud: "did he really just do that? did he really just say that?" and then testing him to see if he knew what he did. last night i told nash (as i often do) "i love you." he quickly said something back that sounded quite a bit like he told me the same thing. after a few minutes of testing it was confirmed. he told me he loves me: "i you." my heart skipped a beat.

zoo trip two

we got a year membership to the zoo so i can see the animals anytime i want. it was cloudy today, so mommy thought it might be a nice time to go. this time i got to see almost all of the primates-they were all outside playing! except this guy, who was sleeping hanging from the window.

mommy asked me to show her where the gorilla's pee pee is. as a good boy, i was quick to oblige.

this was haven's first trip to the zoo. she rode in mommy's carrier like a baby kangaroo! she was pretty tired though...

dada put me on his shoulders so i could see the big rhino.

all the excitement had me pretty tuckered out. i fell asleep the second we got back into the car.

a good day.

playing with haven & dirt

zoo trip one

nash's first zoo trip wasn't as exciting as i'd hoped, but hey, at least we got out of the house! we waited until the heat of the day so not only were we dying in the heat, but lots of the animals were hiding. then nash decided he'd rather play with the stroller and eat than look at animals. on top of that, the camera died about a half hour into the visit.

baby alligators (2 & 3 years old):

elephants (although nash is looking at a little girl drinking soda):

some sort of primate (we don't have them down yet):

sleeping opossum:

he's looking at the camera!!! quick!!! (in "the ghost of the bayou"):

auntie em & a monkey butt:

gateway fountains

maybe i'll touch the water. or not.

here i am using my best stance to avoid being dragged into the fountains.

everyone else is doing it, so why can't i?

i'm a wuss, let's just get that out on the table. these water fountains scared me to death.