Hogle Zoo

RJ w/ an elephant skull
Kiddo's enjoying a tiger statue
RJ as big as an orangutan!?!
Mama E and Natalie

Aunt Kim sent these great pics of the boys at the zoo (she is much better organized then I, she remembered her camera;) It was a great day admiring the albino alligator, checking out the elephants eating and the elephant statue that made noise when you sat on the trunk and watching the red panda. RJ spoke ceaselessly about it in his journal for school and when he got to talk in front of the class. My favorite was the huge turtle that we didn't notice at first because, as RJ was quick to point out, he looked like a rock as camouflage. Jack just ran everywhere and was under a spell w/ the monkeys and alligator. It was great to hangout with Kim and Shaun and Natalie...it was a perfect outside day, one of the few that was cool and overcast so the animals were out and active. It was great to see another zoo that was well done, a fierce competition for best zoo we have been to now, Hogle way before the San Diego, not even a competition actually. Definitely a must see if you make it to Salt Lake.

Icky

Well, it just is kinda the way things are going around here. My sister and her Sam are having a hard go of it. His dad passed away today after a difficult fight when he had complications from a hip replacement. We are so sad. I'm not sure how much more Kate can manage. It has been a very devastating year. She lost a good friend from school the day that Pop died too. My heart breaks for them. We are playing pass the kids and I will be staying with them Friday and Saturday after my parents bring them home today. They have been enjoying the beach for the last few days and are coming home to see their dad before he has to go down to take care of the estate. We are all to young for this, rather unfair for Sam I think.

Of course the only pictures I have from this last Easter when Phillip, the kids and I finally met him are of the kids and his feet. So here are the littlest miracles that brought him joy and made him laugh.

A marathon trip...

Travis, Mitchell, Jack, Kaitlin, RJ
RJ, Mitchell, Travis, Jack
Jack & RJ at aquarium
Jack w/ Natalie, I believe eating her fingers
RJ and Natalie
Ms. Natalie

Last photo of the trip...need I say more.

We just got back from a road trip, done of course, Erwin style.

Friday-May 9: gym, swimming lessons, lunch w/ Phillip, pick Lexi up from dr where Connor was being seen for injury, laundry, pack, laundry, load car, clean house, load car, volunteer at school carnival, Phillip loads dog and Jack, picks up dinner, RJ and I at school and the mad dash to La Grande begins...check in really late, struggle w/ a newbie at hotel check in...sleep as much as possible in as little time as possible.

Saturday-May 10: drive to Bruneau, met newest niece- Ainsley- beautiful I might add, paint, play, hang out w/ cousins and grandparents.

Sunday- May 11: (mothers day) paint, run, great dinner w/ the tribe- Sid, Judy, Grammy, Aunt Mary, Russells crew and Phillips crew, have a great time w/ the cousins, eat a wonderful dinner.

Monday- May 12: do a ton of stuff in too little time, Jack went w/ Grandpa to feed cows- mind you it was very exciting yet intimidating- grandpa had to bring him back before going to feed across the way- as soon as he left, Jack melted down into tears because he was left behind. Boys took Gramma out for lunch and shopping. Drove to UT, sadly missing Jess. Got into UT at about 11p due to road improvements. Enjoyed listening to the kids goof off in the tent Kim and Shaun set up for them while having a couple of full strength drinks in their "kitchenette" of a bar:)

Tuesday- May 13: Aquarium in the morning, broke Kim's car DVD player (very nice player in a very nice new car) on the way to lunch, Phillip visited w/ Ken.

Wednesday- May 14: Whole family went to visit Ken, had a great time, great lunch and really enjoyed catching up. Kids ran the rec room w/ their video games and TV time...met up w/ Kim and Shaun at the Hogle Zoo- saw an albino alligator- rather odd really, enjoyed rush hour SL style and had a great pizza dinner until Jack knocked over a glass of water then turned around to see what he did and knocked it onto the floor- it was a beautiful sound when it hit the hardwood floor! We rock!

Thursday- May 15: RJ and Jack are totally exhausted and really not user friendly so Phillip took Ken to the dr apt minus Mama E. Boys and I enjoyed a park visit w/ Kim and Natalie until RJ took a metal pole in the forehead, causing a large bump and hard bite to the lip, matching fat lips for the boys since Jack had a mishap w/ the wall earlier in the morning getting dressed. Gotta love having boys! Apt for Ken went great! They removed the staples and the incision looks amazing. He will be sitting up in about 3 weeks and will be done w/ the antibiotics about the 9th of June. He will be heading home around the beginning to middle of June. He is of course very bored but looking amazing for what he is going through.

Phillip and I watched Miss Natalie while the rents went for dinner...it was rather quiet really, she is an easy baby and doesn't even fuss, lucky parents;)

Friday- May 16: Visit Ken on way out of town, make it about one hour out, Phillip and I switch so I can drive and at about Bringham, going around 85mph RJ lost his lunch- half out the car window the rest on his dad...long drive to grandmas with the windows down. Couldn't meet w/ Jess again as we all smelled like, well we smelled.

Saturday- May 17: (my birthday) we ruin grandpa's TV by making it digital vs analog, finished laundry, picked up the dog- he had a great visit w/ Sid and Judy- he even went out into the fields w/ Sid and had a great time- mind you the smell back to Portland was better then from UT to Bruneau but it's debatable how much better. We wrapped up the drive in time to defrost Conney dogs and put them on the grill because if we eat out in the next 10 days it will be more then our little tummies can manage. On the last four miles Phillip and I were laughing so hard because we realized that we were that family. You know National Lampoon, that family. Hammie climbed into the seat w/ the kids and layed on RJ's lap, by then we had run out of snacks, water and our minds- before we hit Troutdale.

It was wonderful to see everyone- although we are seriously bummed that we missed Jess not once but twice- and we were so glad to have time w/ Ken. Amazing- simply amazing.