We're goin' to the Zoo, zoo, zoo...how about you?

Jack and his "girls"
The boys going for a ride

There was no school on Friday (or Thursday) and so I packed up the boys and we spent the morning at the zoo with some friends. We saw the new baby elephant, Sam. Amazing thing to watch. Couldn't find the setting without a flash in time to snap a pic so you are stuck looking at my babies instead!

Book Club Ladies

So we always debate what we really should be called, drunk club, wine club, hen club, but every now and then we throw in a book or two so after five years we are still drinking, eating and sharing each others lives. Here are some of the ladies!

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.

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.

Hercules

Here they are, in all their glory! Notice the sun shinning on Herc's face? He was trying to look extra pathetic while I was at the computer one day. Then the two snuggle buddies were at it again! Opa is home and healing. We got his dog back in relative shape the day he got home. I only claim letting him on the couch, all other habits were of his own doing!

Howdy!

Jack and "little baby natalie"
Jack enjoying the "Cars" movie, again (10x that week alone!)
Mama E loving a little princess...

Well, it has been a busy couple of weeks. I am finally feeling like I have my feet under me again. Okay, sorta.

Jack and I blew out of town the end of January, to visit a brand new baby Natalie. Oh and my friends Kim and Shaun (her parents). She was six weeks old and amazing!!!!!!! She is gorgeous! Kim and Shaun do good work I tell you what;) It was great! There was apparently two feet of snow the four days we were there. The airport closed right after we landed so I was happy. We spent the week hanging out w/ "little baby Natalie" as Jack has now named her. There was shopping, playing in the snow and more shopping. We took Jack to Cabella's (the sporting goods store for the rest of the non-hunting/fishing group). They had an aquarium and every animal on the planet is stuffed and on display there. I mean it, polar bears, turkeys, porcupines...all of it!

It was so wonderful to see them and enjoy a little baby again...oh here are a few pics...I will add more once I find the camera...go figure.

RJ is having a ton of fun w/ his friends right now. Hard to believe how fast he is growing up. Had to have a birds and bees talk w/ him when I got back from UT. The joys of having kids six years apart are that I am handling potty training and puberty at the same time. Nothing like being lulled into a false sense of security w/ the potty training. The whole been there-done that- only to be blind sided by RJ growing up too. He is totally into legos still so I feel pretty safe that the interest was fleeting (yes it is what I tell myself so that I can sleep at night...I know, I cross my fingers too;)

Phillip and I are ready for a break so we are looking at what we can do w/ kids that is away from the house and hopefully in the sun. We'll see if there is anywhere else on the planet to go w/ kids besides Disney. Who knows, there is a lot of other land out there in the world, but we are not to sure it supports those of the under 5' crowd.

Love and hugs!