August fun (with a little ninja action)

We only had a few more days before school started, and a lot we had wanted to do before summer ended, so we crammed some fun in really quick.

 First, we had been looking for a big (twin size) bed for Seth for awhile.  He was getting very close to outgrowing the toddler bed, and Abigail was getting very close to outgrowing her baby bed.  Plus, once they learn to climb out of the crib it loses it's point of being.  So we looked on KSL classifieds over and over again.  We needed a space saver because we've crammed all three boys into one bedroom, and even with the bunk beds it's hard to have room for three beds plus dresser space.  So we were thinking a loft bed would be the best.  I called on several and they were just too big for the space or they had already been sold.  Finally !! I found a bed with room for storage underneath and it was just shorter than a twin and it had a mostly new mattress.  Ok!  So Seth got his bed and it fit and Abby got the toddler bed.  They were both happy for bedtime, which doesn't happen often.  And Abby piled her bed high with stuffed animals as you can see. 

 Seth was happy to get a new, bigger blanket, and he requested the smiley face quilt mom made for me a long time ago.  Sometime I'll get around to making him a quilt just for himself,, but he's pretty happy with this one now.

 The day beofre school started, Farris took a vacation day and we went to the zoo.  It had been years (I think Joseph was a baby when we went to the Albuquerque Zoo), so we were all excited.  I love the zoo! 

 And Joseph has a superpower that turns him into a ninja whenever a camera goes off around him. Ninja Vanish!

 The elephants are amazing.  And the baby elephant is just as cute as when I was little watching Dumbo.

 Felicity liked the Eagles Nest.

 Caleb lvoed seeing all the LEGO creations that were displayed all over the zoo, and decided that he wants to be a LEGO engineer when he grows up.  The polar bear was my favorite. 

 The polar bear itself was all of our faovrite animal to see.  He was such a ham for the crowd and just played with everyone. 

 He would smiw slowly past the window so he could go nose to nose with all the kids.

 

Then he would push up out of the water right in front of the kids and they'd all gasp.

 

 And then he'd push back, fall backwards into the water and float on his back  away from everyone until he rolled over and came swimming right back.  He would do this over and over again, it was the best show in the zoo.

Seth wanted to be fornt and center to watch, but every time the polar bear would push out of the water he was startled and jumped back.  With disastrous results.

After that we hustled over to corner to settle him down and make sure Caleb still had all his teeth.  Even with the bonk, the polar bear was still Seth and Caleb's favorite part of the zoo.

 The LEGO monkeys were so cute.

 Whenever I've been to the Hogle Zoo before, the tiger always hid up at the top of his enclosure so you could barely see him.  This time he came down and sat right next to the fence and looked at us like he wanted to eat us.  Tigers are very beautiful but a little bit freaky.  He even went and sat in his pool for a little while.  So graceful. 

 I love to see the giraffes!  How can an animal that lanky and awkward be so graceful when they move.  They look peaceful and elegant.

 Seth hugging the huge elephant statue.  Good bye zoo, until next time!

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 The next morning, bright and early, sending three off to school!  Felicity is in the top of elementary now, and already a little anxious for Junior High.  And I am, too.

 Joseph is our social one and wanted to get to school to see all his friends.

 Caleb, our forth grader, is cool. 

 Ninja again!

And all their friends they walk with showed up and let me take a picture with them, too.  It's going to be a good year!