Not Long Enough San Diego

After Disneyland we had to make a stop south of that to one of our favorite vactioning towns. You'd think we love going just for the beach, ocean breeze, and Balboa park but our favorite part to San Diego is - the Jensens. Spencer's aunt and uncle our the warmest welcoming and accommodating people I know.

Wish I had some pictures to show them off! Here are some of the girls instead.

Magical Kingdom

I really thought it was going to be crazy and frustrating waiting in lines - it wasn't. Does Disneyland get better with age? It has with me. They really know how to use that magic.

St. Patty Food and Fun

What cool green food have you been making today? We made the St. Patrick's Day version of this recipe and both girls loved it. I heard that a leprechan left his pot of gold in my backyard too! Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Catching Up: Lights at Temple Square

When in Salt Lake City during the holidays, one must always visit Temple Square and see the lights.

Beauty and the Beast

Nora and I went to Disney's Beauty and the Beast play this past weekend. I was truly impressed in the production considering it was done at a local library in a small theater. Nora liked most of it but there were some scary parts that she had to nuzzle her head into my shoulder and I would plug her ears (wolves and Beast roaring). We got to take a few pictures with the cast. Stephen, my brother, came with us. He is actually dating the extra in the bottom left corner pic. Cute, huh? Sadly the pic with Stephen is not so cute. It's your own fault (he loves making faces for my camera).

Dolphin Habitat

We were able to attend a sweet VIP birthday party at the Dolphin Habitat at Mirage in honor of my brother-in-law and nephew. The kids loved it. Even the babies were genuinely interested and excited. I'm beginning to see why our Las Vegas Zoo isn't do so well here. They have this awesome dolphin exhibit and more to compete with.

Aubrey waiting for the dolphin to come back. Don't be fooled by her face, she loved the dolphins.

Pumpkining

Who said you couldn't grow anything in Vegas? My family and I ventured off to the local orchard here in Vegas this past weekend. It was the first day of cold and although cold (the weather dropped 30 degrees within two days), it finally feels like Fall. I am loving it. We even ate some soup that night and wore socks to sleep. Which reminds me, I still need to put some costumes together for a harvest festival this upcoming weekend (shoot!). No matter what, Halloween always seems to "creep" up on me.













Candid pictures of Aubrey and Nora.

















Nora helping Aubrey pick out her pumpkin

Nora trying to warm up.

Water Fun & Fall Hopes

(Nora and her cousin Caleb a couple of weeks ago)

Although it may be Fall, we still have some nice weather weeks in Vegas before it will be too cold to go to the water parks. I love water parks and summer weather but I look forward to Fall weather or at least visiting places that have Fall weather. It is one of my favorite times of the year. Just thinking about it makes me want to go buy apple cider and bake some pumpkin pie.















(I thought this picture was so funny of cousin Ava, such a cutie)

(my sweet baby Aubrey)

Vegas Has a Zoo?

Well then, where are all the zoo animals? Did we make a wrong turn and end up at a chicken coop. All I can see are chicken's walking around and a fake rubber turtle in a pond. Well, atleast Nora likes to chase chickens, but where are the rest of the animals?




























Fossa? Hmm, where is it? Is it a plant? According to the sign, it is a catlike animal. Sounds kinda cool, wish I could see it.






















Well, there they are. There are some zoo animals. The lady did say their lions were the main attraction. I just didn't know they were one of the only attractions.


Warning: This experience was exaggerated quite a bit. Do not let it deter you from visiting our local zoo. After watching the lions eat we were able to find many different types of animals including a few that are on the endangered species list. The Vegas Zoo is a great zoo to visit with small children. You can get through everything in about an hour, kids are able to feed the chickens and local birds, and there is a petting zoo.

After visiting, I felt sad that the Vegas community doesn't support the zoo very well. Yet, my mind keeps racing with ideas of ways to raise money, find volunteers, and get the zoo more visitor friendly. Hmm, maybe I should be going into animal conservation. I wonder if the zoo would be willing to listen and consider any of my ideas.

If you would like to donate or volunteer at the zoo you can find more info here.