thursday july 3: hogle zoo. highlights: the "train" ride (sooo exciting for layla & carson...somewhat anticlimatic for us adult-types); the merry-go-round (layla and paul rode the bald eagle, carson chose the dolphin right by it); carson clutching and frequently referring to the zoo map; the lion-mouth drinking fountains; all the animals. layla was most excited about the zebras, carson's proclaimed fave was the white alligator (although he did get disproportionately excited about the meerkats???).
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hotel fun: we stayed at the marriott university park. highlights: layla's sheer excitement, slash, disbelief that we actually ALL got to sleep in the same room (she was nearly giddy at the prospect...hence the 2-hour attempt to get her to calm down and go to sleep on the first night); the glass-walled elevator, which was exciting every time we made the trip up to our room on the 6th floor; the pool and hot tub (carson LOVED the water, layla enjoyed it as well but i think she's a hot-tub girl at heart); layla "flirting" with the doorman every day. oh, and every time we went through the lobby to get to the pool, layla would bust out singing at the top of her lungs, "follow the prophet" over and over.
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friday july 4: discovery gateway. highlights: layla loved the playland, especially the grocery store and the little "birdhouse" where she and paul had an indoor picnic with the toy food (after she had begun moving all the furniture out of the house before paul or i realized what she was doing: "let's have a picnic!" which, of course, must be an outside event...); carson loved EVERYTHING (for real), especially his self-decorated visor (you'll see this in many pics to come on this trip), the crane, and his very favorite: the wind tunnel with coffee filter and cupcake holder parachutes. this place was awesome.
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friday july 4: salt lake bees game. highlights: the fantastic post-game firework show; layla's tired-out tantrums interspersed with monkey-climbing all over the steps/fence; carson made two little "friends" and they had a great (?) time being boys and cracking paul and me up (e.g., biting their arms and laughing about how bad it hurt, telling jokes, etc. the boys were talking about how cool the fireworks were going to be, shooting up into outer space and all, to which carson responded, "yeah, and then Heavenly Father and Jesus will see them, too!"); delicious greasy churros; slightly overcast sky so it wasn't super hot; carson and layla going to town with the camera; and just a great time.
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saturday july 5: liberty park. highlights: ferris wheel; feeding the ducks/geese; scaring the seagulls (i'm afraid my children have inherited my loathing of our state bird); playing in the water fountain/tunnels; relaxing; the playground; strolling around; picnicing. seriously, this place rules for somewhere to spend a very low-key (and free!) afternoon.
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saturday july 5: living planet aquarium. highlights: meeting up with friends jeff & katy wassom and their adorable daughter savanna (layla's near-twin); the shark exhibit; touching the sting rays (actually, i'm the only one who touched one. paul "forgot," because he was too busy calming down a freaking-out carson who thought that he HAD to touch one. layla was content just splashing her fingers in the water until a ray happened to get close.); climbing around in a mock-up coral reef; everything. oh, and of course going to the cheesecake factory for dinner with the wassoms afterwards. YUMMMMMM.
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every day: carson & layla's fabulous photog skillz. my personal favorites are carson's self-portraits and the millions of grass shots (few of which are included here, you're welcome). nice. oh, and for the record: these are not cropped or edited in any way...except maybe someone sneaked into the camera and enlarged my belly before downloading the pics. surely i can't be that big.
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it was a glorious time. and it's great to be home, but we all wish paul didn't have to go back to work today. we all slept in until 10:00 sunday morning; layla did the same this morning. that, to me, equals a successful family vacation. :)
10 comments:
One picture in particular had me cracking up....the close-up of Paul's adams apple. Was that Carson or Layla's work?
hah! me too. that would be carson's work. very artistic, wouldn't you say?
Hooray for you guys! I am LOVING the photo collages! They are so great, all of them. What a great trip. You definitely need to get some of your collages printed like you were telling me about. THey are such treasures, and would be so cute up on a wall!
wow - that sounds like a blast! what fun times - perfect vacation to go on with little kids.
oh - and i hate you for looking so cute when you are so close to being done your preg. ser - i looked like a beached whale at 6 months preg, and it was downhill from there. you ser look great!
kathy, thanks, but i've seen the pics. you looked nothing CLOSE to a beached whale, ever, in your pregnancy. nice try, though. :)
So cool! I'm glad we got to be a part of your adventure! Love the pictures!
WOW! you were busy! It sounds like a better vacation than Disneyland, well almost. I need to get up to the Gateway and that park. I have heard of them, maybe before the summer ends...
I too love the adams apple. Paul does have quite the apple. Of course artsy Carson captured it. excellent work. I would never believe you are pregnant if it weren't for that belly. You look so great with that little basketball belly of yours.
Sounds and Looks like a perfect vacation. And all only 2 hours away. Nice job! Thanks for sharing the pictures!
YOu are so cute with your prego bump:) How'd you do the collages... love them!!!
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