An unexpected trip to Kansas!

The weekend after I got back from Utah, we took an unplanned trip to Kansas.  My father-in-law was in a weird accident and pretty much shattered his ribs and collapsed a lung when he fell off a carnival ride he was helping with.  We decided to head out there after he was released from the hospital to see if we could be of any help.  

Dustin and Melissa helped at the lumberyard.  Patty and I were pretty much in charge of keeping the kiddos off Grandpa and entertained.  

So we swam in the pool.

 Grandma worked miracles at breaking up and warding off competitive/jealousy fights between Gillian and Jack.

 Cute Gillian

 Lunch at the fun table with Grandma.

 Oh and then there was the bee sting incident.  Gillian and Jack were going outside to play in their Great Grandparent's backyard, when they both start crying and screaming.  I run out to find that they both had been stung by some bees that were living under the porch stairs.  It was pretty traumatic for both kiddos!  

 And we can't got to Kansas without enjoying some good fried food at Greg's!  Here is Zander eating either a fried mushroom or fried spicy cheese balls!  

 

 On our way out of town we met Lynn and Patty after his doctor appointment in Hays.  We decided to let me experience Long John Silver's for the first time and appease a craving of Dustin's.  

 Don't the boys look great in their pirate hats?  

It was a short, unexpected, but fun and hopefully helpful visit to Kansas!   

Hogle Zoo

I promise this is the last post from my Utah trip!  Then I will at least be to mid-August in catching up! :)  

While in Utah, I was able to take my boys to Hogle Zoo.  Lisa, Pace, and Lily came with us!  It was such a nice day, and the zoo was pretty cool!  

They had some pretty cool new moving, roaring, water spitting Dinosaur things!  And here are some of my favorite animals:  giraffes, elephants, and spider monkeys (cuz they look like my husband and boys!)  

 Lisa's boyfriend, Pace, was fun to have along.  He carried the kiddos, showed them cool stuff, carried them, lifted them, and got just as into everything as them!  He also was entertaining pretending to eat and punch dinosaurs in pictures and acting/looking like a gorilla! :)  

Me and the boys by the cool T-Rex!  

 

Lily and Jack wanted to steal the park patrol ride!  

Enjoying some fun stuff at the park.

Inside one of the cool buildings!  

Pace, Lisa, and Lily

Also in this building we witnessed the nastiest and most graphic part of the visit.  And yes, I will now share that gross story. 

So we were looking at this cool, yet nasty looking bird when all the sudden we realize there is another bird in there, a pigeon.  Well next thing we know we watch this vulture-y bird RIP the head off of the pigeon.  If you look closely in the picture you can see the pigeon head between the mean birds legs.  Yeah, needless to say, we quickly ushered our young children and their innocent eyes elsewhere.  

 

Did we measure up?  

Playing on/with some of the statues!  

Some other fun pics from the day!  

The boys and me on the train ride around the zoo.

 The boys playing at the kid play area!

We had a great time at the zoo and an long but amazing trip to Utah!  I hope the boys enjoyed the memories we made as much as I did! :)  

Yes...still Utah trip highlights! :)

I am almost done documenting the 3 weeks we spent in Utah this summer!  (Then maybe I can get caught up on Fall here on the ol' blog!)  I am glad that I am taking the time to put everything down though, because our time with our families is so precious. 

I had so much fun taking the boys to do different things. We went to fun parks and one day I took them mini golfing. Jack absolutely loved it and still talks about it to this day and wants to go again!  I love how his tongue is out when he swings! :)    

Here are just few random pics.  Popsicles outside, enjoying the lawn chairs, and my beautiful mom and me!  

 The boys couldn't get enough of their daddy in the short time he was there with us.  We played outside, swung on the swings, went mini golfing again, and snuggled lots!

Here are some attempts to get pictures of the cute kids in their church clothes after church. Of course we couldn't get one with them all looking! :)  

 And here are some fun pictures of us after church.  I especially like the one of crazy Lisa and Pace with me! :)

We were also able to be there to celebrate my Dad's birthday with him!  

 I was able to go and do a temple session with my beautiful mom!

I also got to go see one of my best friends from Bozeman who now lives in Draper!  It was so great to see Missy!  It is amazing how we can get together after not seeing each other and just talk and talk and we are still so close!  

 And Abe and Jack played together like old times!  They had a grand old time together!  I sure wish we could be neighbors!

Only one more post to come - Hogle Zoo!