A special Auntie Thank you!

When our poor dog Saphie died in March, Alana was so, so upset. You have to understand something about Alana... she is so entirely into animals! For example: Today at the library I picked up a book on dog breeds, one on the history of dogs, one on vets and what they do and a couple other non-fictions just for her. When she got home from school all she did was read for 2 hours. She talks non stop about animals, draws and colors them (then cuts them out and plays with them), pretends to be one, catches some, watches shows about them, reads books about them, etc...

Just ask Auntie Kim, she was just here and she will tell you. Or you can ask Nana who will testify to a little girl that will not leave poor Misha alone when they come visit!

Anyways, now that you understand my amazing 7 year old, when our puppy Saphie died it was heart breaking to her. To be so AMAZINGLY kind, Aunt Amber, Aunt Catherine and Aunt Kim bought Alana a very special bracelet with a mini-pincher charm. Aunt Kim gave it to her while she was visiting last month and Alana(who usually will NOT wear anything girly) wears it with pride at least every Sunday or whenever she feels dressed up and keeps it safe in a special drawer. She told me she loves to think of Saphie and all the other dogs that went to heaven when she wears it.

Thank you for loving my daughter and making her feel special. We love you Aunties!

First Day of 2nd Grade!

Alana started her first day of 2nd grade on Thursday, August 20th. I cannot believe that my baby girl is in 2nd grade! Ammon turned 5 in July but we are going to wait another year to start Kindergarten. He is very excited to do "school" at home with Mom for right now and then he will start preschool in October at the local high school for 2 days a week.I really have a hard time sending this baby girl to school every time. It is just such a LONG day! But, She loves it and is always excited to go. Her teacher seems like she is really good. She is new to our school this year but lives close and has a child attending our school. She has 3 kids and has taught for 12 years. She seems really good for Alana. Love you big girl! Miss you!!!

Hogle Zoo

We went to Hogle zoo in Salt Lake with my good friend Shiray and her kiddos for our last Hurrah before school started. Here are some of the kiddos looking at the monkeys, or are they the monkeys?How much is that rhino booty in the window.... I do hope that Rhino's for sale...It was a HOT day and poor mac had a fever. We kept dumping water on his head Ammon loved the Elephants

Shiray's kids and cousins with our crew! Lot's of kids at the zoo! 9 to be exact (2 more babies in strollers). It was a busy day at the zoo, the last Friday before school started. It seems like Shiray and I always have a lot of kids with us!

This was the new baby giraffe. We watched this mama and baby for a long time. They were very sweet.

Mama giraffe nursing. Watching it made me think... Am I really going to do that again?! I am crazy!

The tiger was rolling around so close to the fence. It was the best big-cat activity we have ever seen at a zoo! They also had a baby leopard that was nursing her cubs that we got to watch.We finished up the day in the awesome playgroundThese stairs lead to a big snake slide which Mac LOVED.And after a refreshing rain shower and to finish it all, a train ride... Yahoo!

I can't forget the best part....The licking giraffe.

Did you eat paint chips as a kid?

Hansen boys here:)

So my sister Emma came for a visit in early August just after the Cothran/Draper clan left. Emma got to go to New York with her sister-in-laws for 5 days and I got to watch her adorable boys Ethan (2) and Beckham (8 months). With 3 boys under age 2 and Aaron working long hours, we didn’t do much except stay home for the week. It was hot so we swam, jumped on the tramp, swung on the swings, went for hilarious walks, watched movies and played with a lot of TRUCKS (as Ethan calls them, “beeps”). I really got attached to those sweet boys and had a hard time seeing them go. When Emma got back from NYC we went to a lake for a day, went to the Thanksgiving Point gardens. I took a lot of my pictures on Mom’s camera so this isn’t all of them but I wanted to get what I have posted. Adorable Beckham, the sweetest, best baby I have EVER seen! He was soooo good!
The Hansen Bros.
Cool trees at a fun park we discovered

Beckham checking out Ethan

The crew of kiddos at the park

Cousins just 2 months apart, good laughs and good cries together.

The Boys in the tub :)

Swimming!

This is so cute of Beckham. He was so fun!
Thanks for coming Emma! I wish we had more time to just hang out!!! Miss you guys!