The Zoo

We ventured out to the zoo last Saturday, not being able to resist the warm, sunny day. Besides, we had all been feeling a little cabin fever as of late, and our season pass was still good for another two months or so. Brian and I decided to surprise the kids and not tell them where we were going, which turned out to be pretty fun when they saw where we were. I could tell Jake was a little apprehensive about actually being where the animals are ("Zoo Train" is one of his favorite Signing Time Videos). One of the first animals we saw was a Gibbon Monkey, who was swinging and flinging himself all around the pen, much to our delight. But Jake took a little while to decide that the monkey couldn't get out of his cage afterall. Once he realized the animals were tucked safely inside their cages, he loosened up and enjoyed himself.

Jake "roarrring" like a Lion.Kennedy just being her cute little self.
Kennedy's favorite part of the zoo-the giraffe slide.

I love this picture. It makes me laugh to see Jake's spaghetti-stained face.

Kenney is such a good sister to Leah. She's always trying to make her laugh, and Leah is usually willing to oblige.
Jake being a ground squirrel.

A little love. I should have included the next photo, which is of Kennedy grabbing and pulling back on Jake's head to try and turn him toward the camera, stretching his face out like in that game we used to play when we were little-"faster daddy, faster!" (do you remember that one?)

Kennedy's turn to roar like a tiger.

Brian was trying to see how close he could get to the goose. I, of course, had the camera rolling, expecting a chase. No such luck. Leah didn't want to have anything to do with the creature anyway.

I went to Stake Conference with Kennedy on Sunday while Brian stayed home with the runny noses. Kennedy jammed every single Friend Magazine she owned into her backback to bring with her. I can honestly say she spent the entire two hours head-bent reading her Friend Magazines. After about an hour and a half she leaned over to me and said, "mom, this is really keeping me reverent, huh?" She cracks me up. It was really nice to hear the whole meeting and actually be able to think about what was being said. Our former bishop, who is now in the stake presidency, talked about an experience he had as a young boy teasing another boy with his friends because the boy was "slow" and walked a little different. Then he realized that he wasn't doing the right thing. So he invited the boy to play with him, and became good friends with him. He went on to encourage the youth to reach out to those around them. He told them how people need and deserve their friendship and love. And I sat there and cried because I felt like he was up there advocating for my little boy. Then I thought back to the last Primary training we had: it was all on children with disabilities. The last General Primary meeting that was in this area, when one of the Primary leaders from SLC came, was all about kids with disabilities. The church has an incredible website all about kids with disabilities and how teachers can better teach them (www.disabilities.lds.org). It made me think that I belong to an awesome church. It's not a perfect church-no church is-but the One who the church teaches about is. And for that, I am grateful.