Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha

Our next stop was Omaha. We visited the zoo! It was a huge zoo and I was quite impressed. The first exhibit we went to had 3 levels of a rainforest jungle. The animals just climbed and flew around. It felt like we were exploring the jungle. Ethan loves animals and stuffed animals, so he was in heaven pretty much all day!

This little red haired monkey came right up to Ethan's stroller. He started cooing at it like it was one of his stuffed animals. I started freaking out when the monkey showed its sharp little teeth...I knew Ethan would grab it if it got any closer. I've never been to a zoo where monkeys can jump on strollers!

Talking to the monkey!

We rode the SKYfari!

These birds scared Ethan to death with their loud squaks! At first he tried to imitate them, but they always answered much louder!

This orangatan wanted the apple of a little girl standing next to us. We were surprised at how much of the monkeys and gorillas behavior reminded us of people we know! HAHAHA!

Sometimes it seemed like we were just a little too close to the animals for my comfort level (like this large beaked pecking bird for example). When walking through the butterfly and insect room I found a sign that said, "look up at the Madagascar spiders hanging from their beautiful golden webs...don't worry they won't come down." BET ME! I hate spiders and these things were HUGE! I physically couldn't make myself walk under the spiders. I pretty much ran out of that room. Clark felt like the desert biome exhibit with all of the animals creeping around was a little too much, especially when the snake cages were empty.

We did have a lot of fun at the zoo! We also enjoyed our progressive dinner that night...Wendy's side salad, pizza from Pizza Hut, and drinks from QT gas station!

Kanesville Tabernacle and Winter Quarters

While in Omaha, we visited Kanesville Tabernacle. There was some really neat history that took place there.

We also visited Winter Quarter's Visitors Center, which was so inspiring.

And before coming home the temple.

It was a perfect way to end our trip! We had such a great time as a family. Some of the best moments were watching Clark & Ethan's heads bob in synch to the music on the i-pod while driving in the car! I am so blessed to have Clark and Ethan in my life! Ethan was so excited to see his toys when we got home. He played with all of them and his birthday bear got a 10 min. bear hug! I guess there is no place like home.

This is his new way of running when he really wants to go fast...arms straight back (maybe this would help my running?)

Dancing with the Stars SHOUT-OUT!

I will be honest, I haven't watched many episodes of Dancing with the Stars this season (or ever)...but I've still been cheering for Shawn Johnson this season. She is from West Des Moines, and living here during the Olympics how could I not be her #1 fan! Tonight she made it to the final round...GO Iowa, GO Iowa, GO Iowa!

Then to make it even better...Clark & Ethan met her at the airport (while I was waiting in line for my luggage). To prove to me that he met her, Clark snapped a picture of Shawn and Ethan with his cell phone.

Ethan's first celebrity encounter! Sorry for the quality, this is a picture of the cell phone.

Ethan is quite the little dancer himself! My favorite is when he does the head bob in his car seat as we are driving in the car. Tonight we had an awesome family dance party. (Disclaimer: He normally doesn't wear his onesies snapped over his shorts...just today to make his dad laugh).

This next video is for Aunt Kelly, Ethan has the same taste in music as you! Clark says, "all he needs now is a white Jeep with the top off."

Like Father Like Son

A guy at church calls Ethan "Mini Me" because he thinks he looks so much like Clark! I love watching Ethan try to do all of the things his Daddy does, even yard work.

A Perfect Mother's Day Weekend

On Mother's Day we went to the lilac arboretum. The lilacs were in full bloom...so beautiful and yummy smelling. We went with good friends, enjoyed white chocolate mousse tarts with blackberries, and loved the beautiful sights! I'm thinking this should be a Mother's Day tradition for the next few years.

And the best part of Mother's Day is being a mom to this cute little guy! (Thanks Megan for taking some of these pictures).

(Hiding in the hedge).

My favorite Mother's Day gift...Dutch shoe slippers...so comfy and stylish!

TULIP TIME

On Saturday we went to Pella for the Tulip Time festival with some friends. It was an adventure. We watched the tractor rodeo, enjoyed the tulips, stood in a 45 min. line for a delicious Dutch letter, and got good seats in the grand stand for the Dutch folkdancers, Jason Brown concert, and the night light parade. Very festive and very fun! Kind of makes me wish I was Dutch.

If you want to enjoy the pitter-patter of little wooden Dutch shoes too!

(Our favorite part of the parade...the biggest bike in the world peddled by the Petalers (the gray haired gardening club of Pella).

Life is good!

Locks of Love on a Whim?!

So today I went to the Aveda hairschool to get a little trim. The girl cutting my hair asked what I wanted, "just a trim please - about an inch." After we got that settled, she started washing my hair.
I went straight to the haircut from working out, so I was feeling pretty warm while she was washing my hair (kind of like Pedro on Napoleon Dynamite when he shaved his head) and started thinking "maybe I should get a little more off, since it is summer now."
When we got back to the chair I said, "let's take off a little more than an inch." That led to me looking through a book to decide exactly what I wanted. As I was looking through the pictures I thought of the Locks of Love program. The poor student stylist had to scramble around and find out just how much hair was necessary for a donation. She found out I would need 10 inches! (They ensured me my hair would still be well below my shoulders when they finished and I would still be able to pull it into a ponytail).
"Let's do it," I said! The poor girl started stammering and even CRYING a bit until finally the professional, Robert (her teacher) just came over and chopped off about a foot of my hair in one big cut!

I got a pretty good haircut for a hair school. Robert took great interest in my new look. I think he felt like he was on one of those makeover shows or something and pretty much did my whole haircut. When it was finished the girl blow dried it straight and I about burst into tears. I have very thick hair, and blow dried straight my hair was about as wide as my shoulders...I looked like I was wearing a giant mushroom shaped helmet! "Oh dear," I thought..."why did I do this at a hairschool?!"
Luckily Robert came to the rescue. He thinned my hair, which I have never had done. I think I lost more hair in width than I did in length overall.
My neck feels so relieved, I keep feeling worried that my head may escape like a helium balloon!
Before I left Robert told me to shake my head back and forth and he said, "oh, that's what I like to see bouncin' and behavin'."
The best part was that Clark had no idea I was cutting my hair. We met at a restaurant afterwards with some of our friends. I felt all nervous coming in like I was making my debut as a new woman! Clark's face was priceless, as was his comment, "wow, you look like you've been attacked by a lawn mower." I take that as a compliment!

Evertime I look in a mirror I am still a little shocked! And wondering how in the world to deal with hair too short for even a little ponytail.

And a tiny bit sad...its been 8 years since I've had short hair!

But mostly, I'm just feeling like I'm

"bouncin' and behavin'" baby!

Mom, Come Back!

We had the best visit with my mom last week! From these pictures that I'm posting it will pretty much just look like we spent the whole week strolling around sniffing the flowers-and pretty much that is what we did...along with a little shopping, watching movies, eating good food, playing with Bubba, sleeping in, touring the Salisbury House, watching the BYU modern dance company (a little odd but fun), witnessing the pathetic photographer attempt to take 1 year portraits of a rambunctious little Ethan, preparing a Relief Society lesson, teaching Ethan how to say "Momma" and "wow" in the cutest little voice, strolling through Ewing Park and visiting Pella. Ethan is still trying to recover from exhaustion.

Photos from Ewing Park. They have a beautiful lilac arboretum we strolled through. All of the lilacs weren't in bloom yet, but it was still so pretty! Ethan loved running downhill in the grass.

First smell of lilacs...yummy!

Photos from Pella. Pella is a town that was originally colonized by Dutch imigrants. Because of the heritage there Pella has many Dutch attractions that resemble Holland. One part of town is supposed to resemble Amsterdam with the canals and everything. We dined on too many to-die-for pastries! Every year they hold a Tulip Time Festival. We were one week early for the festival, but still on time to see some gorgeous tulips!

So pretty they don't even look real...

To prove they are real, there I am with them!

Just couldn't pass up this photo-op!

Or this one, poor little Ethan! (At the historical village)

Taking a tour of the windmill was actually really cool! Especially when the wind really started whipping and shook the whole building. I tried to get a video of it, but I guess for safety reasons they anchored the windmill down. Bummer.

The miniature Dutch village was very fun. Ethan loved watching for the train to come around the corner through the tunnel...

However, Grammy Tammy didn't like the train so much because it reminded her of "being thrown" in front of a train on our own little visit to the real Amsterdam. Clark & I still giggle when we remember the scene. I've never seen someone move like that...I'm still surprised smoke didn't come out of her shoes!

Ethan loves pushing his stroller! Such a big helper!

If you have that freaky song "Tiptoe through the Tulips" by Tiny Tim in your head now, don't worry I do too!

Like Father Like Son:

(Clark in real Amsterdam)

(Ethan in fake Amsterdam, Iowa)

LOVE IT!

And the only bad decision of the whole visit from Grammy was when I decided to let Ethan feed himself spaghetti. I'm still finding a little basil here and there in my tub!

Ethan got excited to come down the stairs the last 2 mornings because he was used to Grammy Tammy being down there on her air mattress. He's been a little confused and sad. We are missing her a lot and wishing we lived a little closer! Thanks for coming to visit us! We love you!