Fun at the zoo!

So, yesterday for Labor Day we went to the Phoenix Zoo (using our free tickets from the D-backs game.) It was so great! We have an awesome zoo, with all kinds of amazing animals. The kids had a blast! Everytime we came to a new animal chase would ask, "where he come from?" Tally has always been an animal lover, and would scream each time we left an animal. Her favorite was the goats. They had brushes for all the kids and they got to brush them and pet them. Tally just loved all of them and even tried to lay her head on a couple of them. Chase loved the turtles. There were so many swimming in the ponds. Chase wanted to sit and watch them all day. It was a bit hot and humid, but so worth it!



when we walked by this animal, I had remembered that I took a picture of Matthew and Chase next to it when Chase was 6 months old. So, I took another one for comparison. When I got home and found this picture (off of a scrapbooking page I did) I had no idea that Matthew was wearing the same shirt in the picture we took 2 and half years before! Can you tell that we're students and don't shop very often? All I can say is that I must be doing something right with the laundry, cause you can barely tell how old it is!!!



The beloved goats.





Chase was not much for looking at the camera this day...But for the picture on the left I tricked him into looking at me, and the picture on the right was taken at the splash pad (yes, our zoo has a splash pad for the kids!)

Diamondbacks vs Dodgers

On Friday Matthew,the kids and I went to a Diamondbacks game. We were routing for AZ of course! It was so much fun, and the kids had a blast. To top it off, they won, we got lots of free things, and there was a sweet firework show afterward! First at the door they were handing out insulated plastic mugs, and they gave the kids each their own! If they score 8 runs in a game they give coupons for free chulupas at Taco Bell, They did score 8 runs and we ended up going to Taco Bell after the game. We also got free tickets to the Phoenix Zoo(which we will be using soon.) I did encounter a few weird moments during the game though....They have a cute little toddler play area off to the side. To keep the kids entertained we took them to run and play on it. Well, on two different occasions random people put their hands out to Tally, and picked her up! I was right there by her, so I thought it was odd. We were in an area with 32,000 people, and I sure wasn't comfortable with people, especially ones I didn't know approaching my baby and picking her up...They very well could have taken off with her! I know she's cute, but come on! If you want to hold her, you better ask me first!
Anyway, Chase of course loved every minute of the game, and has been asking to go again everyday!



I know same page different pictures...That is the beauty of scrapbooking digitally! Speaking of scrapbooking, as of tonight I am officially caught up with both Chase, and Tally's scrapbooks! I can brag about this because it has been a lot of work. If you know me, then you know that I take tons of pictures! I have put together over a hundred pages since I've been back! I have sacrificed many hours after my family went to bed to do it!!! So YIPEE for getting caught up:)

If you have baking soda, cornstarch, and water around the house, then you too could have this super cool dinosaur! Today Chase and I made play dough. He loved every minute of making it, and even more so playing with it. I've been trying to think of activities to do with Chase while Tally is napping. Any suggestions? We usually paint with watercolors, read books, get on starfall, build forts, dance, and clean the house(which ironically he loves to help out with!) Lately he seems bored with the usual stuff, so we need all the suggestions we can get!

On a different note, Tally has been so whiny lately (getting her molars ugh!) Today I was feeling a little overwhelmed with her, and Chase comes up to me, holds my face with both hands and says, "It's okay Mommy...I know how you feel." That totally made me smile! I said, "How do I feel Chase?" He answered, "Like a cookie!" What? I have no idea where that came from...But I guess I do feel like everybody wants a piece of me! I love that Chase is such a sweetheart! He is one of a few kids I know, that has so much empathy. He's always so concerned about people when they are sad. I love that!


I've had a few requests for the recipe here it is:

Cooked Playdough (baking soda and corn starch)
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
3/4 cup water (I added food coloring to the water)
Have your child mix the baking soda and corn starch in a pot. Use hands to make sure all the lumps are broken up. Add water. The adult should put the pan on the stove over medium heat and stir constantly. As soon as the mixture gathers together, remove from the heat. When it cools, have your child knead it into a smooth playdough.

Note: Don't over cook this playdough or it will crumble when the children use it.

Life is good!

It has been so good to be back home, but especially good to have Matthew back! The kids won't let him out of their sight, and it had been so nice to have a break every once in a while! On Sunday we went to church, and I have to say...We have the best ward ever! We have missed everyone so much! Matthew and I have agreed that the Copper Canyon Ward is the best we've ever had....ever! Chase accomplished a lot on Sunday. He went to nursery all by himself. I know he's three years old, but we were called into the nursery a couple months after he turned 18 months because he wouldn't go by himself, and we've been the leaders in his class ever since. But on Sunday the leader over us wanted us to go to the younger nursery. Chase screamed for a few minutes, then he was perfectly fine. Wahoo! Now I just can't wait until Tally starts going!

This is Chase after church...He was so proud of himself!

I love them!

I missed my treadmill so much! Apparently the kids did too! I love that Tally wants to do everything that I do!

Chase is so cute with Tally! He is always trying to help her walk, and always cheering for her when she walks by herself!
Man! I love my little family...Life is good!

It's a GPS!

Today Chase was driving his little tikes car in the house (let's face it...still too hot to play with outside for very long!) Anyway, he points to a sticker that used to be a side mirror, and says, "look Mommy I have a GPS!" Then in his most serious voice says, "Turn right." I about died laughing! This kid cracks me up! This is the video I got right after!


Aside from being a little smarty pants, Chase is such a handsome little boy, and on Tuesday he got his first kiss! I took the kids to playgroup and I caught Taya's little girl Trevi kissing Chase on the lips. She even had her eyes closed! I guess she knows a good one when she sees it! I've been teasing Chase about it ever since! Here is the project he made at Barnes and Noble that day.

Michele's Photo Shoot

While I was in St. George, I took some pictures for Michele who is a senior this year. We didn't go anywhere special, and spent maybe 20 minutes total shooting, but I thought they turned out cute. As you can imagine I have a ton of photo editing and scrapbooking to get caught up on! I edited some of Michele's tonight...so here you go Michele!

Home Sweet Home!!!

Finally! We are home! The kids and I made the six hour drive on Friday, and we survived! (Thank goodness!) It feels so good to be back! Chase has been so excited to play with all his toys, and he gets freaked out every time we leave the house thinking that we're not coming back. Taleah hasn't been feeling very good lately and on Saturday she broke out in a rash from head to toe. So, I took her into the Doctor and they said it was just a viral rash(I guess it's been going around.) Patiently I am waiting for her to be happy again! Speaking of Tally....She sure has been talking a lot the past two months. I tried to get some video of it today, but with her not feeling well, I only got her to say a few things....

Here (for documentation purposes) are some of the words that she says:
Hello
Bye bye
what's that?
who's that?
Uh oh
Chase
ruff ruff
moo
quack
duck
eggs
more
ball
no
juice
ooooh
yummy
kitty cat
ca-ca
mommy
dada
milk
meow
nana
sleep
doggie
hot
baby
that's all for now...but she adds new words everyday. Also a quick video her of walking.....

All I can say is...It's about time! I have been waiting for her to walk for months now! Notice Chase is wearing his superman pjs. He found them when we got here, and won't let me take them off of him! Funny boy!