Ducks and waterfalls

After the zoo, we went to the Reid Park on the same property. We followed the train around, went to the rose gardens and then ended up alongside this little lake and waterfall. Connor loved chasing the ducks. He would sneak up on them and then start running so fast that they would "escape" into the water. He repeatedly did this laughing all the while.

He was also fascinated by this waterfall. He excitedly said "look at all the waterfalls!" What fun.

"We're going to the zoo 3 times"

This is what Connor said when I told him we were going to the zoo yesterday. I had to think about that for a second and then I realized that he meant that this was our 3rd time going to the zoo here. He was right! What an iron memory kids have.






The first animal he wanted to see was the elephant. He excitedly said "look at his trunk mom!" and "he's so big!" He enjoyed looking at the peacocks that wander around too. This was an unusual all white one. Pretty cool.



Connor by the water wheel. He loves to see the "water carousel," as he calls it, every time we go to the zoo.


The zoo has a new learning area with this fun turtle shell that kids can climb in. Connor got in it and said he was shy (like turtles- that's why they go in their shell). Then he decided to venture out a little bit and show that he wasn't scared anymore. Cute.

Kanab, here we come again

We took a short break about halfway home for a breather. It was a fun time to spend some time with Connor that wasn't in the car. We really liked these pretty flowering trees that were in bloom.

You know, we have mixed feelings about Kanab because that was where we broke down for our interview trip to AZ during Thanksgiving in 2006. Jason, Connor and I were stranded there for a day. Ammon caught a ride, rented a car and took off for 2 interviews he had set up for that day. One of them worked out to be his current position now. I guess it was meant to be.

5 minutes with Jason

Ok, so our time with him was not that short but it was a quick visit. We saw him the morning we left UT for AZ. He goes to the Y so we just swung by his apartment and picked him up for breakfast. It had been about a year since we'd seen him (remember, he was the only one missing at our Feb trip to MD). We took this quick picture as we were dropping him off at school, all the while holding up a long line of traffic. The people behind us just loved us. Good to see ya Jason!

Spending time with grandma

Connor enjoyed coloring with grandma before going to bed the last night we were in Utah. He covered his face because he didn't want his picture taken. For the next shot he at least uncovered one eye.

Connor had his own fun

He really enjoyed this pinwheel he found on one of the grave markers. It also had this cute bumblebee balloon. Perfect for a little guy like him. He also walked around with his uncle Ricky and found this cute Winnie the Pooh statue. This is a flack cannon that was in the cemetery where grandpa was buried. It had a cool wind chime on it that Connor joyfully rang. Connor on daddy's shoulders. Those high ceilings in the gym are good for something! And here he is with his first cousins once removed, Randy and Hunter, doing "knuckles." They did this at the last family dinner this past summer. They would do knuckles and then say "let's go crazy" and yell "ahhhh!" Fun times.

A funeral becomes a family reunion

That was definitely the positive point of an otherwise sad occasion to gather. It sure was great to see family we hadn't seen in awhile...or ever. Besides the wonderful celebration of grandpa's life, reuniting with distant family and friends was likely the best part about his passing.



Here's a few goofy cousins and an uncle, most of Ammon's family all together, grandma with Connor and Ammon, Alex and Tamara, and Conrad with Sarah.

Ammon's grandpa was a good man

and we will greatly miss him.

Puss in Boots

Connor likes to dress up as Puss in Boots (from Shrek). He found this islander hat around our house, his sword from his knight outfit, his galoshes and a tape measure for a tail. If you've seen Shrek, you know that the cat takes off his hat and makes an irresistibly innocent face that disarms his enemies. Well, Connor has adopted the same technique. He can really pull it off! I think he's even gotten off the hook a few times with that one! Too adorable.

Playing at the mall

This kid sure likes to climb and play. This is just the place for him. -- He really likes those gloves. They're his 'swiper' gloves from Swiper the Fox on Dora. -- Just lookin' around. -- Peek-a-boo. -- Future doctor? -- Just kicking' back relaxing' after a full morning of fun.

The many faces of Connor

Sweet and innocent, mischievous, happy go lucky cute, fierce, and a bit silly. What mom couldn't love all of these faces?!

Crayons up his nose and in his ears

Oh good, thankfully they come out easily!

Postscript- A crayon strikes back: I should note here that a few days after I posted this, Connor put a small crayon piece up his nose and, you guessed it, it got stuck. His nose started bleeding a lot and he was crying. I tried to get it out with tweezers. My first attempt didn't work, partly because he would freak out every time he saw the tweezers come near him. I was thinking, "oh great, now I have to go to the ER to get this thing out of his nose!" That's when we said a little prayer for help and I asked Connor to relax and close his eyes. Thankfully he calmed down. I tried a different pair of tweezers and was successful. The bloody little crayon piece was removed. I don't think he'll be trying that again!

Sometimes I like to dress up and pretend I'm something else

...like a cute, harmless non-fire-breathing dragon. Awww and look, he's wearing cute bunny ears... and he has some easter eggs. He loves this costume. He was the dragon for our Halloween costume trio of a princess, a dragon and a knight in shining armor. Regularly he asks to put on the suit and plays around in it. Lately he's asked daddy to fly him around while he holds his wings and flaps them. I'll have to catch that on video next time.