Friday was Ethan's last day of school for the summer.
He had a music program at 9:15 that morning where the kids sang 3 songs and had a short assembly program. Then at 11:30 Kamden, Owen, and I went back to have lunch at the school for the family picnic, followed by an ice cream social in the classroom. It was raining all day so we had our picnic in the classroom, too.
And since it was the first weekend of summer, we decided to take a little trip with my parents to Utah.
The museum was fun but it seemed to never end...the boys loved it.
After we finally saw everything at least once we followed the Kaskels to a local pizza place for lunch.
We checked into our hotel and got settled, then mom & dad were nice enough to take the boys swimming while Jeff & I went to the Salt Lake Temple.
I've probably been to Temple Square at least 20 times in my life but I've never actually been inside the temple so it was a neat experience, made even more enjoyable by the homeless guy near the gate playing hymns on a harmonica.
On Sunday it was cloudy and cold, but we braved the weather and went to Hogle Zoo. The rain held off for the most part and it wasn't too bad, but Ethan still couldn't bring himself to look at the camera and smile for a picture near the "snoring elephant".
Kamden got his picture with his favorite animal...
The Rhinoceros
And then we found a Golden Rhino & the boys had to take the opportunity to ride it. It didn't end so well for Kamden...
Owen & Kamden were excited to see Zoboo, the leaping lemur from the PBS Kids' show 'Zoboomafoo'
We sat through a really lame presentation that promised 4 zoo animals and following the presentation we would be allowed to touch 2 of them. They brought out a cockroach, a toad, a snake, and a turtle. The audio was so horrible that we couldn't understand much of it, but they talked A LOT about food webs.
When it was over the boys got to touch the snake and the turtle.
Then we spent a few minutes on the playground where Owen slid out of a snake and became a turtle...
Out of all the animals at the zoo, I thought the best place for the boys would probably be the monkey cage.
Don't you think they would fit in nicely?
After lunch we went to the 'This Is The Place' monument depicting Brigham Young's declaration that the pioneers were to settle there in the valley.
Apparently it's quite the tourist attraction because while we were there a busload of Asians came and had a group photo then took turns posing like all of the different statues. It was pretty entertaining to see their excitement over the whole experience.
We also went to the cemetery and found some of the Prophets' headstones which was neat but the streets were narrow & since it was Memorial Day weekend it was ridiculously crowded.
After maneuvering our way out of the cemetery we went to Temple Square and walked through the visitors' centers. It was fun to watch the boys explore and recognize different things. When we climbed the walkway up to the Christus Ethan and Kamden got so excited. Ethan said, "It's Jesus!" and they both started running toward the gigantic statue. By the time I caught up, they were already running their fingers across the nail prints in his feet...I'm not sure if you're supposed to touch it or not, but they did.
We also took a guided tour of the Conference Center, but the boys were barely hanging on since we had been walking practically all day. They did really good, though, and we made it to the roof where Ethan thought it would be a good idea to get a better view so he climbed up on the railing, trying to give me a heart attack I guess. I saw him from several yards away and interrupted our tour guide to yell at Ethan to get down, then the guide told us that a kid actually fell from that spot awhile back, which was why the railing was put up. I guess the view must be pretty good right there, but my heart was racing too fast to enjoy it.
Monday the weather was much better and we went to Lagoon.
The boys were so excited and had been looking forward to it for weeks. We haven't been in 3 years, the last time we went I was about ready to have Owen. We had a great time watching the boys have so much fun and Grandma & Grandpa were great sports to let the boys drag them all over the park for 8 hours.
Jeff & Dad are more adventurous than Mom & I, so they went on several rides while we stayed with the kids. Then Jeff & I took Ethan & Kamden on one of the bigger rides that Ethan was trying to run away from up until the lap bar closed on him. Of course, after it was over he said he loved it and wanted to go again.
Owen liked the Carousel and these little planes with guns, which Grandma so kindly let him go on SIX TIMES IN A ROW.
Another favorite were the Bumper Cars...
A short walk through Pioneer Village & we found a great place for Grandpa & Jeff...
But the jail couldn't hold them so we went back to the rides. It's not a trip to Lagoon without going on the Log Ride.
Owen really liked it...until the big drop off right at the end...
So we found something he enjoyed a little more...
Ethan & Kamden loved the LadyBug Bop...Owen went on it once and didn't like it.
It's funny because last time we went Ethan was 4 and he wouldn't go on it. Kamden was 2 1/2 and he LOVED it then, too.
They also really liked this dragon roller coaster that went around in a circle one way and then went backwards. I went on it once and that was enough for me...Grandma & Grandpa didn't care for it, either...Jeff wouldn't even try it.
There was a new kids' roller coaster that all 3 of the boys liked. Jeff took Owen on it and when the ride was over Owen started crying and screaming. The people waiting in line commented on how he must've not liked it but he was throwing a fit because he wanted to go again.
Now, you might be wondering if my Mom went on any rides besides the Carousel and her attempt on the spinning dragon thing...she also rode the train that goes throughout the park.
She even braved one of the roller coasters that you hang from in a harness-type seat. Kamden & Ethan really liked that one, too.
At the very end of the day we finally talked Ethan & Kamden into going onto the Colossus, a roller coaster that goes upside down twice. Kamden, of course, loved it and wanted to go again.
Ethan sat next to me and tried to put his head down between his knees but we were going so fast that the poor kid was bouncing all over the place. I pressed his head back against the headrest and held it there the entire time. He had his eyes open wide during the whole ride but when it was over he pointed to the two loops and asked why we didn't go on them. He didn't even realize we were upside down.
The park was about to close so we had time for a few more rides. Jeff & Dad went on Wicked while Mom let Owen ride the shooting planes to his hearts' content. Ethan, Kamden, & I went on the Ski Lift and they did the LadyBug Bop once more, the spinning dragon, and the blue roller coaster before we called it a day.
It was a great weekend and Owen has been carrying around a map of the zoo and asking to go to Lagoon again...but we're all still recovering.
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