Bronx Zoo

Basically I have always loved the zoo... and I have been wanting to go the Bronx Zoo since we got here. Well we chose one of the hottest day's of the year and we were sweating like crazy! Nate was able to drive over and join us for his lunch break. It was great until it started to poor rain. We were trying to avoid being drenched so the trip didn't last super long but I'm glad Lara was nice enough to bring her kids along so I could go to the zoo haha. I still don't know why I love it so much it's stinky and the animals are pretty lame, lets be honest. I must just have good childhood memories of the zoo, who knows, Nate still can't figure out why I like it.

 On the Train!

 getting ready for the elephants! Bryant loved them!

 Blake was hot! He loved his fan

 I just liked this guy...

Nate outside the butterfly exhibit. Champion chewer.... ha

Lately..

This past weekend Nate and I played Mommy and Daddy while Dave and Lara went on a vacation together. (The kids still don't know but they went to the happiest place on earth without them.. so it's a dang good thing they didn't find out :)

In prep for the week Lara bought lots of prizes that I periodically brought them out to entertain us. On the Saturday before they were coming home the boys ran upstairs with the bag full of leftover prizes that I had so sneakily hid in my closet... so maybe that wasn't the best spot.
"Kell, we found these when we were hiding in your closet!! Can we have them?"

I made the kids pancakes one day and they came running in yelling "McKell is making her famous pancakes!" Who knew bisquick could make you famous? Later that day we were watching Tangeled which Blake claimed was a girl movie and he didn't like it. He proceeded to laugh through the WHOLE movie. We were at the part where Flynn is escaping on the horse and they are shooting at him with arrows. Elle asked if they had guns back then and I was trying to explain to her that it wasn't guns they were shooting him with it was a sort of bow and arrow (I couldn't remember the exact name...) Blake proceeded to correct me and say... "McKell it's called a cross bow" hah I stand corrected...several times this week... by a 5 year old.

Blake told Nate before they left that he was working on his fake cry... that kid is a crack up.

Bryant wrapped himself in toilet paper when I left him to go to the bathroom by himself. He mummified himself.. crazy kid.

Sweet little Elle saved me several times.. she is such a good big sister to her brothers.

For the most part everything went well and we had fun together. We were glad to welcome The parents back home in time for church.

Surprise Nate and I got a calling! guess what it could be?? NURSERY! The only calling we have had in our year and 3 months of marriage. Usually nursery goes fairly smooth but this week we had a few surprises. Nate took one little boy to the bathroom and lets jut say his aim wasn't so good. While Nate was gone one little girl decided she had to go potty too but she decided that the nursery floor would do. She just slid her underwear right out of the way and she pooped right on the ground. We were glad to head home after that day.

This week hasn't stopped with the surprises. Monday I walked out of my room after getting dressed to find a mouse friend just looking at me. I kind of froze and yelled for Lara haha. I grabbed a garbage can and we scooped him into it. He was just a little tiny guy. I was glad to get rid of him but the kids really wanted to keep him because he is just so "tute." Well today rolled around and I went in the laundry room (which is our kitchen) to get some breakfast and felt something quite squishy under my BARE foot. yep stepped right on another baby mouse. It gave me the chills for the rest of the day. Everywhere I walk I look before I take a step. Lara immediately went and bought some mouse traps... now we just need to figure out where they are coming from!

I much prefer the frogs from the window than a mouse in my kitchen! 

Driving to DC

 This weekend Nate and I did a little road trip (We are getting VERY good at them)... When I say little I mean 6 hours, both ways. So kinda big I guess.. but well worth it. We were able to stay with some of Nate's family friends so it was prefect! 

 Friday night we made it to the temple! It's quite the view, especially from the freeway. I guess there has been so many accidents that they made them turn the lights on the temple down at night. It still takes your breath away. 

 We went to the vistor center and watched the new movie on the family. It was cute. As we were walking out there was a lady and her daughter wandering around the grounds. We said hello and they asked about the building and what it was. Nate went into missionary mode and told her all about it, even invited her into the vistors center and sent her off with the missionaries. She had some major misconceptions about Mormon's so I hope they got all cleared up inside! 

 Saturday morning we headed to the National Mall! We walked up and down it so we could see all the monuments. We learned a lot and were grateful we could google along the way :)

 It reminded me so much of my grandpa's and all they sacrificed! 

 Pretty cute boy! 

 Lincoln Memorial

 I loved this!

 This is where the Korean War Monument is. 

After the Monument walk we started on the museums. We did the Holocaust Museum first. Pretty amazing what they were able to document. Heartbreaking. It's especially sad to think about how not that long ago it was. 

After we spent a lot of time at the museum we realized we were starving! Nate's good friend recommended "Good Stuff" so we decided on that for lunch. We went to get on the Metro... but guess what? It was down due to computer problems. For some reason when Nate and I want to travel some other way than using our car it never works out.  We ended up walking the whole way..up a big hill.... to finally get some food. Needless to say we were exhausted and starving. 

If nothing else the Milky Way Shake was  DEFINITELY worth the walk 

 And now are treck back down the hill to the United States Capitol. It was huge. 

We made our way into the American Indian Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and the American History Museum. All cool but at this point Nate was basically dragging me haha. My feet were killing me and notice the hair.... I haven't been so sweaty since I was in Italy walking around the Vatican. 

Last stop the White House! 

 After a short little rest at home we made our way to Georgetown Cupcakes. It was pretty yummy and we got half a dozen! Don't worry we didn't eat them all in one night :)

 We decided Arlington would be a good Sunday Morning activity before the long drive home. Here are the Kennedy's Graves. 

 Couldn't believe there are actually 400,000 headstones 

We watched the changing of the guard, pretty cool. I was feeling bad for those soliders. I can't imagine wearing what they were wearing in that heat. Nate and I were dripping! Thank heaven for air conditioned cars. 

It was a quick trip but a lot of fun and full of history! It made us very grateful for our wonderful Country and those who have fought to keep it free! 

Central Park in an Afternoon

We decided to do central park the right way.. on a TANDEM! I told Nate that it was a must before we came home.. I've been wanting to ride one for a while. 

I reserved parking and the bike online the day before so we were all set to drive in when Nate got off on Friday. Nate only works half days on Friday's... The Best. We started biking around 2.. right in the nice hot sun. hah we were so sweaty but it was worth it. We had a really good time and we biked around the whole park hills and all. 

The Beginning 

 Nate's creative photography while riding

We had the bike for 2 hours and then took it back to the little shop. I would definitely recommend it. We loved it. 

 We ventured over to the fountain after the bike ride and decided why not do the boats too? 

 My little chauffeur

 Our sad attempt at a picture of us on the boat together... you get the idea. 

The last thing we decided to do was get our picture drawn. I saw a guy who was doing someones as we passed and it looked pretty good. I told Nate and we decided to try and find him on our way out of the park. Well we found what we thought was him... but the picture didn't turn out quite as we had hoped it would.... 

 Belly shirt and martini's.. and it looks nothing like us. At least it gave us a good laugh

Last stop more treats! love this place. 

The Fourth

Happy Fourth of July Everyone! We sure enjoyed ours. The kids were so excited! They hadn't really done fireworks before because in the city you can't do them, so it was fun to be here and do them together.

 Sparklers!

 didn't love the sound ha

 couldn't stop covering his ears just in case there was a unexpected pop!

 getting eaten by mosquito's...

 Cute kids

The Layton's

The ward had a breakfast bright and early! The best part, the bike parade. Mostly I was worried that they were all going to crash into each other and it was going to turn into a disaster. It was great though, only a few little scraped knees. In parades like that you have to learn to fend for yourself. The Bishop led the parade...on whatever you want to call that thing.

 The bishop on a motorcycle... or something like it

Blake all worn out! 

 Sweaty boys

Cute Elle

 In New Canaan they have a tradition that everyone in the town meets at one big park (Waverny Park) for a big picnic, band, and games before the AMAZING firework show. The park opened at 5 and we were one of the first cars in line, this is serious business here. We spent all day making fun picnic food, it was pretty hard to get the kids to leave it alone until 5 ha. It was a fun atmosphere and all the mormons gather in one place in the park haha so we had a good time with all the ward members. The boys were so sweaty from running around that their heads were soaked! Nate was playing soccer with Bryant when he just dropped his pants in the middle of the field... I guess when you have to go you have to go. Nate tried to shield him but it was pretty hilarious to watch from the blanket. The kids had a good time and the firework show was the best any of us had ever seen. They did a great job.

Picnic!

 Just finding ways to entertain himself before the show

The band was so cute! It was all these old people all dressed up. We loved it. 

We had a lot of fun celebrating but we had Alpine on our mind the whole time. We are so sad about what has been burned. We are grateful for the rain and that the fireman are getting control, but it's so hard to see what has been lost. We have spent a lot of time on FaceTime watching the fire and talking to loved ones. My family was evacuated but is now home safe and I think most of the homes are pretty safe, it's just so unfortunate that the beautiful mountain we love is burned to a crisp. While on FaceTime with Nate's dad the channel 2 news was at their home, so we talked to channel 2 news from Connecticut, kinda funny. The kids were funny, they said, "We are sure glad you aren't in Utah getting burned by that fire, good thing you came to live with us."

Couldn't be more heartbroken... It will be so sad to go home and see a barren burned mountain. That mountain is what made our backyard and view so beautiful. I'm grateful for all those who risked their lives to save our home and many others, but it is sure hard to watch something so beautiful burn and know that it will take a lifetime to grow back.