On Friday I took my kids to the zoo.  We brought Shelley and Owen with us and met Janis, Dallin, Weston, Porter, Holly and Creed there.  It was lots of fun.  It has been a while since we went so it was fun to see all the changes.  The girls loved it.  The babies were too busy teething to care.  The animals were a big hit, especially the penguins for some reason!  We only lasted a few hours, but it was great. Shellley and I said it was our practice run for Disneyland.  We took note of what we should have packed, what needs to be ready in the stroller and what shoes not to wear! So we are  ready

Though the zoo was very entertaining, the best time of the day came on the way home.  We packed very one in the van and shoved the two huge strollers in and headed out.  After a while Mallory started complaining that her elastics were hurting her head and Hailey needed a new water bottle before she died.  I got in the turn lane to pull over when we heard ACHOO   ACHOO  (bubble bubble) and Hailey and Mallory say "Oh no! Owen sneezed. " I said "Okay, I’m in the turn lane hang on." Then Hailey said "You better hurray. It’s already to his first chin!"  I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time.  It’s a good thing Owen has another chin or his clothes would have been covered!

And by the way…..can you believe that my babies are ONE!!!!! This year went way too fast.  We survived.  The second year is way better right?  I have learned that a clean house is a dream to reach sometimes only to have Cheerios on the floor within seconds.  I have also learned that a shower and make up twice a week is a complete novelty.  If you start a 30 minute workout video you will only get through 10 minutes but it twice the intensity because there will be a baby hanging on each leg! If you actually get a chance to fold the laundry it is only viewed as a challenge to see which baby can topple the most piles!  And the most important thing I have learned is that it is all worth it.  I will do it over and over again every day because it is my greatest blessing!

One year old already. Where does the time go?

So the twins turn 1 year old tomorrow. CRAZY!!! In honor of this occasion, Emily sent their picture into Good Things Utah so they could be on TV for their birthday. The slideshow below is the result.

My ulterior motive to this post is to try out Flickr’s slick new flash slideshow thingy. Hint: click on the little “X” icon thingy in the bottom right to make it full screen.

Enjoy.

I don’t think that I could consider myself to be “well traveled”, but this week I had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles again for business. The last time I was in southern California was a couple years ago for my brothers wedding and the time before that was several years ago to go diving. I don’t get to visit California that often but when I do I’m always struck by how much I love the ocean.

Utah will always be at the top of my “places I’d like to live” list, but if there was a way to deal with the downsides of southern California (too many people, polution, cost of living, gang violence, traffic, etc.), I could easily see myself living there. I love the moderate weather and the semi-tropical plant life. And most of all I love the ocean. I love the sound. I love the smell. I love to play in the surf. I love the plant and animal life it holds. While standing on the beach this week looking out over the waves as the sun went down (through an orange haze of smog) I could feel the wind picking up and I could see storm clouds on the horizon. I know what’s on the other side of that “big blue wet thing”, but I couldn’t help but look out and see the end of the world. Now, I’m not talking about the end of the world in an apocalyptic sense, but in a more mid-evil sense of looking out over a gigantic road block. A thing that is mysterious and scary and that demands my respect. A thing that, no matter how I might try, I can never cross. This ancient thing that holds secrets so old and deep that I could never hope to understand them.

There are a few things in life that truly inspire awe and for me, the ocean is one of those things (along with mountains, airplanes and most of all my children). It was a bit heart wrenching to think that I only had a few short hours to walk along in the the Santa Monica surf as the tide came in. It was the highlight of my trip though and I can’t wait to get back and spend some more time at the beach next month when we head down to visit Disney Land. I doubt that I’ll ever live in So Cal, but maybe someday when the west coast falls into the the ocean I’ll move to St George and buy up some beach front property.

Just a few random shots of Jack doing various stuff.

Making a lunch mess…

Playing with Dottie and Simon (the dogs)…

Riding his bike in his cowboy hat…