Hogle Zoo and Lagoon. Check. Check. We have done them both for the year and we don't have to go back again (at least until next summer). I took the girls last week as part of our Summer School "field trip" program and it couldn't have been better. The weather was perfect for walking around, watching animals, standing in line, riding rides and all the other fun stuff you do with the hundreds of strangers who happen to be at these places on the same day you are.
First, the zoo. We went on Monday--low 70's and sunny. Highlights for us all were the white alligator (a.k.a. The Ghost of the Bayou), monkeys, snakes (yes, even for me, as long as they're behind glass), giraffes and cougars. We also almost saw a kid get zapped by the electrified fence at the camels and we were entertained by a little girl who stood next to our table while we ate lunch saying "chip, chip, chip" for about 15 minutes. I have to say, that was a little weird and Ella and I had a hard time not laughing out loud. We saw everything in about 3 hours and had a great time.
Next, Lagoon. Usually kind of a nightmare but not too bad this time. We went on Thursday with our neighbors, the Worcotts. It was Crystal's parents' stake day which is the only day to go (discount ride passes and free entrance passes). It was mid-to-high 60's, sunny and perfect. Ava loved the Dinosaur Drop ride but hated Puff (the roller coaster). She has reminded me several times each day that she did not like that ride but that next year when she's big she will. Ella went on almost all of the big roller coasters and loved Wicked, The Spider and the Fly, The Wild Mouse, The Bat and the white roller coaster. She says that pretty soon they'll have to call it the brown roller coaster since all the paint is flaking off. She also begged to go on the Ferris Wheel before we left so we had to do that (also not really popular with Ava).
The good news of the day was that we only got accused one time of cutting in line in Kiddieland which, for the record, we did not--kids behind were OK and understood the situation. Large, tatooed, irate mother did not and was not very nice. I told her that our kids didn't cut, that her kids should go in front of ours if she felt they were wronged but that it wasn't right for our kids to have to go clear to the back of the huge line that had formed after they arrived. I didn't get much of a response and the conversation abruptly ended. In the end, our kids and hers all ended up on the ride together so all the drama and trauma was completely unnecessary. I could step up onto my soapbox and go on and on about all the unsavory characters you run into at Lagoon (where do these people come from? I do not encounter these types in my regular, normal life. It's like everyone who lives under a rock climbs out and goes there on the days I go. It's so bizarre.) but I will refrain. We had a fun day, the girls loved it and are already asking to go back and we'll just leave it at that.
Oh, the other highlight of last week was that Tom took Ella backpacking on an overnighter with the scouts. They hiked up Adams Canyon here in Layton, pitched their tents, camped and hiked out the next morning. Ella did great and had a lot of fun--especially playing in the fire. This week, we're all about soccer camp, arts in the park camp and t-ball (it goes on and on). Poor Ava is stuck home with me while I either clean, read or take naps. That's about all I can do these days which is just fine with me.
By the way, countdown to baby day is now 24 days!
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