Boise Zoo with Cousins

Last weekend we had everyone coming into town for Memorial Day and for Shelby's baby blessing. Well, the guys had all planned a trip to go dirt bike riding to Silver City so we chica's decided to go to the Zoo. I will post about the rest of the weekend later.

Our close friends Aaron and Jenn stayed with us over the weekend so before we left for the zoo and before we met up with the rest of the crew, Jenn and my kids all had a water fight outside.

I didn't get a picture but even little Alex was running around shooting everyone with water and then running like crazy because she did NOT want to get shot. The boys got soaked!
When we got everyone together we had grandma with us too. Being Memorial day we stopped off at the cemetery with her so that she could see her parents Norma Athlyn, Robert and her brother Richard. Her father Robert is who Ryan was named after.
It was sweet to be there with her at the cemetery. Ilene and Christi were very attentive to her. They made sure she had flowers to put on the headstones and they gave her an opportunity to say a few things. It was hard to see Sheila miss them so much. She broke down a little bit as she told us the story of how her brother Richard was killed. It was nice to be able to tell her that she will see them again and to really know that we will. It was also nice to hear some stories about her family that I can tell to my children.
After the cemetery we were off to the Zoo
Let me start off by saying... I don't know how any single mother does it! I could not have made this trip without my friend Sarah and that is no under-statement!
When we began, we did so without a stroller for Shelbs. We carried her. In 95 degree heat that probably wasn't the best plan. But we carried her and she was good the whole time. (that's my girl!)
Sarah rented me a wagon too, to help me keep track of number 2, also known as the Gaugenator.
We saw tigers, a leopard, 3 lions, 2 giraffe's (Gauge's favorite) several turtles, a snake and a partridge in a pear tree!
All of the kids went down the giraffe slide

gauge went down a few times

This was where the prairie dogs were. They had tunnels that the kids could move around in and then they could stick their heads up where the prairie dogs were

that's Pax and Gauge- farthest hole, closer to the tree. They are both in there

These were my favorite pics, when all of the kids were together. They are pointing at the tiger.

Paxton and Grandma. Can you believe how good she looks?!

Sarah and Shelby. We covered her head with her burp cloth so she wouldn't get burned

Shelby with rabbit ears...She's not quite big enough. Would have helped if I would have centered the picture a bit

My sweet baby girl

Gauger

Everyone tried to pile in

This goose almost attacked him! They kept walking towards each other and I (der de der) am just trying to take a picture when I realized this thing isn't stopping. I quickly grabbed Gauge and we hi tailed it out of there!

on Safari

Before we left we got some snow cones...not a happy story for some of us. The lady before me ordered 8! Who does that?! It's 100 degrees outside!

Later we saw a crane who decided to start yelling before we left. The kids all got a kick out of it, it almost sounded like an elephant-he was sooo loud.

We missed a lot of the animals because of the heat and the time of day so we might have to go back sometime but I think the kids had a blast overall. They were way tired by the time we got home.

This is Gauge and Alex sacked out in their car seats.

This is proof that we had a great time!