LIGHTS, ANIMALS, ACTION!

We went to see the Hogle Zoo Lights with Dan and Dawn and their family on Saturday evening and it was a lot of fun! We thought we'd go while the weather was still warm, and judging by the snow piling up outside, we made the right decision.

We arrived at the zoo shortly after 5:00 - just at dusk. The zoo was just starting to fill up and the weather was just nippy. We were glad for our coats, hats and gloves.





The lights are everywhere in the zoo - lining the walkways, up the trees, and in moving displays of animals. There were frogs leaping, foxes chasing rabbits, bears hunting prey, a beautiful peacock spreading his tail and many more. I think they have to do this because most of the animals go to sleep when it gets dark and there aren't many to see. The monkeys were awake and playing, as were the leopards. Some of the buildings were open to warm up in, like the small animal building, and the snakes were as awake as they ever are!



They have put in a carousel since I was there last and the kids clamored to ride it. Well, all except Morgan, who was terrified of the wild animals. Dan was never able to actually sit her on one and ended up standing and holding her as the ride went round and round, and she called "Need you!" as she saw Dawn. After the carousel, I took her on my lap to cuddle her and warm her up as we scootered along on my Rascal. The next time we went into a building and I let her down and told her to go to Daddy, she said, "No, Cappaw!" and went straight to grandpa and very decidedly held his hand. So, little Daddy's girl, who insists that Dan do everything for her, has a limit, and evidently Dan crossed it with his carousel ride of torture. Morgan stayed with either Robert or me the rest of the night. I loved it!

We saw some Irish dancers perform and inspite of the cold, none of the three kids moved a muscle while watching and we had to drag them away. (I need to point out here that Noah was also with us, and aside from waking up once to eat, he very politely remained asleep and contented the whole time.) About 6:30 the wind picked up and it became horribly cold. We put our heads down into it and struggled to the exit, with our minds full of the hot chocolate we were headed home to, and were glad we were not one of the hordes who had gathered to come then - the parking lot was filled to overflowing and long lines streamed to each ticket window!
If you go to see the Zoo Lights, and I recommend it, go early!

DECORATING WITH CHILDREN

Hurray for December!

I was in a funk about decorating this year. It didn't seem worth hauling out 50 or so nativities and other Christmas things if no grandchildren were going to be around to enjoy them. I had even bought new Fisher-Price sets to expand the one the kids play with the most before I realized that no one is around to drop in during December to play with them!

So I decided to make my own fun and invited Audrey and Holly to come and help me set up the Nativity sets. And we had a ball. Robert and I got all of the books and other displays out of the


bookcases before the girls arrived and Robert brought up most of the boxes I thought we'd need. When Audrey and Holly ran through the door and saw the big empty cabinet with its doors looming open, they both took a breath and said, "Oh boy, this is going to be a lot of work!"


I showed them how to build up varied heights on the shelves with blocks and how to pick a good color drape to show off the pieces. We looked through my photo album of all 120 sets and I let them have quite a bit of (guided) leeway in picking what they wanted - and did not - want to display.


The first shelves we did were the two filled with the Santas from around the world. We read where each was from and the story that goes along with it. They were fascinated by the different costumes and customs, especially by the Japanese figure, which has two faces, and the two women, Italy's la Befana, and Russia'a Babushka, who missed their chance to see the Christ child and then spend the rest of their lives seeking Him. Audrey wanted to know exactly where each country was, so we set each figure out as if they were on a great big map of the world before they split them up into the two shelves.

They were so eager to open each new box and unwrap each new piece that Robert, sitting in his den, said it was like listening to people watching fireworks -- all the oohs and aahs. Occasionally, in their enthusiasm, I had to remind them that these were breakable, but for the most part they were great and we really had a fun time.

After about three hours, we were almost finished and the girls were about at their limit, so I gave them the job I had saved for last - the Fisher-Price sets. This was just what they needed to rejuvenate them! So many people and animals and tents! Plus the musical angel. They set it all up according to the box pictures and then immediately began to change it all as they made up their stories and played. The stories began right from the scriptures and deteriorated from there. As I put the finishing touches on the displays, I overheard bits and pieces. Holly is definitely picking up her Dad's vocabulary, because one line shouted over and over was, "Baby Jesus is freaking cold! He's freaking cold!" I guess they got over the cold because the girls paired up all the figures: wiseman & camel, Mary & Joseph, sheep & sheep, etc, and they all danced to the angel's music. Audrey and Holly took turns dipping each other. It's a good thing that all of the work was over and all breakables were under glass!

Having the girls here made the whole day fun and now my living room is festive and cheery and my funk is gone. We'll have to make this a yearly Christmas tradition!

PS -The unsung hero of the day, as usual, is Robert, who had to bring in the empty boxes for the bookcase stuff, haul those away, bring up all of the nativity boxes, and more nativity boxes, and more, and search for some more that we wanted, and at the end af the day, take them all away - all while suffering from a really bad chest cold. Thank you.

IT'S WINTER! SNOW AND KIDS

November and snow have come to Salt Lake. After a picture perfect October with beautiful yellow leaves on my maple trees contrasting with my green lawn, and delightful temperatures, November hit with a bang. Trees and shrubs are bowing down to the ground under the weight of the 4 1/2 inches that we received here on Wednesday. I know it started snowing Tuesday at my Dad's house and in the mountains, so they've all received more.

Robert was going to take in the swings before it snowed but because the tree looked so lonely without them, he just couldn't bear to do it just yet. Today, even under the canopy of leaves left on the tree, they got a fair amount of snow and they look even lonelier!




But snow means nice cold temperatures and quieter neighbors and less yard work and HOLIDAYS!!! And holidays mean family.

Here are a couple of photos from our get together when Allison was in town.



A smiling Noah!













And Morgan in her "Princess Sweater"