Alligator Farm

Yesterday was the preschool's annual trip to the Alligator Farm. What? In Colorado? Yep. There are about 400 alligators that live in a fish farm near Mosca, CO. It is the most redneck zoo you could ever believe, but it is actually kind of cool. I think they even had a Ripley's Believe It or Not there a couple of years ago. So, anyhoo, the preschool goes there every year for a field trip and this year it was Jenna's turn.

Before we get to the scary alligator pictures, I want to show you Jenna's cool new 'do. Thanks to my buddy, Bethany, I found this cool blog called She Does Hair. I tried the smocking hairdo and I think it turned out really cute!

On to the Alligator Farm. Lauren watched Jack for me so I could ride on the bus with Jenna instead of having to drive my own car. Thanks, Lauren! I had forgotten how uncomfortable school buses actually are. Luckily, it is only about a thirty minute ride. Billy Bob the redneck alligator wrangler showed the kids a small gator up close and they all got to touch it. Jenna is deathly afraid of everything with four legs, so I was really surprised when she touched it!

Next up were the reptile cages. They have a ton of boas and pythons and other slithering things, along with some lizards and some giant turtles that roam around.

Then we went outside and saw the BIG gators. Apparently, the hotter the gators' enviroment is, the bigger they get. These ones live in a hot spring, so they get really big. And they keep growing their whole lives, which can be about sixty to ninety years!

Silly ducks, don't they know that the pond is infested with alligators?

Here is Jenna at the top of where you can stand and look over the big pond. Note the silly ducks in the bottom right corner and the giant alligator on the left side.

The gym

Remember how David was working late the other night? He went to work at about 6:30 Thurday morning and finally got home at about 8:00 on Friday morning! Poor guy! So while he slept, I took the kids with me to the gym to give him some peace and quiet. Have I mentioned that I love the gym? I prefer to run outside, but since it is now dark and cold outside early in the morning, I am resigned to the treadmill for the winter. Yes, it's only September, but I live in the arctic. And I'm a baby when it comes to the dark and the cold. And I do love the gym.

I have been a group fitness instructor for a little over eight years now. I was about six months pregnant with Paige when I got certified and she was about two months old when I started teaching. Right now, I am teaching step, kickboxing, and these awesome classes for older adults called SilverSneakers. I am a really awesome yoga teacher, but I don't have any classes of my own right now. Boo to that. And the daycare is non-existant at my gym. It is a mom-and-pop joint and the owners don't think it is worth it. So my kids just watch tv in a little room while I teach, which works out fine for now. However, I'm having another baby. I finally told my boss the other day and she still insisted that they won't bet getting a daycare, so my days may be numbered there. :-( But every dark cloud has a silver lining and here's mine. I just found out that the other instructor is pregnant. Ha! And she is due around the same time as me, so if they want either one of us to teach, then they should really reconsider. And did I mention that this is a small gym in a small town and that we are the only instructors around? Ha!

About me

Welcome to my blog! I set this up a while ago and have been waiting for just the right thing to say to get started. Since nothing has come to me yet, I guess I should just get started. David is working late tonight, and for some reason, it is hard to go to bed by myself.

So here's a little bit about me. I am 27. I have three kids and am about 12 weeks preggo with my fourth. I'm still a little bit shocked about that because as many of you know, I was plenty content with my three. But when that still small voice won't stop badgering you, you listen. So here we are.

Let me tell you about my three kids. Paige is eight and in the third grade. She is a self-proclaimed tomboy and refuses almost everything having to do with pink. She loves to read and is really good at it. I cut her hair the other day and it looks really cute. But don't tell her it looks cute. Remember, she's a tomboy. Tell her it looks cool, or great, or whatever other adjective you can think of.

Jenna is four and she just cracks me up. She has a very funny sense of humor. She is in preschool again this year and loves it. She has been through more medically in her short lifetime than most people will ever go through. She will finish up all her medicine the first of October and will get her port removed around the first of December. You are all invited to her "port-party", as we will be celebrating this big milestone.

Jackson is my little buddy. He is two and is in the middle of potty training. He is doing really good, but some days, he just tries my patience. He has also added prases to my list of things I never though I'd hear myself say, like, "Yes, poop in the potty makes me happy." He is 100% boy. He loves trucks, motorcycles and balls. His new love is play-doh, which he can earn for using the potty.

Here is a picture of us all. This was taken last month when we went to my Uncle Gaylon's funeral. That was a really sad time, but it was fun to take the kids to Temple Square. I haven't been there in years.