In Honor of Zeke Part 2

As I mentioned before, the second thing we decided to do as a family that day was go to the Zoo.

Now some of you might be thinking, "Wow, Rebecca's brave to head to the zoo with two nursing babies." And if you're thinking that, you're right...brave and a little foolish. Two nursing babies is VERY different than one. But I was sure I could do it. The kids wouldn't last too long at the zoo, and I'd bring my pump, pump right before we got there, feed the babies the pumped milk, and then be good for a few hours.

We hopped in the car and all was going well until I pulled out my pump...I had forgotten the breast shields to my pump. So much for my carefully planned day. I ended up just finding a corner to nurse. I fed one baby, then tracked everyone down and swapped babies so I could feed the other. Fortunately I had remembered my nursing cover.

Although at the beginning I did more nursing than animal watching (I gave the camera to Bart so we'd still have pictures while I was nursing), once I was done I was able to join in the action. And man, with so many kids, action was the right word. Almost everybody had somebody in their arms or being pushed in a stroller at one point or another...or at every point.

Addison cracked me up with this map. She was determined to plan our route to all the animals she wanted to see. Fortunately some of the adults helped or we may never have made it.

Bart's favorite was the reptile house. And really, the girls loved it too.

After the Zoo we headed over to Texas Road House and met up with Charles, Heather, and Dallin for a BBQ dinner that would have made Zeke Proud. And when dinner was done, in true Francis fashion, we chatted outside while the kids played.

Overall it was a wonderful day. I can't wait until next year!

In Honor of Zeke's Memory

As a family, we decided we would get together and do something each year in June in honor of Bart's Dad's memory. This year, we did a session in the Provo temple, and then went to the Zoo.

On the way to the temple, Leonard realized that he had forgotten his temple recommend in the car they had left at our house the day before. Sam & Holly had to be back in Salt Lake at noon, so we went through the session without him, and he caught the session right after us. As a result we got to hang out on the beautiful temple grounds until he came out.

Charles was running in the Ragnar Relay, so he & Heather couldn't make it, but they thought Andy would love the Zoo so she dropped him off at the temple so we could take him with us. He loved the grounds too...especially the fountains.

Next up, the zoo!

Reading With Grandpa

I cannot even begin to explain how unbelivably behind I am with blogging. That being said, I absolutely had to post these pictures I took tonight of my dad reading to the girls.

First he read Fox in Sox to them. And if you've ever read Fox in Sox, you know that's no easy task! then he made up his own story. It was a "Friendly Giant" story. We always loved dad's Friendly Giant stories. I have so many fond memories of my dad taking time out of his busy day reading and telling stories to my siblings and I. It just warms my heart to see my kids enjoying stories with him too.

I also love how, for the most part, Addison is listening intently, and Hannah is just kind of doing her own thing. Hannah, you crack me up.

Don't worry Amy...

The girls are making good use of the stickers you gave them.

Potty Training...Again...Sort Of

So, as I mentioned in an earlier post, Hannah pretty much has been trying to potty train herself. As I also mentioned before, I just couldn't handle it...it took too much time, clean up, and focus...I was doing my best to discourage her. (I won't be getting the parent of the year award this year...or any time soon for that matter). My friend Janae told me how she just potty trained her kid on the big toilet. That way, not only was there less clean up, but they also wouldn't stick with it unless they were very determined.

Well, I hid the little potty, and told her she was more than welcome to go on the big toilet like the rest of us. She tried it once, and decided it wasn't for her....until last week.

She came to me and said, "Stinky!" which is how she tells me it's time to change her diaper...only when I opened her diaper, it was clean.

I asked her, "Hannah, do you need to go popo?"

She nodded.

"Would you like to go on the big toilet?"

Another nod.

So we rushed off to the bathroom.

Sure enough, within seconds of sitting on the toilet, she had gone. She did it again the next day. Then we went to California and we didn't even bother trying, but we're back now, and she did it again today. She comes to us and lets us know whenever she needs to go popo.

I hear that normally training for popo is harder than pee, but for Addison it was the opposite, and I have a feeling for Hannah it's going to be the same.

And, also like her sister, she insists that you leave the bathroom when she's going. She wants you be just outside the door so she can call for you when she's done, but while she's going, she wants to be alone, so I leave her alone. Now if only I can convince her to do the same for me.