Z is for Zoo

We decided to go backwards - We started with Z

I took a lot of pictures. No worries though, I didn't post ALL of them. Just my favorites.

My favorite animal to watch at the zoo. Why? I don't know. I just really like the giraffes. We had great timing on this exhibit. Just as we got there, one of the zoo keepers was just showing up to give Daphne and her baby boy a treat. We got to be really up close and personal.

Did you know their tongues are that long? We learned that the end of it is black because it doesn't have any feeling. That way they can pull of branches that have thorns on it and it won't hurt them.

The Bird Show

We also got to be on the front row of the bird show. The birds were flying right over our heads. In fact my forehead got clipped by the wing of the Golden Eagle. I held very still. It was very cool. Hard to get in focus pictures, but still very cool.

Kendrie got picked to be an audience volunteer. The trainer asked for a very brave volunteer to help them train a new addition to the zoo. Kendrie was eager enough that he picked her and then asked her if she had ever heard of a California Condor. She had know idea what it was, but it made me nervous. I think a Condor could pick her up and fly off with her. He was just kidding of course. He put some seed into her hand and told her hold very still. And of course he was standing right in my way and I wasn't allowed to stand up and move to get a better shot. You can kind of see her expression when the dove landed on her. She was very good not to move her arm the bird was on, but you can tell she was a little nervous.
This is the bird that clipped my forehead. The Golden Eagle.
Doesn't it look like it is looking right at you?

The majestic Bald Eagle. They didn't let this one fly around, but it still demanded respect and attention. Very cool.

Ok, this one creeped me out a bit. I know it's not real, but my imagination didn't like it very much. Ewwww!

Kortlan, being a log.

THE END

Tune in later for Y is for whY day

Summer Fun

So, the kids and I have found that we are just about out of ideas to keep them busy this summer during their free time. My mom found this article on LDS Living Magazine online. I won't be able to do some of these, but it gives me a start (I will just think of a different activity starting with that letter if I can't do the one listed). If I begin tomorrow and do one letter activity every weekday, I will be to Z on Saturday August 23rd, the Saturday before school starts (YEA!). So here's to the rest of summer, starting with ABC, it's as easy as 123!

The ABCs of Summer Fun

A
American Idol
Let your kids spend hours performing their own songs and routines to their favorite tunes. Really it’s just karaoke with a new twist, but your kids will love to pretend they’re the latest American Idol.

B
Bug Olympics
Have your own Olympic competition featuring those guys in your own backyard. Have each child collect a nonflying contestant, such as a millipede, pill bug, or other harmless insect, from the backyard. Draw two circles on a piece of cardboard, and then put the racers inside the inner circle. The first contestant to exit the outside circle wins. Remind players to return their contestants to the wild when the games are over. Use cups for safe transport, or use vacuum-style collectors.

C
Collections
Start a collection this summer. Find something you have an interest in, research it, and begin collecting. Stamps, coins, rocks, seashells— the sky’s the limit!

D
Disposable Cameras
Give your children a disposable camera and let them take pictures of all of their new discoveries and activities. Then, at the end of the summer have a family friend decide which picture is best without knowing who took it. Award a prize to the winner.

E
Everything for lunch!
For just one day, invite your family to have anything and everything they want for lunch. From Oreos to fruit snacks to potato chips and Popsicles, they’ll think you’re the coolest parent in the neighborhood!

F
Fishing
Grab some fishing poles and head for the nearest lake or stream. This is a great activity to do as a family. It can also help some of your Scout-age boys with a merit badge or two. Even if you don’t catch anything, you can still enjoy some time in the great outdoors.

G
Gifts
Let your family make a gift for someone else. Whether it’s a friend who’s sick or a parent or grandparent they don’t get to see often enough, taking an afternoon to make a homemade gift is a thoughtful way to spend the day!

H
Homemade Salsa
With so many vegetables in season, why not make an easy snack all the family will enjoy. Choose your favorite salsa veggies, add some seasonings, mix it all up, and you’ve got a great, healthy treat.

I
Indoor Campout
Whether it’s rainy outside or not, let the kids go camping—inside. If you have a room large enough, set up the tent inside. Let the kids put chairs in a “campfire” circle, eat their meals in the tent, and tell scary stories at night! They can have all the fun of camping, without having to pack up your house. And best of all: no mosquitoes.

J
Jewelry Design
What girl doesn’t like to make jewelry? Beads, clasps, and strings are fairly inexpensive and can provide hours of creative fun. Boys can also get involved and will enjoy being able to make presents for Mom or Grandma.

K
Kool-Aid Slushies
Put 1 cup water, ½ cup cherry flavor (already sweetened) drink powder, and 1 cup ice cubes in blender. Blend on high until smooth. Add 2 more cups ice cubes. Blend until smooth.

L
Litter Pick-up
Build civic pride with your family. Help make the neighborhood look better by picking up trash that others have left behind. (Don’t forget to wear heavy-duty gloves.)

M
Museums
Going on tours of local museums is fun, educational, and a welcome change of pace. Whether it’s an art museum or a dinosaur museum, kids will love to get out of the neighborhood and will be amazed at all of the different things museums have to offer.

N
Neighborhood Olympics
Get together with other parents and create a Summer Olympics for all the kids on your block. The kids can help create different races and events; let them spend a few days “training” and then let the games begin!

O
Outdoor Painting
Tie up large canvases or old bed sheets, buy some nontoxic paint, and let the kids express their creativity with paintbrushes or their hands.

P
Puppet Show
This activity will keep the kids busy for hours, if not days. They’ll love to make the puppets, rehearse, make programs for the show, and then perform it for family home evening or for their friends.

Q
Queen for a Day
Have your kids take turns electing a member of the family to be queen (or king) for a day. On that day, the chosen person will have his or her choice of meal, will not have to do daily chores, and will be able to choose an activity to do together as a family.

R
River Wading
Kids young and old will love making a trip to a local river or stream. If the river isn’t too fast and if there’s plenty of adult supervision, floating on tubes or even just wading and splashing will make for hours of outdoor fun.

S
Sandbox Fun
Make it large and fill it with toys. For older kids you could coordinate a sand castle contest and award a prize to the most elaborate design.

T
Tie-dyeing
Use nontoxic dyes and let the kids create their own designs. This is a great activity for the backyard and for several kids. Let them make a couple of shirts and then they will have a choice of unique creations that they can wear all summer long.

U
Uno
Make this classic card game a family event. Start a family Uno tournament that goes all week, month, or summer. The kids will have fun playing with Mom and Dad, and even more fun beating them every now and then.

W
Weekly Library Trips
This is a good activity for kids old and young. Local libraries almost always offer summer reading programs or different activities during the week that are fun for kids as young as three.

X
Xtreme Sports
Most energetic kids would love to take a crack at rock climbing, mountain biking, skateboarding, or other sports that require a little spunk, and summer is the perfect opportunity.

Y
YMCA
Older kids will love summer passes that allow them to use pools or workout rooms. The younger kids will also enjoy attending one of their many day camps. This will also give you a little bit of free time to relax and enjoy your summer, too.

Z
Zoo
Going to the zoo is always educational. Take a day to appreciate and learn about some of the unique animals you don’t get to see in everyday life.

A Week of Fun

Last week started with a Kolsen family reunion in Tremonton, Utah. We camped at a church owned camp site and had a great time. (Minus the cottonwood trees that made it look like it was snowing when the wind picked up, very bad for allergies). Kortlan's favorite: the fire and the 4 wheelers. Kendrie's favorite: being adventurous and going for hikes with her cousins, and the 4 wheelers.

Miss Maddie. She would collect all the Bocce balls and then put her legs over them and say "Where balls go?" then she would pull her legs up and say "There they are!" Such a cutie! I could have taken pictures of her the whole time we were there.

Some of the youngest of the grandkids (by their favorite place, the fire!)

After returning home on the 2nd, we cleaned the trailer, did laundry, had a few swimming lessons and then headed up to Pocatello for the 4th.

After recovering from a long night, we decided to go fishing on Saturday afternoon. Grandma Jack knows a doctor who has made a trout farm on his land. So we headed down to Inkom for some fishing. It was a really pretty spot next to the Portneuf River with lots of greenery and bugs. We caught quite a few but released most of them. The kids didn't like Grandpa using their wormy friends as bait. (I think they have attachment issues) And they had a hard time doing the catch and release thing. Kortlan finally had enough and said "What's the point?"

Now it's back to the routine of swimming lessons, golf lessons, house cleaning, trying to stay cool (although it is a lot easier to stay cool in 90 degrees than it was in Mesquite at 115. To my southern friends, I'm sending you cold thoughts.) and yard work. I can't believe how fast weeds grow here. We pull them up one day and the next day they are a foot tall again! Frustrating! But I am getting a nice tan out of it. We have to look on the bright side, right?

Now that that holiday is over, we are now looking forward to Thursday when we get to go pick up Danielle so she can hang out with us for a few days! We can hardly wait!

Pineview Reservoir

Saturday, June 21, 2008 - Pineview Reservoir East Canyon, Morgan, Utah

Even though it was almost 100 degrees, the water was closer to 60! This is Kendrie's reaction to the cold water after she jumped in.

Kendrie and her friend Olivia are so often confused with each other, can see why? Who is who?

My brave little babies! Kendrie and Kortlan wanted so bad to wake board. They definitely get an A for effort! Kendrie tried and tried until her muscles hurt, but just couldn't quite get up all the way. I am so proud of her for even trying. We'll get her up next time.

Jim got in the water with Kortlan to help him stay straight with the boat. We really didn't think he would go very far, but he surprised us, he didn't get upright, but he hung on with all his might.1st attempt: (notice the concentration tongue)
2nd attempt: (a more determined look enters his face)

This is how he hung on for about a minute or two. He told me he was still bending his knees and that he was really scared, but he is glad he tried it. "Next time, I'm going to get up for sure!"

Chillin' with DadSavanah going airborne



A herd of sheep came down the hillside to get a drink.

Father's Day Weekend

Pocatello, Idaho - June 13th - 15th. The kids and I drove to Pocatello to spend the weekend with Jim's parent's for Father's Day. Jim met us there after his golf tournament in Jackson Hole late Friday night, well I guess it was more like early Saturday morning, around 3am. Anyway, Grandpa Jack got new lawn games for the special day, so that is how we spent most of our Saturday. Along with Taco Spaghetti at the Ross Park Drive In, of course!

Ross Park also has wonderful foliage for great picture backdrops! Kortlan was too busy climbing boulders to sit still for me. Kendrie was more than willing. These are a couple of my favorites.

Look Mom! No training wheels!

Kortlan has been begging us to take his training wheels off his bike at home, but the we just felt the bike was too big for him to handle (I thought we over bought for his size and weight). Anyway, Grandma and Grandpa had found this bike at a garage sale and Kortlan was determined to ride it. And he did. Grandma held on for a little bit, but Kortlan took off and left Grandma in the dust. He only had a couple of spills on it, but he keeps getting up and trying harder. His bike at home? I took the training wheels off and he rides it like it weighs less than him. I still worry about the weight and size of it for him, but instead of fighting gravity, I just bought more band-aids.

A Warning

My family is in charge of breakfast at our family reunion in a couple of weeks and I was planning on making "RV omelets" for the 40 of us. That is until I found this:

This morning I was watching the Rachel Ray show, and she had a guest who demonstrated how to make omelets in a bag, which are simply eggs and other ingredients mashed together in a Ziploc baggie and submersed in boiling water to cook. I used to have several variations of this recipe on the camping site until a reader sent me a copy of this press release from the University of Illinois that was claiming that Ziploc omelets may be toxic.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 3, 2006
"I thought it was important to respond to a questionably safe Food Fad, the ZIPLOC OMELET. It is the latest NOT recommended fad. Please... DON'T try this at home and we will tell you exactly why. What is circulating around again is instructions on cooking omelets in Ziploc bags. This is not recommended until further research is done on cooking with plastics. There is still question about the cancer causing breakdown of plastics and their contact with food during cooking.
"We have contacted the Ziploc company and they replied by telling us that ZIPLOC® brand Bags cannot be used to boil food. They also told us that they do not manufacture a "boilable" bag.... yet.
"They do not recommend using any ZIPLOC® brand Bag in boiling water, or to "boil" in the microwave. ZIPLOC® brand Bags are made from polyethylene plastic with a softening point of approximately 195 degrees Fahrenheit. By pouring near boiling water (water begins to boil at 212 degrees) into the bag, or putting the bag into the water, the plastic could begin to melt. Might I add that eggs and cheese have fat which gets much hotter than water thus the likelihood of melting the plastic increases.
"It is so easy to start something unhealthy like the idea of a ZIPLOC OMELET. All you have to do is type it up and send it out to everyone you know via e-mail. It spreads like wild fire. The ZIPLOC OMELET instructions start out by telling you "This works great !!!" But who ever started the idea had not contacted the company who manufactures the bag to see if such cooking techniques were recommended. Therefore people receiving the instructions might just assume this idea is safe and it is not.
"The specific concern centers on the possible contamination of foods with known carcinogens that may be present in plastic containers and wraps.
"This issue is certain to generate much research to clarify the potential risks. Until this issue is fully resolved, consumers who want to take a cautious approach should not use Ziploc type bags for boiling food in water or in the microwave. People should continue making omelets the old traditional way until plastic bag manufacturers come out with an approved safe bag that while heated containing food will produce no carcinogens."
According to SC Johnson's Frequently Asked Questions page:
Can I boil in Ziploc® Brand bags?No. Ziploc® Brand bags are not designed to withstand the extreme heat of boiling.
I also received a letter from Megan O. Maginnis, Consumer Specialist for S.C. Johnson & Son, makers of Ziploc baggies. Megan was replying to my inquiry about boiling with baggies.
"Thank you for asking about using Ziploc bags to make omelets. While we appreciate hearing about new and innovative ways to use our products, we must be cautious that these new ideas follow label directions."Ziploc bags are not designed or approved to withstand the extreme heat of boiling and therefore, using Ziploc bags to make any recipe that requires the bag to be boiled is not recommended."Like all of SC Johnson's products, Ziploc bags can be used with confidence when label directions are followed. All Ziploc containers and microwaveable Ziploc bags meet safety requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for temperatures associated with defrosting and reheating food in microwave ovens, as well as room, refrigerator, and freezer temperatures."Please share these facts with others who may have this misleading information. We also encourage people to go to www.ziploc.com for more information on the proper use of this product."

I guess regular omelets it is! No cooking in plastic!

Mother Nature's Recipe

Today was supposed to be the busiest day of the summer (so far):

1. Kendrie Golf 9:30-10:30
2. Kort Swim 11:15-11:55
3. Kendrie Golf Club 11:45-2:30
4. Both having friends over until 4:30
5. Kendrie Swim 5:30-6:10
6. Kort Tball 5:30-6:30
7. Kendrie Softball 6-7
8. Swimsuit Party 6:30-9
   
   

Whew! I need to go back to sleep just thinking about it...

Anyway, yesterday my swimsuit party cancelled.

This morning, we awoke to thunder, lightening and torrential downpours.

Golf and ball games are all cancelled!

Just swimming lessons and friends over are all that is left.

Ah, I love the rain!

Nothing really....

I don't really know what to post about, I just know that I was tired of looking at my distorted prego belly every time I went on this blog. I guess I could complain about what I have done to myself this month. As if I wasn't busy enough having home swimsuit parties, I put Kendrie in a golf clinic and a golf club as well as swimming lessons and softball. Kortlan is now in swimming lessons and Tball and we have to "hit" the batting cages and driving range for his practice time at least 4 times a week. Busy, busy, busy. But how else should one spend the drawn out days of summer? We have also acquired Lagoon season passes and plans are in the works to make it to Sea World in August. (That one probably won't happen, but we are planning) Both of the kids have informed us that Sea World is more fun that Disneyland. I'm not sure what inspired that one. Anyway, I don't really care where we go for vacation, I just need to stay busy enough that August 2nd gets here really fast. The last installment of the Twilight series is released that day. I have heard it is close to 800 pages, so a driving trip to Sea World would be just long enough for me to get it read. Yea, can't wait! And I am really hoping that Stephanie Meyer decides to make The Host into a trilogy like she has discussed in the past. If you haven't read that one, it would make for a good summer read. Right now I am finishing up the 9th book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and then Kendrie and I are going to finish Harriet the Spy and start on Island of the Blue Dolphins. Her school gave out a summer book club list and if she reads 8 books by the end of August she gets a coupon for a free book at Barnes and Noble. She is really excited to get that accomplished. I can hardly believe that I have a 4th grader and a 1st grader now. Kortlan is so excited to go to school "all day" so he can eat lunch there. Apparently, lunches at home weren't that exciting last year.
Well, I guess I have rambled on long enough. I will post some new photos of our going ons soon. I just need to get the pictures off my camera and edited a little bit before posting them.

Have a good one!