Aquarium

So many times I've driven by the aquarium in Draper and wanted to take the girls there.  So when Sara and Matthew invited us to accompany them on an aquarium trip I thought that sounded like a great idea, and so did the girls!  So many cool sea critters to see!!

A beautiful, smiling girl, visiting the turtle exhibit

McKel watches the majestic creature

Look mom!!

Sweet McKel

Matthew enjoyed seeing all the fish

The girls were excited to cross the rope bridge...

They even worked up the courage to touch the sting rays

Don't fall in!!

sleek and smooth

That brings us to the end of our fun day at the aquarium... :)

Soccer Girls!

Admittedly, being a soccer mom is pretty cool.  I love that the girls get excited to go to soccer games on Saturday.  However, I'm not so sure that soccer skills are truly being acquired.  The games are pretty chaotic, and I'm never quite sure which team is winning.  It is fun to see the girls playing a team sport.  McKel is on the turqoise team and Avril is on the purple team.  They both make an effort to get to the ball and kick it, whichever direction it may go... Here are a few pictures I captured from their season finale games:

Sooo cute!!  McKel gives a 'good game' shake to her opponent team player after the game

Gimme 5!

McKel with her teammates and soccer coach.  She is the only girl :)

McKel proudly displays her soccer trophy

Avril gives a high 5...

Avril also proudly displays her trophy

Great season, girls!!  :)

QianQian

At the daycare here, the girls bonded with a little Chinese girl by the name of QianQian.  Avril and QianQian have become the best of friends.  Unfortunately, it was time for QianQian to move back to Shanghai, China.  The girls were devastated by the news.  There were many long, drawn out hugs and tears.  The girls keep asking if we can go to China.  I am sure they have no idea how far away it is... it looks pretty close on the little map we have!  We took some pics of the girls to remember each other.  So sweet.

I am not sure who the little girl giving bunny ears is.  She was playing with them in the playground.  Avril and QianQian sharing a tender moment.

Maybe some day we will make it to China... they can always be pen pals!

QianQian gave Avril this gift to remember her by, before she left to China.

Hogle Zoo

I have become quite a fan of living across from the zoo... it gives us something fun to do and it's always a good time.  The girls brought their friends to join and just loved it.  Their favorite part was climbing on the dinosaurs.  What?  They have dinosaurs at the zoo??  The Hogle Zoo has a Zoorasic Park feature going and has dinosaurs throughout the park that even move!  Pretty cool!

All the kids climbing the dino

McKel seats herself on the dino head!

And just for fun...  :)

McKel hatching from a dinosaur egg!

Fun day at the zoo!

Fat Cats!

We finally put Avril's coloring contest win to good use and took the family and friends to Fat Cats!  They had glow mini golf, bowling, arcade games, and pizza!  The girls brought their friends Ella and Rachel.  Even Nana and Papa came along.  They had a blast, of course!

Golfing was more about the cool lights, we definitely did not play by any rules...

Rachel, Avril, and Ella

Papa attempts to help McKel with her golfing technique.  May have been futile :)

Pizza and bowling!

Rachel and McKel try out some motorcycles...

McKel and I shot some bulls!

The girls had such a blast playing together. On our trip back from Fat Cats... at the gas station... this happened: and more singing girls back at the apartment:

Heart-Warming

Sometimes I will put a little note in the girls' lunches to surprise them.  I will usually say "I Love You," love, mom, and put a heart or smiley face.
This morning, there was a note taped in my purse for me to find when I got to work.  It was from Avril.  It said... "I love you mom.  You are the best."  Love, Avril

That is the good stuff in life.  My heart melted.  I adore those sweetheart girls.

More Spring Activities

My good friend Sara came over with her little boy, Matthew, to spend some time with me and the girls.  They had a blast making "music" on the piano.
The best part about living in these apartments is that there is always a fun activity to do.  The 1400 Court had an Easter Egg hunt and of course, the girls were thrilled to participate!

Matthew and McKel playing some tunes...

Very full Easter baskets!

McKel is wearing he new outfit she picked out when we went clothes shopping :)

Look mom!  It's your favorite color egg :)

Love the sunshine and beautiful spring colors!