Wildlife Safari.

The moment we moved to Salem Bo's Grandma Nyleen was insistent we go to the Wildlife Safari. Since we were planning a trip to the zoo this summer anyways we decided to do the Safari instead and we are so glad that we did. These animals are actually happy! I don't know if I will ever be able to go to another zoo and enjoy it. We decided to pay a little extra and get some tickets to feed the giraffes because I have always wanted to do it. Once Bo read the brochure he wanted to do everything so I allowed him to pick one thing and Will got to pick something. Bo picked camel rides and I think the only reason he picked that was because he wanted to see his Grandma on a camel and Will of course picked the train ride around the park. It was funny because the train was full of little boys all about the same age.....gotta love the train stage. 

 Bo really wanted to do this but I said no.

 Will wanted the lama to lick his hand it was kind of gross

 I find it odd that Will has ridden a camel before a horse...

 "This is like riding a board over the ocean" -Hazel Nyleen

Thanks for being a good sport even though your grand son is evil!

 Hazel feeding the giraffe she did not want to have any of these interactions, but Bo guilted her into it

 Will was in love

Favorite picture because it looks like they are having an intense conversation.

Kaaen Family Reunion

We really enjoyed being with my family again. The reunion consisted of eating, talking, running, hiking, biking, feeding wildlife, swimming, fishing, huckleberry picking, and we road the tram which Will thinks is an airplane. The only regret is I wish more of my family could of came maybe next year.

 We stopped about an hour before we got there and went grass hopper hunting

 "I got Gramma flowers and Grandpa a rock because he loves black"-real quote

 Bo being a good sport.

 Feeding Bambi

 Wallowa lakes in the background

 Puppet show before bed.

 Hiking to a waterfall

 At the waterfall

 Picking Huckleberries

Will was a trooper with all the Hikes and did really good

 Breakfast

 Feeding the chipmunks

 Snowball fight in August

 I love how these kids had no fear of the tram.

 Riding up the tram

Will didn't trust us that the tram was going to be fun so he went to Grandma for comfort. Once he was on the tram he thought it was so cool. He just didn't like the noises it was making while we were waiting in line.

Independence day.

We had a wonderful Independence Day. I found this book at the library that was awesome at explaining to Will why we celebrate the 4th which made it it so I didn't feel guilty about not explaining things right (I feel guilty about that a lot) Anyways we went to our Ward's breakfast which was a lot of fun and decorated so cute (Good job Deckers!). I wish I had the talent to do what they did (sigh). Anyways after breakfast we loaded up and went up to Portland. We went to Bo's home stake celebration which was awesome as well (Good job Zellers!) and afterwards we went to the Happy Valley fireworks with the Zellers it was fun poor Will looked like the walking dead he was so tired and actually slept through most of the fireworks which I find impressive. I am proud to be an American and I'm very grateful for the men and women and their families who sacrifice for our country!

What we did this summer....

 We went to the dentist

We went to the park

 We looked at the waterfalls in downtown Salem every Wednesday

(we went to the park a lot)

 We made tie died butterflies or if your will pterodactyls 

 We painted and made glitter pictures

 made ice cube paintings 

 Somehow climbed into Jake's cage

 We all got new bikes and did tons of bike rides

 We camped out in Will's bedroom

 We did homework

 Played with trains and legos

 Went to the spray park

 Will found a new spot to nap

 We ate ice cream while spying on neighbors

 Watched movies in our underwear.

And we went on hikes. I feel like we actually did a lot this summer, but not as much as we wanted to. Like we haven't been to the coast for a year and we only live an hour away I think that is a crime! Anyways we had a fun summer and we hope you did too. :)

Preschool Graduation

At the beginning of June Will graduated from preschool kind of I guess. I don't think it really counts since we just got back from preschool open house for the new season, but whatever. During preschool they made about me posters so I just wanted to write down his answers since I threw out the actual board (not a big fan of clutter.)

Favorite animal: Dog 

Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese

When I grow up I want to be a: Pilot

My best friend is: Jessie

Favorite Book: Where the Wild Things Are.

Those are all the statements I wrote down for some reason, I know there are more on the board. I'm kind of a bad mom. This year the goal for preschool is to actually talk while at school, if you know Will and how he acts around people other than family you understand how lofty this goal is.