Saturday, April 30, 2011

Field Trips

Here are a couple of places to try next time you are in Guadalajara!


There is a huge park called Colomos. It is mostly pine trees and walking lanes, but they have some things the family can do too.

There is a building called "The castle" where they have some art displayed. As well as activities for the kids like molding clay and movies.


There are great areas to stop and picnic, and some that also have crafts available for the kids. Crafts like painting ceramics or wooden toys.

Of course the coolest part about the whole park is the Japanese Garden. Full of big fish, and little turtles!




In one of the picnic areas I let the kids pick out one wooden toy to paint. The three toys only cost $6.00 total, and it was only $0.40 to get into the park. I am not lying, they do not charge for kids, and the adults only pay $0.40... a very cheap way to get out and enjoy the day!
Our second field trip was to the Guadalajara zoo. So Fun!!
This is a fountain at the entrance of the zoo, that has animal faces sculpted in the fountain wall.
After you enter, there is a grand stair case taking you down to the zoo area. It has the monkey sculptures running down the center, it was nice.
At the bottom of the stair case is this lake with the "boy riding a fish" fountain. It was cool. The kids liked it.

They had every kind of animal there that you could imagine!


There were two baby black bears, so many birds and deer, and my personal favorite, a polar bear!! (of course my camera died when I wanted to get his picture.)

Thomas was so much fun at the zoo. Just one of the kids!! They were always ten feet ahead of the rest of the group. Every now and again he would stop and show the kids the map, and explain to them where we were headed next... they loved it!!




There were So Many reptiles. Tons of snacks, alligators, and lizards.


In this picture the kids were pretending they were in a scene from Harry Potter and they were trying to magically remove the glass of the snakes' cage!

There were several camals..Monkeys... most of which had babies with them!

They had wild cats of EVERY kind; the cheetah, the White tiger, the Black Panther, Mountian lion, Lion... name a wild cat they had it. Very cool.


We thought this fountain was so pretty, it was a great looking zoo too!
This chimp was so fun, he just sat there, staring at our friends' son Elijah. He seemed to think we were funny to look at.

There were two huge bird aviaries that the kids loved walking through.. we were truly face to face with those birds!

In the end, we decided to pay a little extra for a Safari ride, to go through the Safari animal area on an open car.... It was the best part of the day. As you can see we became close friends with Mr. Giraffe! It was a great "field trip!"

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Seven is Heaven

Gifts fit for a princess on her special day!

Kirtlyn wanted to do some swimming, I stayed with Maya on the grass most of the time, it was great way to spend a hot afternoon!

And Danni took her out to pick a pinata for her birthday party! I actually did not plan on having a pinata, and Danni said she had to have one.. and so we do! It was a great birthday present from Danni!

HAPPY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY KIRTLYN
All ready the day has started with presents, and tasted treats. Kirtlyn got some new clothes this morning, than walked down to the bread store with dad to pick out some tasty breakfast.
She got some yummy donuts and fruit for everyone to enjoy together for her birthday morning breakfast.
She also got some great new boots, she loves them. She even pretends to be a cow-girl!

here are the party girls, already enjoying the day!

Seven is heaven!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Conference "Can Do's"


We had our Conference Candy, the M&M's in hand to get things started on the right foot.
Sometimes the kids would leave and entertain themselves. One time they came down-stairs dressed-up to look like the characters on this picture. It is blurry and hard to see, but they did a great job matching the picture!


Other times we each sat and confortably listened. There were moments of silent listening here and there, but mostly the kids played, and Thomas & I listened. Still, I know that we heard what we Needed to hear.... weather we had perfect silence in the house or not.











Kirtlyn even put on a dress for the Sunday sessions. When I asked her if she wanted to go and change, she said, "But mom, it's Sunday." And so it was! I love that valiant desire she has to make Sunday a little different, to make it sacred, to make it Holy!!

L Tom Perry talked about the Sabbath, during the Saturday morning 1st session. He talked about how we must prepare our children for the Sabbath, that they might be a standard for the nations. My testimony has grown on this matter, considering now that our world here is much bigger than we originally thought. The Lord needs us to be his helpers in establishing the standards and truths of His true Gospel, in order to better prepare his saints for their return to him. And each of us will do this, weather we feel worthy or prepared to do so or not. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows the work we are able to do.

I loved the quote that Henry B. Eyring shared, at the end of the first session, from President Benson that said, " I love this work, and it is work!" It is work, but we are able to do it, through Him, and we will feel the joy of our labors!

Conference is a joy for us, it is not always pure reverence, but the spirit is invited here.
I pray for each of you and your specific needs, and I love you!!
We are children of God, and I am so grateful for that knoweldge in my life!
If you would like to hear more of the General Conference talks from the Prophet and Apostles go to http://www.lds.org/?lang//eng
on the right of the page you will see conference messages from the Prophet and apostles.

Jennifer Biggs & Family