Zookeeper Kya's Birthday

2 August 2012:  Kya's 6th Birthday.  I love how excited she gets and does the countdown till her birthday.  I used to do that as a kid.  This year she wanted a Bronco Blue and Orange Birthday.  The girl cracks me up.  So we dressed the part, hung balloons in blue and orange, cupcakes had orange icing with blue candles, even daddy wore his boise state shirt.  And it turns out that the presents even went along a "horse" theme...like the Bronco (Kya says). 

Jerica, Grandma G, and Chelsee decided to drive to Twin for lunch.  Kya wanted to go to Artic Circle for lunch and she wanted ribs for her birthday dinner.  I finally have learned how to make my mom's delicious rib recipe. 

Grandma Leslie gave her some animals and a Zookeeper Outfit, Grandma Gregersen gave her a toy horse that Kya can feed and interact with online, a Zookeeper Barbie and some really great Pink Zookeeper boots with a zebra dress.  The girl is ready to tend to animals.  Jerica and Payson gave her a "Brave" book and they also gave her the movies Flicka.  Grandma Popejoy gave her a beautiful anklet and necklace.  Grandma Morgan gave her some toy horses and a necklace with her birthstone that says, "I am a child of God" on it.  She also got matching necklaces for Kya's cousins the same age.  Grandma Weeks gave her a cool card and some money, so we have yet to spend that, I am sure it will be on somekind of animal something.  :)  We are so excited to be able to see Abuela Garcia on monday, with Tess and Jon coming to stay with us a couple nights.  So excited to see them, that will be a great present for Kya.  We also got a birthday wish from Grandma Stacey on facebook.  We love all our grandmas and grandpas...thank you all for being a part of our lives...we truly are blessed.  Thank you to Mollie for the jumprope as well, you rock girl.  My gift is yet to come...saturday.

Kya wanted to play "pin the tail on the bronco", so she drew a picture and cut out some tails and we played a quick game.  I put my tail on the picture of Kya just above the bronco, Zander told me, "Mom, that's not a good job".  He was right.  After the lunch, we went over to pick up her cousin Mollie, and they played all day with the horses and then had a sleepover last night on the trampoline.  Those girls are gonna have a hard time saying goodbye when Mollie moves in a few weeks.  Tonight we are taking the girls and family to Skateland...Kya has been asking to go since her friends birthday party there in the spring.  She really likes to skate, more so than riding her bike.  She is so afraid to fall, again, the girl cracks me up.

Among the picture overload, are pictures of Kya in her zebra and boots zookeeper outfit, and she is dressed in her safari zookeeper outfit while holding her first gun that daddy gave her for her birthday.  Its a real .22, of course in pink.  Daddy is so excited to take her out today and teach her to shoot it.  Also picture of Jerica and Kya and their hands.  Those girls have the same hands...so fun.  Zander got a few shots in of course.  He was so excited to get on the phone with everyone that called and tell them that it is his sister Kya's birthday.  He loves her so much.

Didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked...but here's a sneak peak of her day.

Summer 2012 Fun

Wow, it has been a hot summer. We have tried to beat the heat with a summer reading program. Staying in the house or going to the air conditioned library. The kids have a reading bingo card...here Zander is reading a book in his favorite chair and Kya reading while wearing her favorite hat.

Morgan Family Reunion was in Island Park this year and it was a blast.  We went into Yellowstone and say Old Faithful Geyser.  The kids got a kick out of the water fountain and the hot geysers all over.  They were looking very hard for bears and any animals.  We didn't get to see many, just a moose sitting down and some deer.  But is was a fun trip.

We also floated the river.  Zander spent most of the time hanging outside the raft.  Thought he was gonna fall out several times.  Good thing he was wearing a life vest and the river was only about 2 to 5 feet deep tops. 

There was a talent show, Kya played the piano and Zander sang his favorite song..."T Rex song", and then of course he wanted to dance and do some "cool tricks", trying to copy his cousin Reagans karate demonstration. 

Of course there was some fishing time.  Daddy loves taking his kids fishing and they love to go.  Zander was really enjoying putting worms on his hook and then letting the leeches get on his legs.  He kept going in the water to see if he could get one attached.  Silly boy.  Kya on the other hand, wouldn't go in the water much because of course she didn't want leeches on her.  Wise choice!

We stayed in a beautiful cabin and really had a great time.  Of course we missed the one family that didn't make it, The D Family from Boston.