Labor Day weekend

Our family stayed in town this weekend, but still managed to pack in a whole lot of fun!  Here are a few photos we took over the weekend.

Thursday night Randy and I went to a Luis Miguel concert in town.  It was SOOO fun!  The concert was a benefit for Children's Hospital (Randy's work) and we managed to get tickets in the second row!  The atmosphere was fantastic; Luis Miguel has some crazy fans (Mexican flags waving, banners for fan clubs abounding, old and young ladies swooning, etc)!  Our ears were ringing for hours afterwards. 

Friday night we headed to watch the Grizzlies play in their final home series vs. the Tacoma Raniers.  Isaiah made it through the middle of the seventh inning before needing to head home.  We were hoping to stay for the fireworks, but life in an adjustment in progress these days and we had to remind our older kids that we need to be thankful for what we have (Isaiah in our home) rather than what we are missing out on.    

Audrey's idea of "watching" a baseball game.

Saturday morning we left our house right after breakfast to get to the Chaffee Zoo when it opened at 9.  This is the AMAZING new seal and sea lion exhibit.  We managed to beat the crowds, and were astounded at the huge line of people waiting to get in when we left at noon!  It was great to see so many people coming out to enjoy the zoo in our town!  We have a fantastic zoo (as well as Playland right across the way), and it needs our community to support it in order to thrive!

Saturday evening we went to our friends' house for a backyard campout (you can see Jane's longer post and more pictures HERE).  Our kids were wanting to camp again before the weather gets too cool and this was, again, a practice in being thankful for what we DO have (and being a bit creative), and making fun memories along the way!  Thank you Isaac family for hosting such a fun evening!  

After relaxing all day Sunday (a nap in the afternoon, as well as to bed on time), we had a whole other day to relax on Monday!  But since our kids don't do well just sitting around, we headed up the 180 to the Sierra Endangered Cat Haven for the morning (about a 45 minute drive), and packed a lunch to eat at their picnic area afterwards.  Randy had never been there (I have taken the kids twice with Mom's Group outings) and has always wanted to go see their lions.  We were not disappointed, as they were sitting right in front, on the fence!  That, at least, filled our morning, and the kids didn't complain that they were bored the rest of the day as we were able to be home for Isaiah to take a good nap and relaxed in the evening with pizza (so I didn't have to cook...moms have to get a day off too, right?), a DVD, and to bed on time again.

This week starts swimming for the girls and soccer for Isaac, so there won't be much time to "relax" in the coming months...but I do love the hustle and bustle of all the fall activities when school starts back up!  I'm sure I'll have pictures of sports stuff to post soon!  Hope everyone else is getting back in the rhythym of school and enjoyed the holiday weekend!