Wheeler Farm

Yesterday we went to visit Wheeler Farm, a Salt Lake County park complete with pigs, sheep, cows, horses, chickens, turkeys, ducks and even tractor rides. Rachel loves to see the animals. We have many books about farm animals and a toy farm at home so it is a nice validation for her that these are in fact real animals and they really do make the noises that we teach her. She also just learned Old MacDonald, a fun song to sing on the car ride home.

Carson's New Teeth

Carson has teeth! Just today his two bottom teeth started to peek through the gums. Looks like he will be an early teether just like his sister. Rachel got her two bottom teeth at just about the same age (four and half months). Maybe this explains why he has been up several times during the night for the past week. Hopefully he can now get back to some good solid sleeping!

Brush with Fire

It has been a very hot and dry summer in Utah with wildfires running rampant. Most have been far away from us but today we saw one burning in the local mountains behind us. These pictures were taken in the little back yard we have at our townhome. Fortunately the response for this fire was quick and it was under control within a few hours. By late afternoon it was gone completely. Phew!

Toys Galore

Rachel loves to give Carson toys to play with but sometimes does not know when to stop. Today she decided to give him all his toys at once - poor little Carson was buried in a mound of toys. The second picture says it all. Rachel has a certain spark in her eye which says, "I know I'm tormenting my little brother but isn't this fun?!"

Carson the Cutie

Carson is over 4 months old now and seems to get cuter by the day. He has discovered his toes and takes every opportunity to get them into his mouth. He loves to practice rolling on his minky blanket, made for him by his Grandma. He can now roll from his back to his tummy, but has not mastered the roll from tummy to back yet. In the third picture below Carson is sitting in his Bumbo. This is a neat little chair made just for babies - it provides enough support so he can sit for a little while and get a new perspective on his surroundings. He seems to enjoy it.

Treehouse

On John's birthday last Saturday the whole family went to the Treehouse Children's Museum in Ogden, Utah. We have been members of this museum since we discovered it about six months ago. It is a great place for children to explore and Rachel loves it. They recently added a firetruck display at the museum and since Rachel loves trucks this is a big hit with her. They also have a play hospital area complete with three baby dolls in newborn cribs. Rachel loves to take the babies out, wrap them in blankets and feed them with the play bottle. Her other favorites at the museum are the music room, the Oval Office, the doll house and the myriad of stuffed animals and books all around the museum.

Discovery Gateway

A couple weeks ago we decided to visit the Discovery Gateway children's museum in downtown Salt Lake City. Rachel absolutely loved it, there were so many new things to explore. She was a whirlwind of activity and did not stop moving the whole time we were there. She loved the child-size house, complete with kitchen, dishes and appliances. The farm was also a highlight for her, she loved the life-size stuffed animals. And the big water play area was fun too, she is fascinated with water.