Momma Volcano: Grandma Camp, Hogle Zoo Style

My mother and my eldest sister are in town, and they decided to run a "Grandma Camp" for all the grandkids up here in Northern Utah. (My mother has 18 grandchildren, 11 of which live in Utah. My little brother, Samuel, just got offered a job as a professor of physics at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, so soon the total will be 13 grandkids in Utah, 5 in Arizona.)

Day One of Grandma Camp started at Hogle Zoo at the mouth of Emigration Canyon. It was hot and tiring, but because we went in the morning, it wasn't too crowded. We had a great time! (And Telima and I bought a zoo membership together, so we will be coming back a lot this year. Hopefully in the autumn when I won't melt.)

Hold onto your hats--this is a picture heavy post! You've been warned.

Here's part of our crowd: Grandma, Kay, Zee, Sky, Aunt Telima pushing Jay and Bay, Em, Lala, David, Eff, Aunt LaDale pushing Yum Yum. I'm in the rear, taking the picture, pushing Gee and Hebs.

David's whole family is about to be eaten by the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Stand very still, everyone, so he'll go eat the lawyer in the bathroom.

The zoo has these awesome moving dinosaur sculptures--some roar, others squirt water at you through their mouths. The older kids adored them. The younger kids? Not so much.

These were the expressions when I asked if they wanted to get closer to the styracosaurus.

The bigger kids loved the cool water. Note Kay's death grip on Grandma's hand, however.

The newest baby elephant was on display. Gee, however, was more interested in the elephant bones.

Bay decides to help Aunt LaDale push Yum Yum's stroller.

This zoo is definitely children-friendly. There are water-cooled bronze sculptures everywhere for the kids to climb on and around.

These brothers love each other.

At one point in the morning, I handed the camera off to Zee. Some of the pictures actually turned out rather well!

Naturally, an old rusty grate is more fascinating then the ostrich just to the right of them.

The budding photographer himself, at the Bird Show.

The bird show was amazing. I definitely recommend it. At one point, a golden eagle was flying so close over my head that I ducked. We could feel the wind of the birds' wings. It was nice to sit down, too, and the show kept all the kids older than two entertained. (Yum Yum didn't care, Bay (almost 2) lost interest pretty quick, and Jay, three and on the autism spectrum, was fairly oblivious.)

Proof I was there!

Finally I regained my camera, and we ended the morning on the little train. This was a big hit for everyone, including (to my surprise) Yum Yum. She had the ride of her life--bouncing on Aunt LaDale's lap, smiling and looking everywhere and "talking" non-stop.