Park Day

Every Friday we get to go to the park with lots of kids and moms from our ward. This past Friday we went to Rancho San Rafael and had a great time (thanks Lisa!). Hoyt and I picked up his two favorite people, Ash and Mal, and we all headed to the park.

Hoyt thoroughly enjoyed running around with the kids, playing on the slides and the dinosaurs, looking at the animals in the petting zoo and taking a pony ride. There was also a log ride at the park, but we saved that for another time. Hoyt was more interested in watching all the other kids come down the log ride than getting on himself!! What a great way to spend a Friday!

Admiring all the animals at the petting zoo

Waiting in line to ride the pony

Ryon wanted to know why we rode the pony when we can ride a horse at home....my answer, "All the kids were doing it!"

The three amigos on the slides. Hoyt loved the play structure - I had a hard time "pulling" him away from it. At one point he wanted me to come play with him and was yelling "MOM" until he saw Ashlan run up and then he yelled "ASH"! With his two favorite girls around I must admit I am an afterthought!

Kissing one of the dinosaurs - he loved them!

Finally a smile for mom for such a wonderful day!

Mornings

The morning ritual around the Murray home includes a sippy cup of milk (in mom and dad's bed), reading stories to Max and George (in mom and dad's bed), then getting ready for the day - you know shaving, combing hair, brushing teeth etc. - while standing on a stool (in mom and dad's bathroom). Whew....what a morning!

Morning stories - Hoyt is reading one of his favorites...

I Wish That I Had Duck Feet

Getting ready with dad - never too young for a good shave!!

Bath Nights Include...

Lots of crazy hair do's

One happy little boy

Bedtime stories read to "Max and George" - Hoyt's two stuffed friends!

Animal Ark

For Memorial Day, I thought it would be fun to take Hoyt to the zoo. I suggested the San Francisco Zoo, but Ryon thought that would be too much driving and suggested the Animal Ark in Reno. I conceded after he agreed that we would go to San Francisco for a few days sometime this summer.

The Animal Ark is about 15 miles off the Red Rock exit, and is a kind of sanctuary for animals that have been hurt, abandoned, etc. I did not know what to expect, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. While it was not as large as a zoo, and was missing many animals you would find at a zoo, Hoyt thoroughly enjoyed running around to each exhibit to see bears, mountain lions, tigers, turtles, birds, cheetahs.....he had a great time.

Quad Ride

What would a holiday weekend be without a little quad ride? Hoyt thinks he can drive by himself...

The three of us ready to ride. Hoyt, as you can imagine, loved it and said "vrmmmm, vrmmm" the entire time.

Picasso...Rembrandt...Murray?

This is the newest "favorite thing" to do at the Murray home these days. Hoyt loves to draw on his easel, and numerous times throughout the day he will come to me and say "color, color" and drag me towards the playroom. He has a little stool he stands on so he can reach the top of his easel so, as you can see, he thinks he is pretty special!

These pictures were taken the day before Mother's Day, when Ryon had him draw me a masterpiece.

Hard at work!

One of the Best Things...

About being a mom -

All the little "loves"!

The "Real Deal"!

While riding the stick horse and rocking horse can be pretty entertaining, nothing is better than the "real deal". Hoyt had one of his first rides of the season this past week, and he enjoyed every minute of it. Whenever Ryon would stop Annie, Hoyt would say "again...again!" because he wanted to keep riding.

After they finished riding, Hoyt decided that Annie needed some brushing so he went to work. He cried when we had to leave - I think he would live over with Annie if we let him!!

Giddy-Up!

The other morning I was downstairs and overheard Hoyt, who was upstairs, saying "neigh, neigh....horse". I looked up to see a half-dressed little boy riding his stick horse from room to room. Of course - I had to get the camera!

You can't ride your stick horse without your cowboy hat

However....pants are optional!

Oh mom, you're too funny

He gets this cheese ball smile from his father!

Headin' off into the sunset (Check out those sexy legs!)

Wild Wild West

One of my latest projects has been a "toy room" for Hoyt. I say it's for Hoyt, but I have to admit that I love it too, due to the fact that most of the toys are now located in one room of the house - HOORAY!! It is still a "work in progress" but Hoyt has been having a lot of fun making sure it is a complete disaster by the end of every day.

A hitching post for the stick-horse - a must!

Hoyt loves his new little table and chairs.

The wild, wild west would not be complete without a wagon wheel....

Or your very own tee-pee! (Thanks Allison and Karen!)