Yesterday's unexpected trip to Hogle Zoo Ezra rockin' it in his sunglasses on the lame train ride.
Like mother like son
It's a penguin hat! They also had a darling blue elephant hat.
Lion drink.
Grandpa held down the button and sprayed Ezra's face and shirt. Therefore, Ezra felt the need to let his belly get some exposure.

Both a little scared to see the White Alligator.
Two monkeys
Eli insisted on seeing the rhinoceros, but was terrified when we got closer.
Do I have a horn like a rhinoceros?

No Aunt Amy.

Wahoo! Ezra rode the buffalo on the carousel like a pro. Eli and Grandpa playing the water bottle stacking game.
I am addicted to Eli's smile and his adorable goofy teeth.
Two crazies
Time to go home.

Ezra's saying, "Monkey cheese!"

Summit County Parade/Fair!

I forgot how great this day is. Note to self: Always accept the invitation.

Em snapped these pics last Saturday morning. Jack and SierraI need this outfit ... seriously.

Later at the 4H building, I tapped a girl on the shoulder and asked her where I could buy such a gem, but she just shrugged and said her coach bought them. The dad laughed at me and said he was sorry they couldn't help. The kids were literally filling their quart size ziploc bags.

I helped point out the good ones, but then when I realized that the parade turns around and comes back, I joined in. I figured I could keep it in my classroom for the little kiddies and hey! Now I don't have to pay for it! I seriously almost filled a baggie too. (Don't be thinking I stole from the kids, they were tuckered out, and there was PLENTY to go around.)

Scariest/Coolest

Crack that whip! What if the horse just kept stepping backwards?
Perfect
Bunnicula!
Bunny that looked like a dog, "and I liked it."

I am not doing okay.

1. So exhausted, but can't sleep. What time is it? 1:52 A.M.? Nice.
("Can't sleep ... clown'll eat me ... can't sleep ... clown'll eat me ...")
2. Someone is blasting Mormon Tabernacle Choir Music. What time is it?
3. It is so blasted hot at night; I need to get me a fan.
("I got the idea when I realized the fridge was cold.")
4. The bottom of my little feet hurt from jumping off of Cottonwood Height's platforms.
5. So late that the crazy "I must suck" thoughts come out. Example: Compliments I received between the hours of 2:30 P.M. and 9:40 P.M.? Zero.
6. I feel like I'm Goldie Hawn on Overboard and I've been slaving away diligently, but here comes the breaking point ... starting with jumping through the neighbor's window, snatching their damn boombox, heaving it out the window, then stomping it til the sun comes up.

Cairo's Camels Sittin' pretty
Me meeting our guide and Michael Jackson and soon lamely confessing that I was really nervous.
Don't be nervous!

But? How do I get on?

I will help you of course!

(That involved scooping me up under my armpits in a way too friendly manner.)

Pose for the camera Michael Jackson (a.k.a. Camel Face).

Don't mind me back here getting drenched in bad flirting.

Fake smile as I'm wondering if

1. Ben could ride with me to eliminate a little fear and a lot of winks from our guide

2. Guide boy's going to ever stop with the gentle touches

3. If I can make the whole trip without bailing off the side

Michael Jackson was a little frightening. Katie (in yellow) was positive he was going to bite her.

I was handed the rope and was now in charge of leading our train of three camels. Here's a pic of me realizing I had no idea how to stop these bad boys if they decided to bolt. Everyone is obviously oblivious to our state of danger.

Me looking around for our guide, praying he'd take back over.

Michael Jackson kept twisting his head back in the oddest angle. I was waiting for spit, or a bite, but he was just scratching his head up and down his neck.

Um, Ben? Your camel is really close to tasting my dusty calf.

Maybe if I would have realized that I was in all of these pictures, I would have played along with the other posey people.

Some Egypt/Some Czech Republic Ben snapped this awesome picture, then teased me for gasping and asking why the camel had six legs! Tell me it didn't fool you too.
So ginormous. Did you know there's over 300 pyramids? I didn't.
We were only allowed to climb so high. Stupid movies tricking me into thinking I could go all the way to the top.
Another sign of my ignorance. There are pyramids are right by the city.
Me, Ben, and Sphinxy
Snorkeling trip in Egypt. I can't tell you how much I loved having this guy's camera in my face the whole time. The greatest was when we were climbing back into the boat and getting the salt sprayed off of us only to realize he'd filmed my entire detox. Pervert.
Some coral that we got to explore. Me and the Ben

Here's where we'll be swimming. Here's all of the wildlife we could potentially see ... Yes there are sharks on that sheet.
Please give me tips on how to not look so extremely gorgeous after swimming.Poor Ben and his greenies that accidentally got left behind at the hotel.

We'll miss you!

Turns out that papaya dresses over swimsuits is the best.

Bitey McGee was waiting back at our hotel for us.
Shopping at the Old Market. Ben was so immersed in the culture.
One of the pools at our hotel. We swam in this one the most, and I introduced Ben to the dunking game. He killed me when he chose the topic of Modern Day Prophets.
Czech Republic - Hike to a castleAnother terrifying animal moment for me outside of the castle.

Big Mama was heavy!

Our tour of the castle was in Russian. So Ben and I hung back, and I described what each room was with the help of our English translation sheet. Ben of course was thrilled with each historic detail.

Um ... the hunting room was a little scary.

I hate these stupid mimes. They were so crappy and so annoying and later they frowned at me!

Dear sweet tram that took us to our Hotel Golf every night.

I finally got to meet little Quinn Thurman Heiner!How did Quinn fall asleep like this? I think he's part owl.Chillaxing with Uncle Ben Grandma Heiner's Special Delight

I've had a lot of questions about my trip, worthy atypical questions, but one person has won the coveted prize for best question.

Come on down ... Jay Dee Bateman!

Jay wandered downstairs the other afternoon, and we had a delightful conversation about movies he's seen, movies he thinks I shoud see, movies that are coming out, movies that he has recently bought, and how he wants to teach me how to help him do yard work. After nearly choking on my P & B when I saw the length of his fingernails, I steered us towards the topic of appropriate length of nails keeping gender in mind. He was not very happy at all, but hooray! I noticed last night that he followed my advice and cut those suckers back.

Anyway, you're desperately waiting for the question aren't you?

Jay closed his eyes and asked, "How the food over there?" then came, "Amy?"

"Yeah Jay?"

"Big Question."

"I'm ready."

"You went to Egypt. They have lots of trapdoors there?"

Don't be fooled; I was terrified.

We paid for an excursion into Cairo and got to see pyramids and the Sphinx. We rode camels at one point, and I was not very brave at all. The guy leading our line kept laughing at me and asking, "Still scared?" My camel's name was Michael Jackson, and I did calm down after awhile, and then our guide made the camels run ... I got scared again. It is not a smooth ride, and I didn't feel like I had the best grip, and I was planning my escape jump the whole time. Would I do it again? Priceless. (That means yes.)

Real Quick-like

1. Red sassy-pants luggage returned late last night!


I started to get extra pouty and nervous because only one of my two checked bags made its way back to my parents late Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the non-red one came first. The non-red one (also known as black) is actually Katie's (a girl who taught with Ben in Ukraine), and she had too many pieces, so I agreed to help her out.


I was not very happy to see that hers made his way home first. How dare he leave Red? What on earth made them think it was okay to split up?


Delta called last night, described poor little Red, and said that they've been trying to find me. I'm here! I was so very very excited. Cute little Jay called me while I was roaming the streets of the grocery store to let me know the, "Great news," that Red was now hanging out on the porch, probably getting peed on by Moe.


Thank you Red for being brave and keeping it together.





2. I am ready to admit that the night before I left for my 2nd summer adventure in Europe, Moe (Em's cat) peed the biggest nastiest pee puddle I've ever seen in my life all over the stuff that I had carefully laid out as I pre-packed. Here's the ready to admit part: I totally started crying, then gritting my teeth while I cried, then planning sweet revenge while I cried. I pledge to never let him in the house again, and I pledge that if I ever catch him in the house again, he will promptly, swiftly, not-so-gently, be placed outside where pee-monsters belong.

We eat there you big dummy!

3. Curious ... you know how when you comment on someone else's blog, you have to read those crazy string of letters, retype them, and wow! You've made it through our high tech security screening? Well ... lately ... all of the ones that I have come across have been extremely inappropriate. Has anyone else experienced this? Am I alone? Is the computer secretly laughing to itself as it watches my face as I retype the letters, make the obscene connection, pause, worry, then keep typing so that my comment is saved?

Back to the Good ol' U. S. of A.

Dear Luggage,

Remember how you got lost on your way from Kiev, and now you're having a blast hanging out in Paris? That was so crazy of you. I miss you, and I especially miss your contents such as: deodorant, phone charger, memory cards with all of my fabulous pictures, Hello Kitty face cards (as seen in the picture above) ... Let's both thank the dear airline for their excellent service in promising to drop you off at my parent's house. Please tell me that you didn't explode, and please promise to hurry back to my loving arms.

Cheers

I think that Dra wore these spankin' new goggles more than I ever did in Egypt.