Welcome to the family.

This is Fred the penguin. He's saying hi--Say, "Hi, Fred!" (Ignore my face. This whole parenting thing is hard.) He's the newest member of the sexy seven minus one, and the first child. Also, his "birth" brought about a charitable donation, so we feel like it was a good move on our part. He dances, but only for Kyle. He dives off furniture, but only for Hailee. He goes on diets, but only for Emi. We have yet to figure out what he'll do for me, but we've got time.

Speaking of Hailee, here's a little shoutout to my best friend. She's one of the best people I know, hands down. And when I say that, I mean it. She's dropped everything she had--work, school, family stuff--to come to my lacrosse games, Maddy's performances, assist me with financial lit packets, attend hockey games I'm not supposed to be at, you name it. She's one in a million. She and I also have the pleasure/misfortune of having the same brain. Neither of us have an original thought, and all our ideas are collaborative. Hailee puts her heart and soul into everything she does, and you can be sure that if you ask her to do something, it will get done. She'll do anything for anyone, but rarely asks for anything in return, something I tend to take advantage of. I'm working on that. Hailee really is one of the best listeners I know, and she can talk my crazy brain out of or into anything if it needs be. She's extraordinary, and I'm so glad she's one of my best friends.

Life is good, folks. Real good. I got to see my oldest best friend today for the first time in a month and a half--stupid boys who decide to go to Alabama for school--and I get to head up to Logan tomorrow and attend a family "reunion" of sorts. I'm just lucky, I suppose. Or blessed. Very, very, very blessed.

We called it an adventure.

My aunt Amy is in town with her family--they live in Portland, Oregon--so this week, we planned all sorts of activities to keep us all sp busy we didn't have time to think straight. Today? We took everyone to Lagoon. And although it was pure chaos at meal times and finding an even number of people to go on every ride was crazy, it was fun. My feet won't forgive me for a while, but memories are worth it, right? 

We made all the kids go on Wicked, at least the ones who were tall enough to do so. This picture was waiting in line, before Dallin and Davis (the little boys pictured) screamed like little girls, and Emily asked, during a dead stop no less, "Dad? Are we still upside down?" They loved it, a fact they'd only admit after they were on solid ground again and far enough away we couldn't rush them back in line. 

For some odd reason, my family found a strange delight in Rattlesnake Rapids. Like, we rode the ride a combined total of 50+ times. Granted, there were at least 20 of us that went, but still. Numbers, people. After a majority of us decided we were done being wet, Grandpa and Jo decided they wanted to keep riding. So they took a bunch of the kids, and the rest of us watched....and paid for the water geysers to go off on them at every possible second. As if they weren't already wet enough. Aubrey was freezing cold, and my Grandpa and Jo looked....rather damp the rest of the day. 

I played the best big sister ever for part of the afternoon, and took Mary and Aubrey on just about every ride in Kiddieland. Mary asked and asked to go on these cars, even though I warned her she'd be bored after the roller coaster. She insisted, so I put her on it with Addy, Lauren, and Aubrey. As she came to the end where we were all waiting, she pounded her fists on the steering wheel and said, "Ash. That was the lamest ride, EVER." Told ya so. 

With a bunch of little kids, the train was an obvious choice for a ride. But then, we found out there were animals to see. If someone had told me I could see a zebra, lion, Siberian tiger, ostrich, llama, panther, and a stinking kangaroo within walking distance from my house, I would never go to Hogle Zoo again. Except for the giraffes. They're worth the drive. 

If Addy's little face here doesn't sum up the excitement these kids had all day, I don't know what would. Tomorrow, we're off to some museum at BYU to look at all sorts of animals and eat massive hot dogs, which should keep everyone happy. Plus, BYU friends are planning on making an appearance. Yay college friends! (I used an exclamation point. That's big. Which means I'm excited.) Also, three days until PC. The excitement is escalating.