Zuri and Mama

The weather in Utah is heating right up this week! It was a toasty day, but with a pleasant breeze, on Saturday. We popped up to the Hogle Zoo to see the Lego displays they've got right now. Baby Zuri and her mama were having a snack and it was the sweetest little scene. I just love watching animals interact, especially a mom and her little one(s).

Visiting our deer friends

Last Sunday, my husband and I took a drive and saw about 40 beautiful deer over by the state hospital. Today we returned around the same time and I took lots of photos with my zoom lens so as not to disturb them. Most of them were very close to our car, though. Many of them walked right next to or in front of us. It was so quiet and peaceful in the snow!

Linking here:

Hogle Zoo in Fall

After seeing the new Rocky Shores exhibit at the Hogle Zoo this summer with my little sister, I wanted to take my husband to see it. But we waited until the weather cooled down enough so that our zoo trip wouldn't leave us a couple of hot messes, like it did my sister and I in July! We went yesterday and it was a great day for it- cool and overcast, with bright fall colors providing the perfect backdrop. And, bonus!, there was a 19-day-old baby giraffe waiting to be oohed and aahed over. Giraffes just happen to be my favorite zoo animal.

It was a fantastic day.

Rizzo the polar bear, playing with visitors.

Darling baby Zuri and her mama, having some lunch

Not-yet-named baby girl inside, and some of her kin outside



Sleeping Amur tiger, tongue twitching



Snow leopard making an inventory of delicious-looking zoo visitors



Golden lion tamarin, whose little face gets me every time

Linking up here:

Denver Aquarium

The aquarium in Denver was really nice. Very crowded, though. If there had been about 75% less people there, I'd have enjoyed myself a lot more! But the fish and other sea life were fascinating as always. I especially loved the seahorses!

Scampers

Scamp belongs to my friend Alianne's family. He is so sweet and loves to wrestle and cuddle. I introduced my brother and sister to him and they loved him!

Mama bird (Simple Things Sunday)

This week my little sister B discovered a sweet mother bird and her babies in our front yard. It was hard to see them but I snuck a couple of shots. I haven't seen the babies myself but I'd love to. It was a very calming moment, standing with B and peeking up into the nest. We didn't get too close, though. :)

Oh deer (Simple Things Sunday)

One of our deer friends on the grounds of the Utah State Hospital.

Simple Things Sunday

Inspired by this sweet blogger, I'm going to start posting a picture each Sunday of something that made me happy during the week. Today's picture was taken this afternoon at a local park. You'd think these ducks would want to go somewhere even warmer for the winter! It's in the 30s today.

Denver Zoo

This is a fantastic zoo! Most of the animals were out that day, too, so it was very fun. Here are just a few shots I got that day.

A few more from Yellowstone

Spasm Geyser- love the name

Area around Old Faithful

A cute little chipmunk at the Artist Paint Pots

This guy was about 20 feet away. He came out of the trees right next to us.

Yellowstone- a few to get started!

Our trip was perfect. Despite mosquito bites and a bad sunburn (because I'm an idiot), we had the best time. Everything was so beautiful. We loved every second.

I'll be posting many more photos in days to come. Enjoy!

Lodgepole pines at the Fountain Paint Pots

Taken from the Midway Basin



Lower Falls



Crazy lightning storm (every 5 seconds!) taken from Canyon Lodge



Baby bison!



Old Faithful



This bison decided we were in his way



Taken from the Upper Geyser Basin South



Also taken from the Upper Geyser Basin South with
Old Faithful Inn in the background

Some pictures from our Pioneer Day

A few from the zoo

I love the Hogle Zoo! It was empty yesterday and the weather was great. No snow or rain! We didn't get to see some of my favorites (some exhibits were closed for the winter), but we still got our money's worth. We saw most of the cats, which was awesome. Enjoy! (Animal identification taken from zoo website.)

Amur (Siberian) tiger

Grey wolf

Wild turkey

Peafowl (not the best quality, but he is gorgeous!)

Cougar (Go BYU!)

Siberian lynx

Snow leopard

Burrowing owl (taken through glass)

Zoo entrance