LA Zoo (both old and new)

Rach and I promised the kids a zoo day before our passes expired at the end of June and we made it happen right before we left for our week in Sacramento with the Big Wigs. It happened to be the first day of summer, and in total Heather-loves-summer fashion we stayed out for 12 hours enjoying everything that Griffith Park has to offer, at least zoo-related Griffith Park things! We saw our favorite animals, rode the carousel and got in a traffic jam on a bridge with a peacock before heading to the old LA Zoo to picnic and meet up with Laura and crew. We stayed late enough that traffic was going to be a bear so instead of getting stuck on the 405 we all headed to Costco for pizza and late-night shopping. Sometimes I know I'm being crazy, but YOLO, right?! Happy summer, officially!!!

Cora has always loved a carousel ride but not today! She screamed and yelled and cried until I picked her up, then she was immediately as happy as can be. Silly little rabbit, I don't know what her deal is. 

Blurry Quinny and blurry Mommy but do you see that smile on stinker Coco?!

This peacock was seriously daring us to pass him on the bridge. I was scared (because he's an animal and I'm always terrified animals are going to bite me) but we made it through with no injuries plus this cute snap with Coco so winning!

The old zoo has so much character, but I can't believe they had animals living in those tiny little homes. So glad they have more space to roam and now my animals can enjoy these cages. 

Cora is the baby of all our friends so she is everyone's little sister and is adored by all. She couldn't be luckier to be so loved. 

Father's Day

“The title father is sacred and eternal. It is significant that of all the titles of respect and honor and admiration that are given to Deity, He has asked us to address Him as Father.” 

—LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1973

Quinn was so excited for the Daddy-Daughter dance our church held the day before Father's Day. She picked out her dress, asked me for a braid "that goes all the way around my head like a pretty crown" and begged me to let her wear some of my fancy jewelry. She and her date had tons of fun eating sandwiches, making skirts and ties out of paper and shaking their groove thangs on the dance floor.

Father's Day eggs benedict, because that's his favorite.

Wrapping paper made by T and Ev, and boy were they proud! And what was inside of said wrapping paper? The coolest gift ever! A micro kick scooter so he can now join the family on rides around town or down on the beach. I'm seriously so excited about this!

I attached the quote found on the top of this post to the root beer with a little bit of twine. It turned out really cute and the men at church really loved it. I wanted them to know how important we know their responsibility is and how much we love and respect them. 

I love how the girls are hugging and loving on their brothers in this picture. So cute! But let's be honest...

#truelife Quinn is about to go WWE on me, on you and on anyone who stands in her way!

We had a "Dad Joke" themed fathers day dinner with the Johnson family from our ward. The table was full of flowers but also jars full of corny Dad jokes for everyone to read and share. It was so much fun! Dinner was a meat-lovers dream since Melissa is mostly vegetarian and Dan says he craves meat. Yum, it was a good meal and the dads loved it. 

A long table of friends would make any day special, but put an already special day off the charts. Happy Fathers day!

Raising babies on the beach

A good beach day doesn't have to be the sunniest. A few weeks back a little June gloom chased the crowds away and we spent the majority of the day with just our little cohort on the sandy shores. It was cloudy, but warm, with just enough breeze so you never broke a sweat but also never needed a sweatshirt. We found dozens of sand dollars, built numerous sand cities and even after six hours running in and out of the waves my kids were still sniffling and sad when we had to say goodbye. I never could have imagined how joyous it could be to raise my babies on the beach, and now I never want to imagine my life without it. More than anything--the crashing waves, the salty sea winds, the warm sand under toe and the palms dancing in the distance--perfection is in their faces when they chase the waves, when they master boogie boarding, when they work together to create, when they're peaceful and kind and just so ridiculously darling with a bucket and shovel in tow. I'm a better mom on the beach. And frankly, they're better kids. After a long week full of adventuring around this big city of ours, we're all grateful for the peace that always rests on Friday beach day.

This was the first time she wore a hat and the pony out the back killed me! Also, she accessorized with those necklaces and heaven help you if you tried to take them off of her before she left the house. Needless to say, she was a very fancy beach-goer!

The bigger kids just stepped out of a Lands End ad, haha!

This summer Quinn has decided not to dive into the water every two seconds (a-la-Moana) and Cora is content to sit and play with a bucket and shovel for hours meaning my job has gotten a whole lot easier since last year. 

This is my Quinny's last summer before she starts school, the little darling. She's living it up, and so am I!

Arboretum

Another new adventure for our little Wiggy bunch: the LA Arboretum for a Tuesday field trip--and on a free day to boot! The standout highlight were the peacocks who were perched in trees and on roofs and sometimes walked around giving us quite a show. There were other favorites, of course, like the climbing tree that was as wide and tall as a room, the waterfall with ducks and turtles swimming below, the popsicle-man who brilliantly parked himself right smack in the middle of our long, hot walk, and of course spending hours on end with friends we adore. Cora is always such a trooper about giving up her naps which means the days can be long and full of fun before we return home to collapse for the evening. She's really the best baby, we couldn't do it all without her--and this day was no different. We arrived at the Arboretum a little after 9 am and it was well past dinnertime when we made our way home. The kids had so much fun in nature and I had so much fun sitting back and watching their childhood. We'll be back Arboretum, you can count on it.   

This climbing tree was just SO RIDICULOUSLY COOL!

I don't know how many prayers I've said over the years for sweet baby Ezra, but I know it's a lot! I love him so much.

T stands for T in a tall, tall tree!

Lately whenever I ask for a picture of Cora she cheeses as big as can be and throws her head back for good measure. Oh bother!

I love the way Coco is adoringly looking at Maggie. She's such a good little mama to my Cora and I'm always so grateful for her help.

The Skirball

When Laura has the day off of work and invites you to the free day at The Skirball you say, "OK, duh. I'll go wherever you go!" We beat on drums, created art projects, experienced Noah's Ark and visited the Jim Henson exhibit all with seven wild hoodlums in tow. We also ate a few packs of seaweed and got in trouble by security for moving furniture in the courtyard, par for the course. Always a fun time with the Redford fam and always a good time at the Skirball.

Mostly I just love Coco in the background showing her newly-made bracelet to the security guard.

Coco's concerned face. Poor girl looks like this a lot during our adventures and I'm sure she's thinking, "What the heck has my mom gotten my into this time!"

The last time we came to Noah's Ark Talmage was three and Ever Knight was not even one. I remember loving it then and we loved it just as much now, maybe even more. I remember it being so busy the last time we were there and feeling a little bit nervous about the kids running wild, but maybe I've become chiller with age or maybe their numbers have dwindled but it just seemed so calm and relaxing and fun and perfect. We had a great time.

  

The kids were all pretty done by the time we made it to see the Jim Henson exhibit but it was awesome! As I walked through it I knew Ash and Log would love it...I'm going to try and talk them into visiting so we can go see it again.