Labor Day with Papa Kay and NomiA

This past Labor Day, we were lucky enough to have Papa Kay and NomiAnn drive out from Nebraska for a visit. Despite the fact that we were all recovering from our wild summer adventures, we still managed to squeeze in some more fun.  Here we are at Silver Lake up by Brighton.  We couldn't have picked a nicer day.

Here's Annika conning Papa Kay into a Pony Girl and Trot Trot to Boston.  Nothing like giving those titanium knees a good workout!

Change of scene: here's Papa Kay at the Avenues ballfields helping El with some batting practice.

Next up: the SeaQuest Hands On Aquarium.  I was a little skeptical of an aquarium in a shopping mall, but it was included in our Get Out Utah Pass so we gave it a try.  It was way cooler than I imagined!

Annika feeding a giant tortoise.  Hope she keeps all her fingers!

Budgies are always a favorite, especially when they land on your hands.

Sting rays are another winner.  They are so friendly as they come right up to slurp the treats out of your fingers.  

This was also our very first exposure to Garra Rufa, the tiny fish that gobble up dead skin cells.  Everyone got an impromptu manicure.

I was the only one lucky enough to get a pedicure as well.  The kids all pitched in a bunch of tokens so that they could watch me giggle my way through this extremely ticklish spa.

All in all, we really enjoyed our time at SeaQuest.  Just make sure you don't get too close to the sharks.

Feeling indulgent, we then treated ourselves to some Dragon's Breath nitrogen puffs that we saw at the Food Court.  They were simply too bizarre to pass by.

I think Papa Kay really likes them, don't you?

Last but not least, we headed to the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve since we were already up in Layton.  Talia and Eli had been here before on fourth grade field trips, but it was my first time.  What a pretty area!  (Even if it was pretty hot.)

The cattail tufts were especially fun to send floating.

Brooklyn liked scaling the observation tower.

Totally tuckered out. 

NomiAnn and Papa Kay, thank you so much to going to so much effort to come and see us!  We love you immensely and appreciate all you do to stay connected to our family.