And then the swan bit me

Dalan, Ali, Patti, and I went to the zoo yesterday. We have been meaning to go for weeks now to see all the new baby animals, however, conflicting schedule and some bad weather kept pushing our trip further and further back. This week we decided to just go already, even though McKay was unable to go with us due to his work schedule. That part sucked. The rest was awesome.

The baby animals did not fail to be worth the cost of four adults to get into the zoo. The baby elephant and giraffe were about the cutest things I have ever seen in my life. The other babies were cute too, but those two stole the show. The baby giraffe got really close to where I was standing in the giraffe house, and then I got to pet its mama. She felt like a horse. She also tried to eat the jacket of the woman standing next to me with her freaky long tongue. Piper may have a super long tongue, but giraffes have her beat by at least a foot. This was one of my favorite parts of the day.

At the end of our zoo adventure, Ali insisted we ride the train, and go into Discovery Land (or whatever they are calling the kids' area these days.) The train ride had improved slightly since I was three years old, but I was glad to see the same old bison, the teepees, the covered wagons, and the wooden headstones. I think once upon a time, the train ride would threaten attack from said bison and/or the Native Americans that "lived" in the teepees, but not anymore, it is all much more politically correct. The zoo as a whole is all about being politically correct now. You cannot see Shasta the Liger (tiger and lion bred together) in a glass enclosure , because it is not supported by zoos anymore to mix together animals that would not normally mate, and I cannot get awesome waxy/plastic figurines, because they would burn children and get thrown into the animal cages. Oh, the good old days of Hogle Zoo. In Discovery Land, we spent a quarter each, except Dalan, to buy some bird food. I was hand feeding a swan my food. No one else dared, and then the swan bit me. It was a pretty incredible encounter with wildlife!

Ali and the baby elephant.
Ali is a little dark in the photo, but let's face it, the baby elephant is what we really want to see anyway.
Just kidding, Ali!

The only photo my mom would let me get of her.
How does Patti's hand measure up to a gorilla's?

Ali's tiny hands compared to a not so tiny gorilla's.

Ali measuring up!

The Carsellers as a gorilla family.

Our silly gorilla family.

Ali as a little juvenile orangutan.

Ali braving the lion's head to get a drink.

Dalan wasn't scared.

I was so nervous, yet thirsty.

Hen and stag parties

Dalan and I have the best family/friends. Pretty sure, I have mentioned this before, but it is true. One year ago, we both had a blast at our bachelor/bachelorette parties. The girls had a get together at our house, while the boys were off to Wendover. Both nights were fun and wild. We are so lucky to have such great friends that know how to throw such great parties!

I was a little overwhelmed with all the work everyone put into the night, and this was after I already had had two incredible showers. Ali and VaRonica put together the decorations, food, and drinks. Misty made me the coolest veil that I almost wore to my actual wedding because it was so couture. Sierra and Julia put together the best bachelorette soundtrack ever. Ali, VaRonica and Becca made the funniest pinata I have ever seen. And Becca and Julie made a very amusing game of bingo. At one point I was pretty sure the neighbors were going to complain or call the police, because we were laughing so hard. It was loud!

Here are a couple of photos from my night. Well, a couple of the ones that I don't mind putting on the internet anyway! I don't know if the boys even took pictures, and if they did I don't know if they would be appropriate for my blog from the stories I have heard...good times!

Tallest to smallest

Me, Becca, VaRonica, Misty, and Julie

I seriously love these girls! They are the best!

The 12 days of Jessi's birthday

As all of you should know, my birthday is my favorite day of the year! So, two years ago I made up a song about the 12 days of my birthday. Dalan actually made good on the 12 days of Jessi's birthday, although he (obviously) did not follow the song (you'll see why), but I did have a fun two weeks leading up to my special day.

On the first day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me
One Night in Paris (the video).

On the second day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the third day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me a

Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the fourth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video)

On the fifth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video)

On the sixth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video)

On the seventh day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Seven Deadly Sins to Enjoy at my Leisure

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the eighth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

An Eight Ball to Predict the Future…outlook is good

Seven Deadly Sins to Enjoy at my Leisure

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the ninth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Nine West Shoes,

An Eight Ball to Predict the Future…outlook is good

Seven Deadly Sins to Enjoy at my Leisure

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the tenth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Ten Commandments to make good on the Seven Deadly Sins and the One Night in Paris Video

Nine West Shoes,

An Eight Ball to Predict the Future…outlook is good

Seven Deadly Sins to Enjoy at my Leisure

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation

Two Tickets to Paradise

And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the eleventh day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Eleven Slurpees

Ten Commandments to make good on the Seven Deadly Sins and the One Night in Paris Video

Nine West Shoes,

An Eight Ball to Predict the Future…outlook is good

Seven Deadly Sins to Enjoy at my leisure

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation
Two Tickets to Paradise
And One Night in Paris (the video).

On the twelfth day of my birthday,
my (insert your relationship to me) sent to me

Twelve Baker's Dozen to be ironic

Eleven slurpees

Ten Commandments to make good on the Seven Deadly Sins and the One Night in Paris Video

Nine West Shoes,

An Eight Ball to Predict the Future…outlook is good

Seven Deadly Sins to Enjoy at my Leisure

My Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Five Little Donkey Dragons Jumping on the Bed

Four Nights at the Four Seasons Hotel

A Three Day Three Mile Island vacation

Two Tickets to Paradise

And One Night in Paris (the video)!

Super Psyched

I am that girl. The girl that loves to admire pretty shoes, but cannot stand (pun intended) to be in shoes that make my feet hurt. Actually, I can barely stand (pun intended again) shoes at all. I kick off my shoes the minute I walk in the door, and sometimes even while I am driving in the car (which drives Dalan nuts). I used to be able to sacrifice some comfort for fashion, and then I started teaching school. I am on my feet for way too many hours in a row to wear anything, but comfortable shoes, most preferably flip flops or slippers. Yes, I said slippers. Ali and McKay gave me these cute, Roxy* slippers for Christmas two years ago that almost, kind of pass as regular shoes. So, in the winter, I wear them to work on a regular basis. People even give me compliments on my cute "shoes." (Only they really mean shoes, I laugh in my head, knowing that they are really slippers disguised as shoes.) I can wear them with or without socks, and they have never gotten stinky. They are the miracle of all shoes. However, they have started to get worn out. I guess I should have seen it coming, they are technically slippers, and I wear them really quite consistently in all types of weather and terrain. So, I got online and found another pair, but with a different design, for super cheap from overstock.com, plus there was free shipping. Score! I should have ordered two pairs, but I was not sure of my size, since I wear a seven and a half, and they were only available in full sizes. The size on my old pair was worn off long ago, if there ever was one. I ordered an eight, and they came today, and they fit perfectly. DOUBLE SCORE! I might have to go and order me another pair now.

The old, dearly loved pair of slippers.

The soles have seen better days!

The new pair! I cannot wait to break them in.

No holes in these soles!

*I receive no money or kick backs from Roxy for endorsing their product. However, if they would like to send me additional slippers or other products for my overwhelming positive review of the BEST slippers EVER, I would gladly accept.

The time Ali and McKay stole a dog

Once upon a time in a land known as McKay's neighborhood, Ali and McKay found a dog. It was about two or three houses down from McKay's house. The dog was alone. It appeared to skinny and dirty, but was friendly. Ali and McKay "rescued" this dog from the street by taking it to Red and Patti's (my parents) house. The dog did have a collar, but no tag identifying it, only a tag that stated it had had its rabies' shot, and a number.

Well, it was the weekend, and if I remember right it was holiday weekend on top of all of it. Ali and my mom tried to call the Humane Society and Animal Control several times to see if someone had reported the dog as lost, or if it was identifiable by the number on its vaccine tag. However, due to the fact it was the weekend, and some other mix up's with the people at the shelters, it took about three days to figure out where this dog belonged. In the meantime, Ali, McKay, and my family continue to grow more fond of the dog. It is still friendly enough, but prefers to be outside most of the time.

Turns out the dog lives about three houses away from McKay. Ali and McKay basically took this dog from its OWN front yard, give or take a house or two, brought it to my parents' house, and held it hostage for three days. Their hearts were in the right places, but the poor dog was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time, i.e. it's own front yard without a human while Ali and McKay were on the prowl. The owner was happy to get the dog back, and I guess it was an outside dog thus explaining the dirtiness and the preference for the backyard at my parents' house. All ends that ends well, right? However, you may want to make sure you clearly identify your pets as your own while in the presence of Ali and McKay, because otherwise, they may steal it from your front yard.

Putting myself at risk

I practiced high risk behaviors.

I could have contracted salmonella or chlamydia today.

These high risk behaviors, included holding the turtle in my classroom, and changing the newspaper on the bottom of Cooper's cage.

Apparently, turtles can carry salmonella.

And, parrots can pass chlamydia to humans in their feces.

Also, the parrot has been tested (maybe at the free clinic?) and is chlamydia free.

The turtle, on the other hand, could be riddled with salmonella. He hasn't been tested. He is putting his loved ones at risk.

I washed my hands after both activities to minimize risk.

I feel pretty confident that I am disease free.

Adding a new member to the family

Our time with Cooper, the parrot we are babysitting, is quickly coming to an end. It has been an adventure, for sure. And it has made me question, are we ready/willing to become a three species home?

Cooper is a funny, engaging, feisty, and smart animal. So naturally, she fits right in here. She is a beautiful bird, with the prettiest tail feathers I have ever seen. She has a big personality, and always has a lot to say. She is never boring, and has kept us on our toes for the last two weeks. All of these things are things Dalan and I would look for in a new member of our family. If we were to get a new pet, we would not want one that sat in a cage all the time, but offered little back to the rest of the family. Animals, like fish, rodents, reptiles, etc, are generally more work than they are worth in my opinion, but a parrot is a pretty interactive pet. We have had endless Cooper stories for the last two weeks, and she makes us laugh.

However, Cooper is a lot of work, and keeping peace between the dog and the bird is even more work. Cooper can be really loud, and needs a lot of attention. She is also very messy. Piper and Cooper also like to bug each other. They have quickly become like siblings. Cooper likes to "meow" and call Piper. Piper likes to jump up on Cooper's table until Cooper squawks. Piper gets terribly jealous if anyone is paying more attention to Cooper than they are to her. Also, I am not a morning person. I am lucky to get up, shower, and get out of the door on time. If you add Piper's morning meds, and Cooper's morning feeding, I feel like I am running around like crazy to get everything done in the morning.

Basically, it comes down to, while Dalan and I have really liked having Cooper here, and love her and her big personality, we are not ready to become a three species household. Maybe, we could do it if we had a dog that liked other animals, but the added stress of making sure that the dog and parrot do not drive each other crazy and/or hurt one another has been too much. It kills me to say this a little, because I am always the champion of getting new pets, and Dalan is always the dream killer. I guess for now we will just have to remain a two species home. That is ok, though. As far as animals go, humans are ok, and dogs are the best.