Welcome to the Bangalore Zoo

When we first got to the zoo I wasn't quit sure what to think. There were little tarps set up with vendors trying to sell anything they could. Of course being American we were prime target. We got swarmed with people begging for money. There were a lot of moms with there kids having them beg for money. It was really sad, but there are so many. How do you choose who you should help. We just kept on walking and the just followed.

We went on a little safari while we were at the zoo. We got on buses and went through a gated area. It reminded me a lot of Jurassic Park. Not very many of the animals are caged in this zoo, so you get to see them up close and personal.

The Indian people like to have their pictures taken.

This was our tour guide on the Zoo Safari
We got special treatment because we were the only American's on the tour. I got to sit right next to the driver and he made sure that we got the best pictures possible of the animals

This is a group of bears that are just hanging out on the road. They aren't scared of the buses and won't move for them so they just drive around them.

This tiger was right out our window. It was only one of many.

Vijay trying to bargain a price on a hat for the kids. The price is much less for him to buy stuff, but doubles or even triples when we come around. A lot of times they will just tell him what to buy and he will go and buy it for a much cheaper price. We will for sure take him along when we go shopping for souvenirs.

There are monkey's like crazy. All of them are just roaming the zoo and not in cages. They are so cute and must not mind people to much.

The elephants were just behind one small cable. This is just 3 of many elephants that we saw. I think there were 3 different areas in the zoo that had elephants.
We got to ride on an elephant, but I didn't get a picture on my camera. Kerri stayed off of the ride to take pictures, but she took them on her camera. (I will have to post them later)

This is the elephant zoo keeper. He is making the elephants food with palm tree leaves and rice

We were the main attraction at the zoo. Some of the times it felt like we were getting looked at as much as the animals. A few of the people asked if they could get pictures with us. They also love Annie (Alan and Kerri's youngest daughter)

All of the babies and little kids are so cute in India. I would love to be able to bring one home. They love to have their pictures taken and then they like to see the picture after you take it.

We got a kick out of this sign at the zoo. We had Vijay translate it for us and it says.......
"If you hurt the animals you will be arrested."

This is a picture of a beggar. We had to wait for Vijay to get the car when we were done at the zoo. While we were waiting we got swarmed with little kids and their moms begging for money. It was really sad and I would have loved to help, but couldn't because I hadn't changed any of my American money to Rupee's. Kerri did give one of the little girls some pop and she was very grateful for that.

Day 2- Our first real day in India

Our first real day in India was definately a big eye opener. We didn't do to much because we got in so late the night before. We decided to go to the spa to relax a little and experience a fish pedicure. I have been very excited about this and looked forward to this experience. I love my feet being rubbed, tickled or anything else, so I was the first one to stick my feet in the water full of feet sucking fish. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!! Not what I was expecting. I didn't ease my feet in the water. I just stuck them right in and got attacked by hundreds of fish. I must say it was the strangest feeling in the world and I screamed and jumped out of the pool. I did decide to put them back in, but I waited until more feet were in with mine so that all the fish didn't come to mine.

Me trying to relax during my fish pedicure experience

Katie wasn't so sure about this after she heard my scream. It took everything the poor Indian's had to get her to put her feet in. She finally did it, but if you can see her feet are very tense.

After our spa day we went to lunch at a pizza place. Everything was jumbo size including the menu's. This menu makes Katie look so little.

Our personal size pizza's came out and they didn't look very small to us.
The left overs were nice. We feed Vijay (the driver) and ate the rest for dinner

India Trip Day 1

I don't think anyone could have ever prepared us for how long the trip to India really is. I knew that a 24 hour plane ride would be long, but it seemed like a lot longer then that. We started our journey in Salt Lake and had a couple layovers. The first leg of our flight was SLC to San Francisco. We got delayed in Salt Lake for an hour because President Obama was landing in San Francisco and they had the airport closed down for him. When we got there he was still there, but we didn't get to see his plane. Oh Well!!! Next we were off to Germany. This was the longest leg of our flight. We were in the air for 11 hours. Our flight was very full and there wasn't much stretching room. From Germany, our next stop was India. We weren't to excited to get back on a plane, but was pleasantly surprised when our tickets were printed with business class on them. We thought it was a miss print at first but soon found out that it wasn't. This was a 9 hour flight and went by a lot quicker then flying coach. We got the royal treatment and had a lot of room to move around and stretch. As nice as our flight turned out to be, I was still very grateful to be on the ground for a couple of weeks.

Katie and I in the Salt Lake Airport
Do we look like sisters??
We have had a lot of comments from people about how much we look like each other. One lady thought that we were twins. That is a big complement to me because I am 7 years older.

Just landed in San Francisco
(I have never gotten off of a plane outside)

Trying to get a little rest on our layover in Germany

Business class food
It was YUMMY!!!!!

Katie stretched out in her reclining business class seat

Our first Indian food experience.

When the flight attendant brought us our food we weren't very hip on trying it. Thank goodness we had an Indian guy sitting next to us to help us know how to eat it. This dish is Curry Chicken, Rice and Chic Peas. It was a little spicy, but very good. Katie liked the taste of it, but about a half an hour after eating it she felt like her stomach was on fire. She was sick for the first 2 days of our trip and now doesn't think she can ever try Indian food again.

This is what Vijay, Alan's driver, looked like when we saw him at the airport
Alan has been telling him that his sisters are very mean and we hit. He wore a helmet so that he would be protected when we hit him. Of course he knew that he was just teasing him and that we wouldn't really hit him. He was doing this as a joke. The bottom of his sign says..... Get in, sit down, shut up and hold on for your lives. This was suppose to be a joke too, but the way they drive here you really do have to hold on for your lives. It is CRAZY!!!!!

We finally made it to Alan and Kerri's house around 3 am Friday morning. Vijay put color on our faces to welcome us to his country. It is a tradition and he was so excited to be able to welcome us.

Ellie, Ethan and Maddie

The kids were very excited to have us come and visit. They made signs for us and hung them on the door. We got in so late that night so we didn't get to see them until the next day after they got out of school.

We Made It!!!

Well we finally made it to India!!! It was a very long couple of flights, but we are now here and relaxing. I took a bunch of pictures that I would like to post, but I'm not sure how to do it yet on this computer. I just wanted to let everyone know that we made it ok and I will up date with a few picture and some stories about the long journey here. TO BE CONTINUED............

INDIA, HERE WE COME!!!!

Well I guess it is really happening. Katie and I have been planning this trip for a few months and I never dreamed that it would really come. I can't believe how much goes into leaving the country!!! We have spent the last few months getting passports, visas, and all sorts of shots. I think we are finally ready. We are so excited to be able to go and visit our brother Alan and his family. It sounds like they have so many fun things for us to do when we get there. I am going to try and blog a little while I am there, so if anyone is interested you can follow along on our journey.

We will be gone just short of 3 weeks. I hope everything goes well at home. I am so thankful for Chad allowing me to be able to do this. He has been so great about being Mr. Mom for a few weeks. I think he may find a deeper appreciation for my motherly roll and hopefully be ready for me to come home. I know he will do great!!! Thanks to everyone else who are and will be helping him out with the kids while I am gone. We have so many great friends and family that have offered to help.

I love you so much Chad, Bailey, Tyus and Peyton!!!! I will miss you like crazy!!!

My Baby is 6!!!

I can't believe how fast time flies!!! When Peyton was born I knew that he would probably be our last child and I also thought that he would always stay a baby. I cherished every moment I had with him as a baby, but eventually he had to grow up.

Peyton is such a fun kid to have around and we have loved every year, month, day, hour and even minute that we have had him in our family.

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!!!!

The Birthday Boy with his cake's
Peyton wanted a sports birthday and he loved all of the sports ball

He wanted to have a hot dog roast for his birthday dinner. I am so glad it was a nice day so that we could enjoy and not freeze to death.

All he asked for was a BB Gun and he got it. He was a very happy boy!!
Now he can't wait until his dad takes him hunting for squeakies

Opening more presents. He got spoiled rotten!!
Thanks everyone who came to his party and also for the gifts

After his party was over and everyone had gone home, Peyton said "Mom, I had such a great birthday and I got a lot of fun things to play with." I'm glad you had a great day Peyton!!!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!