a trip to the Desert Sonoran Museum with Yao & Yuan

Yao goes back to China in September (he’s been here as a student for a year), so his wife Yuan came out to visit for a couple weeks & fly back home with him. They were only married for 6 days when Yao came to the USA for school!
They wanted to see the Desert Sonoran Museum, so I took them (Yao just barely got a drivers license & doesn’t feel that comfortable driving yet & doesn’t have a car). The boys came along, too.
The best part was when we went in to see different amphibians, reptiles, insects, etc., Yao didn’t realize they were real at first. I told him that they were all real & alive…to which he replied,” I thought they were just examples.” I thought that was pretty funny, after that he was even more impressed with the wildlife he saw.


Porter isn’t like most people, he will jump at the chance to touch a snake whenever he can. Here he is touching a Rosie boa. He wanted to hold the snake, but the lady said he could only pet it.


I’m pretty sure I know what Porter is thinking right now…”Man, I wish I could catch that snake.”


This snake blended in so well with the rock- reminds me of cookies & cream.


These frogs were so cute, but they looked fake to me. Their coloring is so pretty.


Yao & Yuan-


Yuan liked to do bunny ears or peace signs in almost every picture.


Marlee was at preschool, so it was just the boys & I. I love how far Porter has to stretch his arm to reach Clayton’s shoulder.


The boys always love going in the cave.


There were a lot of creepy spiders around.


My what big ears you have.


I always love looking at the rocks/minerals.



Porter showing Yuan a rock.


There was this massive spiny tailed Iguana (had to ask Porter what it was called) that wasn’t in a cage, it was just roaming around on the rock wall.

The boys were making a plan on how to catch it when one of the staff members walked by. She started asking the boys questions, to see if they knew what type of reptile it was. I think she was surprised when they started going on & on about their reptile knowledge. That lady just opened a can of worms…they won’t stop talking if they have an audience.


The mountain lion & bear were being lazy- I don’t blame them, it was kind of hot.


Holy cow I love my boys.


The boys got super excited to see a coach whip snake slithering around. They started going for it until I reminded them that the sign says please stay on pathways. I sometimes think they view me as the party pooper. I think they make Yao nervous when they try to catch the wildlife.


Cute little owl


This bird looked like it was doing Pilates. It is so strange to me when they stand on one leg.


I love the ground hogs, I think they are so cute.


So many cactus flowers were in bloom.



I’ve never seen a tree with flowers like this before.


Yao treated everyone to ice cream. I swear he can never say no when the kids want something.


Big horn sheep


I love how the beavers tail looks- I was bummed they weren’t swimming.   




Corn anyone?


My favorite picture of the day…Yuan taking a picture of a humming bird.


Porter was making this goofy face because the hummingbirds kept flying by him & their wings make such a loud noise. The hummingbirds were freakishly aggressive today, they kept flying towards us.


The humming bird flying towards the boys.


What a shocker- the boys even tried to catch the humming birds.


I love when they sit still for a couple seconds, so I can take some pictures (and I was referring to the birds, but the same applies to my boys).



Don’t worry, the flash on my camera was off.


The boys love walking through these plastic chains- it looks like the bird wants to join in.


I love the purple feathers.


Yuan & Yao are like me…they like to take lots of pictures.


Can you spot the humming bird by Clayton’s shirt?


I finally got some pictures of the birds in flight.



In case you can’t tell, the hummingbirds are my favorite part of this museum.


There were crazy amounts of butterflies out today.

Yao & Yuan were very impressed with the museum. Then we went & picked up Marlee from preschool & got Laun from work, so we could all go out to eat.