Hiking, hiding, hidden mice

We've been enjoying Red Butte Garden again, and even had little ducklings eat bread out of hands!  We like to go after a long day of work (me) and study (Taylor).

Taylor didn't want this picture because he's wearing glasses.  He doesn't wear contacts to study, but will have me bring his contacts when I pick him up just so he can change and look hot for me. I forgot them this day...but I think he looks like Clark Kent.  Hubba, hubba!

While hiking around, Taylor wanted to step on almost stepped on something fuzzy on the path.  Luckily he stopped just in time to find out it was an orphaned baby deer mouse in the middle of the trail!  He must've fallen down the slanted forest floor and fallen into the path because he didn't have very good balance.  And he squeaked angrily every time we poked him. So stinkin' cute!

My hands next to him.  We didn't touch him because he also was a nipper!  He ran into my shoe and tried to attack it....Feisty beast.

He thought he could take on that teal tennis shoe with hardly even trying!

 We decided to go hike up one of the mountains we live next to.  It was a very steep hike, but it was beautiful.  So were my blisters after the steep incline...

And that sun!  So bright and full of vitamin D!  They only way to enjoy it is to close your eyes...

 And on the hike we found a gopher snake who acted like a rattle snake.  And then we watched it slither away and I didn't scream or wet my pants so my "therapy" must've worked.  

This is a pic from the internet, but it's what a gopher snake looks like. 

About 20 minutes later we found another orphaned deer mouse and wished we could've fed it to the gopher snake.  Poor thing is going to die anyways, would've been nice to help the snake survive.

It's eyes are still closed!

 There was a discussion about taking it home and nursing it back to health with pedialyte until it was old enough to go back, but we didn't want to get hanta virus...Or have a case of sibling rivalry where Tannin regained our full attention by eating the baby sibling...  <--(more likely)

"Nom nom! Attention back on me now."

 I've been trying a new foundation that I bought with my birthday money from the Drake parents.

 We went to my cousin's wedding and got DRENCHED.

But, DANG! Skin tight clothing looks good. 

No words can explain how strongly we believe "sharing is caring".
So we put it in picture format.

Taylor has been waiting outside with Tannin when I get home from work.

We decided she's been on such good behavior lately, that she no longer needs to be leashed at all times when outside.

 Dad likes to bury her in grass...Dad is not very nice.

On one of my late work days, we decided to walk to the Subway across the street and have a picnic with Tannin in the sun.

I spy with my little eye....Tannin on a leash (because we can't grab her while we're eating if she decided to hitch-hike with someone else got taken by a bird).

 We had our first snow cone of the summer...Also it took so long to get, it was super chilly by the time it was ready to be eaten.

Tiger's blood tongues.

Tannin went on her first hike at Red Butte Canyon.

Can you find her?

Only her leash gives her away.

 Such a cool kid on a leash.

 She had so much fun looking around while hanging out on our shoulders.

(I cut that man's hair last Saturday! Doesn't it look good?!)

 On occasion she'd jump onto the branches.

Look at that stellar pose on the edge of a leafy precipice!!

 Sometimes, Taylor studies outside and takes pictures for me while at work.

Tannin likes to be an explorer and look around.

 Everything interests her.

 And EVERYTHING scares her. Whenever someone walks by while she's outside, she will immediately run to one of us and burrow as close to us as she can get. 

Yeah, she knows we're less likely to eat her. That's a lizard's definition of "true love".