Fashionista (and a Freebie)

It's been super busy around here--or at least I've been busy enough that updating my blog hasn't been happening!

Here's a quick post--my lovely fashionista above, who delights in choosing her own outfits and accessories. It's so fun watching her develop. 

And the Freebie? How about a code for a free rental at Redbox? We don't have any out here, but we see them when we go to town, and sometimes a new video that the kids can watch for a couple hours can make traveling so much more pleasant!

Here's the code, good for a one day DVD rental at kiosks only: 9MXW2LPC

Thanks Freebie Finding Mom!

Thank You, Park Ranger

As we enter the third week of the government shutdown, we really miss our national parks and the park rangers and other park employees who take care of these special places. As I looked through my photos, I realized I had so many photos of my kids interacting with park rangers. Park rangers have really helped encourage my kids' love of nature.

Park rangers have taught them things they never expected to learn, things that they not only remember, but ideas and thoughts that come home and are shared with their parents, grandparents, friends, and relatives.

Park rangers have pushed our kids to learn more. The junior ranger program has been fantastic, truly inspiring the next generation to care for our national parks. My kids want to pick up trash not only in national parks, but everywhere they go. They ask about picking flowers when we're out on a hike, knowing that in national parks they are protected. They know that if they have questions about something they see, they can find a ranger who most likely will know the answer, and if not, will probably look it up for them.

Park rangers do much more than teach and sign junior ranger certificates. They share their talents, getting us to think about the amazing resources that national parks protect in new and innovative ways.

Park rangers get down on the kids' level, showing them that they are important. They listen patiently to kids' stories and questions, and help steer them in the right direction.

Park rangers show kids (and sometimes their parents!) new ways to think about the places they visit.

Park rangers are heroes to our kids.

As we travel, we seek out national parks, as we know the 401 National Park Service units preserve unique features and history of our country. These are places that are worth visiting, places we dream about and stay in our memories long after we've left.

National Parks are not restricted just to geography. They are featured on our money. They are visited via the Internet. Most importantly, they are an idea that helps define our country.

Park scientists, educators, and rangers visit classrooms to inspire even more kids to visit.

We want to go to our national parks. We miss seeing these fine people in the green and grey.

We hope that we can soon once again visit these beacons of wildness, history, and special places.


And although we can't go to these places right now, know that we appreciate  everyone who cares for our national parks. Thank you, Park Ranger, each and every one of you. And thank you, all National Park Service employees. You make a difference.

Living Planet Aquarium Visit

 The Living Planet Aquarium from Draper, Utah sent two outreach educators to our area to talk about the water cycle and show some animals. This was a great opportunity for the kids to learn some science and learn about the bigger world around them.

 The kids started off on the floor.

 But soon they got to see the water cycle model up close. It was really cool.

 The kids made movements as they reenacted the parts of the water cycle.

 Soon it was time for the rain cycle dance.

 Jackie and Holly brought some animals with them to show, including this garter snake, which the students could touch.

 Then it was time for a neat experiment--pump up a bottle with a little bit of rubbing alcohol in it to make a cloud. They got to do it over and over again and really enjoyed it.

 A red-spotted toad.

A gopher snake.

The kids were really well-behaved and enjoyed the special presentation. Thanks Living Planet Aquarium for coming way out into the desert to share!

A Rural Milestone

 Out in the rural parts of this country, especially the rural parts that have livestock, cattle guards are a common occurrence. The cattle guards are essentially metal slats placed on a concrete foundation above a hole in the ground. They deter the cattle (and sheep) from crossing, but allow vehicles to easily cross.

For kids, they provide an obstacle course. Can they get across without their little feet slipping between the spaces? After they've done it a few times, it turns from fear into fun, and they look forward to crossing the cattle guards. It's a way to show that they're getting big, and every little kid seems to want to be a big kid right now.

Desert Girl loves cattle guards, so I wanted to get a couple photos of her simple pleasure!

When was the last time you walked across a cattle guard?

Time to Visit Some State Parks

Well, the federal government may be partially shut down, meaning that National Park Service units are closed. That sucks, but it's not the end of the world. To try and find a silver lining, this is an opportunity to explore the state parks in more depth. And we are fortunate to have some wonderful state parks!

Here are a few we've enjoyed over the years:

* If you wanted to visit Everglades, Biscayne or Dry Tortugas National Parks, try Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West instead. Great snorkeling, nice beach, and some interesting history.

* In lieu of Arches, Canyonlands, or Capitol Reef National Parks, visit Goblin Valley State Park. It has a cute campground, neat goblin features, trails, and is close to some great slot canyons.

* Instead of Golden Spike NHS or Timpanogos Cave NM, Antelope Island State Park is in the Great Salt Lake of Utah.

And instead of the marvelous Great Basin National Park, you could try

• Cave Lake State Park
• Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park
• Cathedral Gorge State Park

And although I've been to all of these state parks (some quite recently), I realized when I put together this post that I don't have posts on any of them! Time to get busy!

State parks are often overlooked, and this is a time where we really need to thank those who run them and maintain them. It's good to have such a diversity of places to go and appreciate.