A Spring Walk in the Desert

It's been snowing most of the day, so it's nice to look back at these photos taken on Saturday, when it was sunny and in the 70s. We saw this horned lizard blending in oh-so-well with the desert floor.

I really wanted to find some new flowers for my A Plant A Day blog. That turned out to be a more difficult task than I was expecting, but I did spot this colorful butterfly on the cryptantha.

Another view of the butterfly.

Desert Girl really likes being mobile and stopping to check things out when she wants to.

Don't you wish you could squat like that? I do!

 

Desert Girl liked this Astragalus (milkvetch).

Time to keep on hiking and see what's next.

The globemallow just started blooming last week.

I liked this white astragalus, growing in between the purple flowers.

The Townsendia flowers are small and short, but such a welcome burst of color.

And finally I found a blooming cactus, a mountain ball cactus. It won't be long till many more cacti are showing their colors!

The Great Frog Search

We were waiting for my husband to do a task that was taking longer than expected out in the desert, so I decided we had time to go on a frog search. We headed to the nearby "swamp" and proceeded to look for frogs. We found tons!

These are Columbia spotted frogs. It wasn't that long ago that the Division of Wildlife folks were counting egg masses. Now little frogs are hanging out all around. We managed to catch one, but not for long. They are really good at getting away.

I was very worried that Emma would fall into the water, but she seemed to listen to directions to stay out.

Desert Boy became a good frog spotter after he had seen a couple.

Then it was time to take a walk. And of course when you're in the "swamp," you don't take nice, tidy little walks. Desert Boy found a good muddy spot right off the bat and sunk up to his knee in the mud.

He kept looking for frogs, though. We only spotted one in this grassier section.

Meanwhile, Desert Girl got in on the action and plopped her tush down in the mud. She wasn't sure what to think at first, but she quickly figured out that the mud was fun and not too cold.

Desert Boy continued his trek. He was fearless as we tramped through the wilds.

Still looking...

Meanwhile, up on the drier bank, I found this dragonfly--or is it a damselfly? I don't know much about the Order Odonata.

Where's Emma?

Sitting in the mud again!

We sure enjoyed the beautiful spring day. I'm glad we got out, as it's going to be cold and rainy the next few days.

Birthday Time

Last weekend Desert Boy turned 4. He's a big boy now. He is happy to tell you that. Multiple times.

He wanted a big party, so we had family and his friends and their families come over. We started out with games. The first was a treasure hunt aimed at little kids:
Find 2 yellow flowers, a rock in the shape of a rectangle, a stick the size of your little finger, and a surprise.

I was surprised that they were all able to do it!

Then it was time for the archeological excavation in the sandbox. A few days earlier, Desert Boy came running into the house, so excited that he had dug a hole so deep that he had found a bone. While looking at his great find (a chicken bone), I asked him what kind of bone he thought it was.

"A dinosaur bone. Or a person bone."

We don't dig up chicken bones around here. We dig up important bones.


I figured Desert Boy's friends might enjoy the challenge of digging up important bones, so I buried six bones.

Aron Ray found one.

Desert Boy found one. Then three more were found. But they couldn't find the last bone. So the older cousins took two big shovels and dug until they found it. I think we're going to have to do the digging game again!

Our wonderful babysitter brought over a pinata, and that was a huge hit with the kids. It took a lot longer to break a pinata with a plastic bat than with a wooden bat!

Aunt Tana helped "control" the pinata--as much as it can be controlled!

Kayli taking a swing.

Ashley and Stacia. Stacia turned one this week!

Desert Boy chilling out with Grandpa.

Clay eating some food. All that bone digging made him hungry.

Then it was time for the birthday cake. It was slightly better than my attempt at Elmo cupcakes last year. Desert Boy helped decorate the train cake. He didn't really agree that each car should only have one type of candy on it. I had forgotten to get cookies for wheels, but then realized little donuts worked great.

Aron Ray was eager to help blow out the candles, but Desert Boy didn't appreciate the help.

Ah, the excitement of turning 4!

Then it was time to head back outside and work off some of that sugar with another pinata. There was something a little odd about smacking Dora, but the kids wanted to get to that candy!

Two Left Feet

Ever have days when you feel like you're just walking with two left feet?

Desert Boy gave it a try. He didn't even notice until I pointed it out. I wish I were that coordinated!

Climbing and Dog Riding

Little Miss Emma has entered the climbing stage. She climbs up into the tree house, our steep stairs in our house, onto chairs and tables, and up the steps at the playground.


I try not to get too nervous as she spreads her wings and explores the world around her. She has good balance. In fact, her main problem seems to be standing up under tables and bumping her head.


Almost to the top of the stairs!


Then comes the "I did it!" moment.


Meanwhile, Desert Boy and his friend Ernesto were goofing around on the little slides. I really like getting a friend to go to the playground with us. Then I can relax and not have to chase Desert Boy around! We have so few kids at the playground that it's always exciting when someone else is there.


Such cute kids!


Meanwhile, Desert Girl had continued up the steps, up to the big blue curly slide.


She has a big grin now!


Then it was time to head back to the boys. Ernesto was trying to ride Henry like a horse.


He didn't get too far in the dog riding.


Desert Boy didn't either--Henry doesn't think much of this game. He doesn't run away either, so I guess he doesn't mind a little attention!

Down, Down in the Underground

Ready to go undergound? Check out this video? Be sure you have your audio turned on.

What's Blooming?

So our wireless router isn't working right and it's really cramping my blogging style, especially now that I'm back to doing my A Plant a Day blog. So if you don't see something new, be sure to head over there to check out the cool things that are blooming out in the desert. There's more than I expected!

And be ready for a new biodiversity challenge soon--like what's blooming in your yard? I have some cool photos of things in our yard if I can just find an extra hour in the day!