Antelope Island with the Heywoods

4/23/09
We just had to show Sadie Antelope Island when she was in town last month. We were sorry that the Amakasus couldn't come, too. Alexander is going to help me caption the photos again.


"Alexander is smiling and Levi is doing a different pose. He's just doing what he want to do, and Olivia is not smiling. And so... Alexander is by the gate... and... they're all by the gate. So... Alexander... will like to do lots of stuff. But if Alexander would like to play he would he would also play if he want to. So at Antelope Island we like to play on lots of play toys." -Alexander

"Alexander is not with Levi and Olivia. They are going to be in a different picture. And Alexander is just smiling there. And Alexander is doing so much fun at Antelope Island. Alexander smiling next to a wheel." -Alexander

"Mamma and Lincoln want to play on this horse. And he want to do lots of stuff on the horse. But Alexander is the coolest in the whole world. And if Alexander want to play he can. At this place. It's so fun. But Lincoln, he is having so much fun, but he's teeny tiny. He can't talk. He's just looking all over the place. That was he's doing. " -Alexander

Olivia making dandelion wishes

"Ewwwwww!" -Alexander

Buffalo chips

Sadie and Brittany

We Are the Bison

4/23/09
 
When were at Antelope Island last month we had some really good carside views of the bison. We kept our distance and stayed in the car, then passed out paper and pencils and sat for about 45 minutes while we all drew the huge, impressive animals. When we left Alexander complained that he still wanted to draw the buffalo. Sadie and I made up these words to the "We Are the Dinosaurs" song by Laurie Berkner. At first it was "bison" (to be correct), but Alexander makes us sing "buffalo" when we sing it at home. I guess the syllables fit better that way.

We are the buffalo (bison)
Grazing, grazing.
We are the buffalo,
We eat the green grass.

We are the buffalo
Stampeding, stampeding.
We are the buffalo,
We run in a mass.
We run in a mass.

Calico Ghost Town!

May 4, 2009
I extended our trip to California one day so Sadie, Ashley and I could take our kids to Calico. Sadie and Amanda had already been here a couple months ago. Even though we skipped over the Ghost Town section of our theme to come back to later, we still couldn't resist visiting this real old west town while the weather was still mild. Alexander is going to help me caption some these photos.




"Alexander is doing a cool pose and Levi is doing a bad pose. And Alexander is doing this because that means he is starting to fight the bad guy, Levi. Levi is pretending he is bad and that what happens in here." -Alexander


"Levi is driving the chuck wagon and Olivia and me is riding. But there's none horse! And Alexander is drinking a drink. And Levi is making a funny cowboy face." -Alexander


Olivia, Levi and Alexander getting ready to go into the silver mine.

"We like to be in here. The mine. And it's so cool to be in there. But there might be very end but we can't go out the very end but we go all the way down to the top of the part and it will be cool, cool, cool. This is where they dig for the silver. I thought that means to put the shovel and they put the dirt on it. Mom, how you look for gold?" -Alexander

We told the kids we would pan for gold, but by the time we were done in the mine the panning had closed. Still, the next day Alexander said his favorite part was when we looked for gold. Hmmm. 

Olivia the outlaw gets her feet put in handcuffs by Sherrif Levi

Lincoln and Alexander

Sadie and Levi are sad to be in jail

Sadie, me and Ashley. Levi took this picture for us during our snack break before we drove home.

Pioneer Tour in Salt Lake City

Here is a Pony Express Monument dedicated by President Hinckley at This is the Place. Owen, Olivia, Levi and Peter pose in front of a horse switch.



Levi and Olivia enjoy the free space and chasing unsuspecting Canadian Geese.


After that we had a quick stop at the Salt Lake Cemetery to visit the Hinckley Family grave.

Nothing like a quick ride up the elevator to the 26th floor of the Church Office Building. The boys drew a lot of attention from the sweet elderly ladies conducting the tour. They thought the "cowboys" were cute.

And last stop: The Beehive House to tour Brigham Young's house.

Calico Ghost Town

This place was great. I can't believe we haven't taken our kids there before. From Sadie's house its just a nice 30-45 min drive. And don't worry Brittany, I will definitely be in the mood (unless it's "too hot") to go again with you when we are down there again. We did miss you and the boys! Jaden, Levi, Peter, Olivia and Owen pose in front of an old buggy.

Check out the awesome geological formations.

Riding the train around the mines.


Old School

The kids worked hard in the morning before we left to earn some spending money. They each earned $1. Spending options weren't big; either an arrowhead, post card or Panning for Gold! With a little persuasion we got them to use their dollar on this.






Jaden always led the way up little mountain sides and down paths. He is a true adventurer and took us places we otherwise wouldn't have gone.

Inside the silver mine. Just a note: do NOT try to take your stroller and baby seat through the turnstile at the top!!! Woo!

Old Frontier boys and girl

Olivia was fascinated with this stove and oven.

The Gene Autry Museum

A fantastic trip with our little cowboys and cowgirls; Siena, Peter, Jaden, Levi, Alexander and Owen. (Olivia, Lincoln, Porter, and Sabrina not pictured)
More pictures to come.

Yee Haa! Ride 'Em, Cowboy!

Here's the poster for our first component (modified from the main theme poster, which you can see in the first post).

The first "Yee Haw..." topic is Cattle Kingdom. This topic is much more detailed than the Pony Express and Ghost Town topics will be, but there was so much fun stuff that goes along with cowboys that I couldn't cut it short.

As you can tell, it's all about the visuals for us. We get this from our talented mother, Karen.

Theme Poster