Independence Rock

Yesterday we read a children's story/picture book from the library about the Oregon Trail. At one point in the story the pioneer kids painted their names onto Independence Rock. So we decided on a whim to write our names on the (sad looking) Independence Rock on our wall. We interrupted our reading to do it (you gotta take the opportunity when it knocks!) then went back to the rest of the story afterwards. We put our names, the date, and our ages (although the pioneers probably didn't put their ages). It was a fun experience.


"I'm writing, but Alexander writing. And Alexander wants to write on the piece of paper but it's not a white piece of paper, it's a brown piece of paper. It's supposed to be Independence Rock. And pioneers wrote their names on that like Alexander and Mamma and Lincoln did on that. So you can see a picture of me doing that too. And pioneers liked to write their names on that too, because that's a special time to do it." -Alexander


Alexander was so obliging for the pictures!


Maybe we should have used a Sharpie so it would show up better.

We just got a whole bunch of great pioneer library books. I was thinking of doing a post about them. Amanda, I'll pass them on to you when we're done. Or you can come read them at our house!

Here are some Independence Rock photos I found in a Google Image search:

historytogo.utah.gov/.../photo_exhibit/13.html

http://myancestry.org/pictures/IndependenceRock.jpg

www.caspercomsci.com/pages/wyoming.htm

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

Porter Rockwell Trail

We can squeeze this into the "theme." It's the Porter Rockwell Trail and we might as well visit all things Rockwell. Kids loved it. I loved it. And I got sunburned.

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.