Fall Break- Goblins, Ghosts, and Skeletons

For years, we've made trips to Arches National Park.  Every time we head down there, we've commented how some time we'd like to go to Goblin Valley State Park.  Jeremy and I love the movie, Galaxy Quest.  Parts of that movie were filmed in Goblin Valley.  That was part of the appeal for going to visit- to see the rock formations that were in that movie.
This year, since Jeremy has a Utah State Parks pass, we decided we were going to make the trip to Goblin Valley.  We planned for months to go during Fall Break... and we did.
Like our trip to Zion National Park during Spring Break, we got the kids up really early in the morning.  We expected a 4-5 hour drive, but it only took us 3 1/2 hours, so we were there nice and early (but not too early because we also didn't get out as early as we originally planned).  We spent some time at the Visitor's Center then went hiking among the formations.

It was so cool.  It was rocks.  Lots and lots of rocks.  Joshua said, "It rocked."  And the kids had a good time.

We found lots of little paths through and on rocks.  We went through what looked like a maze of rocks.  Some of the area we walked along reminded me of sand dunes, but you wouldn't want to run or jump down them since they were solid.

The night before, we showed the kids the scene in Galaxy Quest filmed in Goblin Valley, so while we were there, they got up to an area where they could cheer, "Gorignak!  Gorignak!" like in the movie.  Those kids are so cute.

After hiking, we had a nice lunch at the viewpoint overlooking the rock formations.

It was such a neat place, we really want to go back and visit again.
We joked how this was like a Halloween-themed trip since we were going to a place called "Goblin Valley" and we were listening to Fablehaven on CD, parts of the book with goblins.  We even saw a rock formation that looked like a witch's face, complete with pointed nose and chin.

Since we did get such an early start (which included good parking), we got an early start back home as well.  We went a roundabout way when we left the park to try to get some birding in.  We will not be going that way again.  Sigh.  We didn't get a lot of birds and it added way too much time to the return trip.
On the bright side, we were able to continue with our Halloween-themed trip.  Since we were on a different road, we were able to stop at a place called "Ghost Rock."  The rock was okay, but the view across the road was gorgeous.

As we were driving, we also saw some interesting vehicles.  We passed a truck carrying trailers filled with pumpkins.

We also passed a van with bikes on the back.  Sitting on one of the bikes was a skeleton.  Ha Ha Ha.  It was awesome.

It was a really good trip and I'm glad we had this family time together.

Happy Birthday, Jr. Jr.

We recently celebrated Jr. Jr.'s birthday.  He brought balloon animals to the kids (and teacher) in his school class and brought home some treats himself, including a pair of huge sunglasses.

After the learning experience with the candles on Jr.'s birthday cake, I went out and bought a bunch of candles.  I was so proud of myself for being prepared for Jr. Jr.'s birthday.  I even used a variety of colors among the five birthday candles on his cake.  Did you catch that?  The FIVE birthday candles on his cake.  I think I may have even lit them and was about to take the cake to him to blow out the candles when I realized... Jr. Jr. wasn't turning 5, he was turning 7.  Sigh.  We'll just say I'm cute again.

I added the right number of candles and everyone was happy.

The End

Busy Birding Week- Day 4

A couple weeks ago, I had a busy birding week.

Saturday, October 14, our family went on our own trip to Antelope Island.  We had a nice picnic and walked around the ranch and of course drove around looking at bison and birds. 

There was a nice bison near the visitor's center who stayed in one place for a while letting us take pictures of it.

The highlight of the trip, though, was playing Hide and Seek in the long grass of the birding area of the ranch.

Jeremy taught Lucky to call out "Marco" when he couldn't find people so easily.  The hiders (including me), had to respond, "Polo."  That was so much fun.

It was a busy birding week.

Busy Birding Week- Day 3

A couple weeks ago, I had a busy birding week.

Thursday, October 12, I went for a walk with my friend, Emily.  As we were walking, we saw some Evening Grosbeaks and I just had to get pictures.  Emily is so patient with me.

We had a nice discussion about birds and migration while we were out, since we're seeing more of the birds that spend their Summer in the mountains coming down to the valley.  It was fun.

Busy Birding Week- Day 2

A couple weeks ago I had a busy birding week.

Wednesday, October 11, was It's My Party Day.  I could cry if I wanted to, but instead I took a day off.  Dawn to dusk, starting the day on the Southeast side of the lake and ending it on the Northeast side of the lake.



I spent some time birding along River Lane with a little walking along Sandy Beach.

Then I visited Bicentennial Park in Provo.  Last time I went, the boardwalk area was closed off, but it was open this time.  Hooray.

I spent some quiet time reading at the Orem Library, stopped at home for a quick break, then treated myself to a fast food lunch.

I visited Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point to look at birds and flowers and for some personal scripture study in the Light of the World Garden.

When I left it was getting to be rush hour so I skipped the freeway and went to a park in Saratoga Springs next to the lake to finish off the evening.  The traffic wasn't nearly as heavy when I headed home.

It was a beautiful day and a well needed break.

Busy Birding Week- Day 1

A couple weeks ago, I had a busy birding week.

Monday, October 9, I went on a birding field trip with some other birders to Antelope Island.  We left early enough to avoid traffic on the way up so it was so cold when we got to the causeway.  Cold, but worth it.  I got a life bird and some first of the year birds that trip. 

It's always nice to be around other birders and hear about some of their experiences.

Taco Day 2017

Taco Day was October 4.  This year, we made taquitos.  Yumm.  We'll make them again.  They were good.

Name Your Car Day 2017

October 2 was Name Your Car Day.  We already named our vehicles, but while Lucky and I were visiting the library that day, I mentioned to him that our van is named after a nursery rhyme.  He got excited about that and has been telling all of us ever since then what our van's name is.  So cute.
So on Name Your Car Day, we checked out a book of nursery rhymes and read them together.

Really Seeing the Fall Colors

A week after the Women's Broadcast we went for a drive during the second session of General Conference.  It was National Public Lands Day (free entrance to National Parks and lands) so we went up American Fork Canyon for free.  We listened to Conference on the radio and looked at the Fall colors.  There were Fall colors, lots of Fall colors.  Gorgeous.

We drove the Alpine Loop with a detour to Cascade Springs.  I wanted to get some close-ups of the colors so I got out to walk down the trail a bit.  I made it all the way to the Springs before finding any decent vegetation for close-ups.  Sigh.  But I was able to get my pictures.

 

It was a beautiful drive and again Conference was great.