Our Vacation, Thy Creations, and Our Relations- Part 11

July 10 was Don't Step on a Bee Day and National Kitten Day. Creativity took over.

Jeremy's sister came to visit that day. It was nice to catch up with her.

Jet uncovered some slugs in grandparents' backyard. They weren't banana slugs but one was a leopard slug.

 

July 11 was Blueberry Muffin Day.

Road Trip!

When we went to Mount Rainier we saw where the Nisqually River came from the glacier. We wanted to see where the Nisqually River emptied into the Puget Sound so... Nichole, Jeremy, and I headed to Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. We love Nisqually Wildlife Refuge anyway. It's one of the places we always try to visit when we're in Washington.

 

Some highlights of this trip:

Bald eagle hanging out in what people told us was its usual spot, where we could walk right up to it... or right under it.

From its spot, we could look out and see seals sunning themselves on a sandbank. They were so fun to see. Adults and youngsters.

We also saw seals swimming in the water. There was a mama and baby swimming together that were so cute. Baby kept climbing on mama's back.

There were so many great blue herons out that day, both adults and juveniles. So many.

We went all the way to the end of the boardwalk, about a mile. 

From there we looked back at Mount Rainier which we had visited just two days before. So we went from where the Nisqually River started one day to where it ended another day. 78 miles.

As we were walking back through the forested area of the refuge, we stopped at a pond to see if we could find a frog. We found a frog then another then another. There were so many. I loved it.

We found out while we were there that this year was the 50th anniversary of the refuge so we just had to get a souvenir mug as it is one of our favorite places to visit in Washington.

I'll share more of our wonderful vacation later.

Exploring Somewhere New

One day, the kids and I made the trip to Wasatch Mountain State Park over by Midway. We may have driven through it once when coming back from Cascade Springs, but we've never been there.

I read some blog posts about it from Utah's Adventure Family, and wanted to take the kids to explore, so we did. We stopped by the duck pond at the visitor's center to see some birds. We saw a great blue heron flying in and landing by the reeds. After watching some barn swallows flying around, we saw a bald eagle flying close to the water then off into the distance. That was great. Those things are big. And they're not as common in Utah in the Summer. We expect to see them more in the Winter. So that was exciting.

We drove up to Huber Grove next to look around. There are pioneer buildings and informational signs about pioneers who lived in the area. They also have some nature trails so we all went walking through the woods then through the grasses where we got attacked by burrs, but mostly Jr. His pants collected the most so we all helped to get them off of him.

While we were in the grove of apple trees, a group of turkeys came for a walk near us. Two adults and several youngsters. They weren't bothered by us and we didn't do anything to bother them, just watched and took pictures.

Before we left that area, we had a snack in the van while listening to birds and watching squirrels run around. Then we drove to another place in the park where we thought about going hiking but it was too hot and we didn't get too far before we headed back to eat lunch in the van before driving home. The kids were done.

I enjoyed the trip with the kids and definitely want to go back. It's a lot closer than Antelope Island State Park (which we love) and I could definitely do more exploring.

That evening I went to a Relief Society activity. There was a chocolate fountain with things to cover with the chocolate and plenty of pleasant conversation. It was appropriate for National Junk Food Day on July 21.

A Room of One's Own Day 2022

I made it very clear to the kids that Tuesday, January 25, was going to be my day off. I would make sure they got to and from school then after school they were to take care of themselves and each other, including dinner and Jet. I had plans for how I was going to relax that afternoon/evening in my room for A Room of One's Own Day. I have fond memories of celebrating this holiday in the past.

It was to be my day off.

Sigh. Days off haven't worked very well for me lately, though. I won't go into all the details. Here are just some.

While the kids were at school, Jet and I started inventorying the pantry. Oh, he had fun by the end throwing things out of boxes as soon as I put them in. Oh well. Toddler. I didn't get everything put away by the time it was time to go get Nichole and Jr. from school so after picking up Jr. and setting sleeping baby down, I finished up. By the time I finished the others were home and people were asking me for things even though they knew it was my day off. 

I went to my room for some well needed Me Time then every five to ten minutes there'd be a knock on my door from kids wanting things. Then I could hear them fighting as well. I had plans for what I was going to do to relax in my room that day. Sigh.

I don't think it went as well as I hoped. It was not relaxing at all. And the one picture I got was of something I took while inventorying.

 

The next day, January 26, was Spouses Day. I told Jeremy I wanted to support him that day. It turns out he and I both had the same idea on how to support each other with dinner for these two holidays. Winco salads and pizzas. Jeremy stopped by the store and picked up a pizza for the kids and salads for himself and me, mine that I could eat in my room on A Room of One's Own Day.

That was what I had planned to do for Spouses Day. Pizza for the kids and salads for us. I did it anyway. So we had the same two days in a row.

 

Earlier in the day on Spouses Day, Jeremy invited Jet and me to go walking with him. As soon as we got out of the van at our destination, Jeremy pointed out a bald eagle sitting in a tree. It turns out there were several bald eagles in trees and flying around, both adults and juveniles.

An eagle landed in a tree along the trail as we were walking back. I was about to get a picture when I saw another flying so I waited for it to get in the picture so I could get both birds.

 

We had a lot of fun. It was good getting out. And I was so happy to see bald eagles.

Jet (waving): Bye, Bald Eagle.

 

Jeremy: Oh no. The dilophosaurus is eating you.

Jeremy and I did little things throughout the rest of the day to support each other. I love my husband.

Loony Adventures

Jeremy recently was able to see a new bird- a yellow-billed loon.
 

Actually there were two. 

Nichole and I wanted to see them so he took us to the place where he saw them. We didn't see them. We saw other birds but no yellow-billed loons. Just these loons.

Yesterday we decided to try again. We went to the same place and Jeremy was able to spot one of the loons on the choppy water of the reservoir. Nichole and I got a quick look because it kept diving under the water. Oh well. Jeremy and I watched a bald eagle fly over the water. That was fun.

We stopped at another spot and saw some other birds that may have been a different kind of loon. We couldn't get a good look. And there were these loons.

Jr. Jr. requested another muffin night like we did the end of October. So for dinner we had oatmeal muffins again, Christmas banana muffins, orange craisin muffins, and calzone muffins. There was some dough left over from the calzone muffins so Jr. Jr. and I made some braided rolls. It was fun to do muffin night again.

While we were eating, Lucky asked me to tell stories from my childhood. That went right along with #LightTheWorld for that day. Jeremy and the kids started making our balloon Christmas tree that day as well.

To Light the World today we delivered brownies to my sister. Lucky knocked on the door, ran back to the van, and when my sister answered the door, we sang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." One of her kids then came to the door so we resang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then her husband came to the door so we resang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then more of her kids came to the door so we resang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then my sister came out to her lawn while we stayed at the van and we got to chat for a bit. That was nice.

When we got home, Jeremy and the kids decorated the tree with balloon ornaments and a couple of the kids contributed lightweight ornaments of their own.

For dinner we had a salad bar since it is Radish Night on December 23. It is also National Roots Day which goes right along with radishes.

Lucky read a story to Jet and we continued getting ready for Christmas Day. 

We of course have been keeping up with the real reason for the season with our advent countdown to Christmas scripture study. We have been trying to do service for each other in our family as well as for others. #LightTheWorld for today is about sharing gratitude for gifts God has given. I will say that I am very grateful for #GiveThanks around Thanksgiving. It did help me to get in the right frame of mind for the Christmas season. Even though there have been some frustrating times this December, I've had a better time than some years. I'm grateful we read all of A Christmas Carol this year. I'm grateful we've still been able to do lots of things as a family. I'm grateful we've had some neat experiences in nature. I love nature and I believe Heavenly Father has given me a gift to appreciate the beauty of nature. I am grateful that unlike most years, we haven't really gotten sick this December so far and I think we're close enough to Christmas that it's safe to say we won't be miserable on Christmas. There really are so many things for which to be grateful, the best being the Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas, everyone. And of course in the words of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, everyone." He has and I recognize that.