Our Vacation, Thy Creations, and Our Relations- Part 10

Cow Appreciation Day was July 9. As we were driving, I called out, "We appreciate you," a few times to cows we were passing. Tee Hee.

 

Road Trip! 

We decided a couple days before that day that since we were in Washington, we could go to Mount Rainier National Park using Lucky's National Parks Pass. We also found out that now you have to have timed reservations to get into certain areas of the park... between certain hours. All our kids are used to us getting them up early for trips, so we were able to get to the park early enough we got in no problem. 

 

Welcome to Jurassic Park, err... Mt Rainier National Park.

Jeremy's parents came with us and it was nice to share that experience with them. It reminded me of when we went to Yellowstone with them in 2017. I visited Mount Rainier once when I was a child and it was so foggy, we could only see glimpses of the mountain from time to time while we were walking around. This trip the sky was so clear, we could see so much. It was gorgeous.

We took so many pictures (with our phones and our Nikon camera) that it's hard to narrow down which to put on this post so bear with me.

We got some tips from Utah's Adventure Family about places to go and Jeremy did some research so we had a plan. We went up the Paradise Corridor through the Nisqually (Southwest) Entrance to the park. It's a good thing we went in the morning as it got busier and busier throughout the day. We didn't do some of the things we planned to do and that's okay. We had a full day with what we did.

 

Christine Falls

Ricksecker Point

 

Narada Falls

See the fence toward the top left of this picture?

That's where we are standing in this next picture. And you can see the bridge I took that last picture from at the top right of this picture.

It was a short hike for this waterfall. Jeremy, Lucky, and I decided to go down and back up and it was pleasant. The mist felt so good.

We told our other kids when we got back up that we got a picture of the waterfall. This is the picture. Tee Hee.

 

Nisqually Vista Trail

Look at that smile. Jeremy was happy to be there.

We got to see where the Nisqually River comes from the Nisqually Glacier.

It was definitely a hike, including hiking across snow on the trail that had not yet melted.

How Nichole takes a break in the middle of hiking

How Jeremy takes a break in the middle of hiking

 

Lunch Break

We stopped at yet another overlook (we stopped at so many).

Look. It's Narada Falls again but from a very different angle.

 

Reflection Lake

At first we thought the lake was too choppy to see the reflection, then we reached a point where people were going right up to the edge of the lake to take pictures and when I went there, I could see why. There was a still part right at the edge protected from the wind blowing across the rest of the lake. There was the reflection.

Longmire Museum. 

Outside the museum was a cross section/tree slice (aka cookie) showing different historical events during the tree's life. That was cool.

The museum also had a gift shop. My father-in-law likes any excuse to get me slug themed items (slugs are my thing). They are easier to find in the Pacific Northwest. Go figure. He got me a banana slug plushie which Jet immediately claimed. I'm happy to share. The boys named it Timothy. Jet took his hat off (which he also claimed. It's actually Jr.'s hat) and put it on Timothy but when we got back in the van he took the hat off and said, "No, banana slug. That's not your hat," while pointing his finger at Timothy in a scolding manner. Heh Heh.

It was a long but wonderful day.

 

I'll share more of our wonderful vacation later.

More July Holidays

Let's jump into catching up on more July holidays.

July 7 was Father Daughter Take a Walk Day. Jeremy was not available that day so I took Nichole for a walk into a store to get hair stuff and makeup. Girl time. Woohoo.

It was also Macaroni Day so we had macaroni with our dinner.

July 10 was Teddy Bear Picnic Day. We had a picnic with teddy bears and non teddy bears on the living room floor. We made sure to invite Eeyore so he wouldn't be sad. Jr. picked a lovely location for us- Ordon Village.

We ate chicken patties for Cow Appreciation Day on July 11. Reminded us of a certain chicken place's advertising.

July 13 was Embrace Your Geekness Day. I like to call it Embrace Your Geek Day. I made sure to get a picture embracing Jeremy while wearing my Jurassic Park shirt.

The kids played chess with a Legend of Zelda Chess set.

July 14 was Mac & Cheese Day so we had shells and white cheddar and added macaroni.

It was also Shark Awareness Day. I bought gummi sharks for this holiday but forgot to get them out so we had them along with gummi worms on Gummi Worm Day, July 15.

 

We celebrated Nichole's birthday in July. We quickly turned the fan off before there was any candle... situation.

Chili Cheese Fries With Hot Dogs Again

It's that time of year again. July 13 is National Beans 'n Franks Day and also National French Fry Day so we had Chili Cheese Fries with Hot Dogs again just like we had for the past two years.

As it was Embrace Your Geekness Day yet again I gave Jeremy a big hug as we looked on the internet at a Star Trek Next Generation Bluetooth Communicator Badge. Fun.

Cow Appreciation Day was that day as well. The boys played a game called, "Bulls and Cows." Every time Jr. would mention cows in the game, I would say, "It's Cow Appreciation Day."

Birding Weekend

So much catching up to do. Wish me luck.

 

Before Jeremy and I went on our "date" on Saturday the 17th, the kids and I went along a portion of the Provo River Trail to look for birds. 

I think the highlight was the rooster who was hanging out by the bank of the river overseeing the ducks swimming around. That and the cows that were mooing. They got Jet mooing, too.

Sunday, we all went for a drive to look at birds. We went to several spots. The highlight: the domestic geese with their cute little fuzzy goslings. So adorable. The kids all wanted to take pictures with the camera (except Jet). Their favorites:

Nichole

Jr. Jr.

 Lucky

 

Jr. told me to pick my favorite of his pictures. I love this one.

 

While we were in the van, we snacked on Animal Crackers. Why? Because April 18 was National Animal Crackers Day, of course. It was also Velociraptor Awareness Day so while the kids were watching the goslings, I was watching a cormorant swimming around. I've often thought cormorants look like dinosaurs. 

Here's a picture from 2016 since I can't find a picture on my blog. Dinosaur, right?

 

That evening the kids made dinner. Nichole made jalapeno pasta. Jr. made baguettes for everyone. Jr. Jr. made chocolate covered bananas. Lucky provided broccoli and blueberries (but not together).

Monday, Jet and I went for a walk in the same area along the Provo River Trail again. This time we had fun listening to the little goats bleat. Jet was baaing back at them. That was the highlight for me. I enjoyed hanging out with my little guy on Hanging Out Day, April 19.

So that was our birding weekend.

There's so much more to catch up on but you know... May is about trying to survive the last month of school and other activities so bear with me.