Family Weekend

Some things couldn't go better if they were planned.

We told the kids we had gift cards to Cafe Rio so we were all going to go out to eat. When we got to the area, Jeremy parked near the movie theater and got out to "see where the restaurant was." Oh, it was within walking distance so the kids and I got out and started walking with him. As we were walking, I saw the movie poster outside for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I just "happened" to be wearing my Mario shirt that day, so I made everyone get in a picture with me with the poster. Isn't that fun?

As we walked past the doors to the theater, Jeremy went inside briefly and told everyone there was a bigger poster right inside so I made everyone go inside for another picture because I was wearing my Mario shirt and it would be fun.

Then Jeremy spotted an even bigger poster by the podium where they check tickets, so I convinced the kids who were already outside again that we just had to get another picture together with that one. I was wearing my Mario shirt after all.

Then Jeremy continued on to the podium and we all followed, where he showed our tickets for... you guessed it... The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. We kept following him to the auditorium and our seats. 

Once we were inside, Jet kept asking if we were getting our food. The kids knew about the restaurant but not the movie. This was Jet's first time watching a movie at a movie theater so I had to explain that we were going to watch a movie first. We figured this would be a good one since he likes The Super Mario Bros. Movie and he's getting better at events. He used to try to wander around during orchestra concerts. He's been learning, though, and he did well watching Lucky's play. He did well with this movie and there were enough other little kids making noises that it was fine if he made noises or asked questions, too.

We all enjoyed it. It was a fun movie. It was a good one to watch as a family since we all like the first movie and Mario video games. It was a good surprise for the kids.

Jeremy and I didn't know about all the posters so that just added to the surprise because the kids really didn't know what was going on until that last poster. We've been known to take pictures with posters without going to see the movie before.

 

Afterward, we did go to Cafe Rio to eat and that was fun, too.

We went home for bathroom breaks then since we still had time in the day, most of us went to the library for a bit. People had movies and books to get and Jet got to do a library activity and earn a sticker. 

Then we went to a park because it was off and on kite flying weather. Nichole brought her kite she made in high school.

 

I got a walk around the park. Jet (and kids) played on the playground. It was a lovely evening. 

 

The next morning we got up early to drive to Idaho because our newest niece was getting blessed by her daddy, Jeremy's brother, so we wanted to go to support them. 

Jet was happy to shout out, "Road Trip!" every time I got a picture of us in the van.

We made good time and it was so nice to see family again. Jeremy's parents were also visiting for the baby blessing, so I made (asked nicely) my father-in-law take pictures of us since we don't have any family pictures yet this year (besides selfies- as you see from this post). Jet learned from someone at school I think to do the peace symbol in pictures, so that's what he was doing in all the pictures this weekend, until we made him stop briefly to get a nice family picture. I didn't think it counted if your fingers are in front of your face for all of the pictures. He's such a ham. I love it.

On the drive home, we went through a dust storm. Low visibility. Before we even got to the low visibility point, it was windy enough that tumbleweeds were tumbling across the road. So when it was low visibility and high wind...

Some of the kids were playing video games in the back and I commented how I was playing my own video game- dodging tumbleweeds. I got to the point where I slowed way down and put on my hazard lights so I could adjust my driving based on the tumbleweeds. Apparently I didn't dodge them all because I found this the next day.

We did make it home safely. The dust storm we were driving through only lasted a little while. I could see the headlights of the vehicle behind me so I knew they could see my hazard lights. I couldn't see the vehicle in front of me even though I knew it was there, but if they didn't slow down as much as me, then there was even more space between us. It was crazy but not too scary. We've been in scarier driving situations. I think it wasn't as scary because the traction on the road was fine- different than icy/snowy roads. We did comment how if we saw flying cows (get that reference?), then it would be more of a problem. I didn't want things flying at our van, though there were a few tumbleweeds that flew across the road instead of rolling. It turned out all right.

  

It was a wonderful family weekend.

Lucky showing his balancing talents in a moving vehicle.

Bison Day 2020

This year National Bison Day was on November 7. We'd never celebrated National Bison Day before and since we learned about it on our National Days calendar, we made plans even before our Fall Break trip to celebrate on Antelope Island.

Here we go!

On the way, we were stopped at a light and the vehicle in front of us had a sticker of a purple bison. Jeremy commented that it was "like the kind Atreyu used to hunt." Some of the kids got the reference and we started discussing that movie. I commented how surprised I was that we hadn't yet broken into song which of course started the kids singing "Neverending Story" which then turned into a medley with "The Song that Never Ends." Sigh.

When we got to the island, I started singing, "Bali Hai" from South Pacific since the mist/fog on the lake made me think of it, which is funny because in the movie, Bali Hai is almost an unattainable "special island," and the area I was looking at was the area we had already driven past to get to this island. Not so unattainable. Tee Hee.

 

There weren't any bison where we stopped for lunch this time. After lunch, the kids and I (Jeremy stayed in the van with sleeping baby) went for a little walk. It didn't last long when one of the children wouldn't follow directions. Grumpy Mommy came out but she only lasted so long, thankfully.

It turned out to be a windy day on the island. Nichole brought her kite she sewed in one of her classes at school... just in case. We ended up finding a spot where the kids were able to fly it.

At one point we were stopped and I had my window rolled down to take pictures of some bison. All of a sudden the wind changed and blew sand right into my window and on me- on my clothes, in my hair, in my mouth. The kids got a big kick out of my exclamations and sputtering.

Another time, we were parked to look for some birds. Jr. opened his window and stuck his head out. I love the result when he pulled his head back in.

We got pictures with bison statues. Again I love that the wind picked up for Jr.'s picture.

Look. It's a "sky" bison and Jr. Jr. is floating. He must be an airbender.

 

Jeremy shared some facts about bison such as... bison are adapted to cold climates. They can handle extreme cold weather as well as the heat. They can handle temperatures that would kill off cattle. Lucky pointed out that bison are herbivores.

 I love that we captured this picture with the bison's tongue sticking out.

 

As we were about to leave the island, we got to a pullout where a bison was coming up toward the road. We were able to pull over and just watch it for a while. It's always fun to watch bison up close (from the safety of your vehicle) amble along in front of the vehicle. I've enjoyed it on Antelope Island. I loved it on our trip to Yellowstone in 2017. I don't mind so much cars being backed up when it means there's wildlife to be seen.

So I'd say in general it was a pretty awesome (and pretty windy) Bison Day.

Swan Day

We went to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge for the annual Swan Day today.  We got there early (and the auto loop is currently closed) so we had a nice family walk on the trails outside the visitor's center. 

When we got to the visitor's center, there was an animated movie playing, The Trumpet of the Swan.  There were also other activities for people to do.  Nichole made an origami swan (paper crane?) and Nichole and Jr. Jr. made kites.

Since we couldn't drive the auto loop to see the migrating tundra swans, we got directions to another spot where there were scopes set up and more activities for the kids.

It was a good family day.