Nature's Cool, Man

 

We Went Somewhere New

Road Trip! 

We tried something new. We got up really early in the morning (well, that part's not new) and drove to Northeastern Utah to a place we've never been- Flaming Gorge. It was gorgeous (pun intended).

On the way, as we drove past Strawberry Reservoir, Jeremy commented how it would be cool to see the moon's reflection on the water. Then guess what we saw. 

 

We went to a few places in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, including Red Canyon Lodge,

West Greens Lake Nature Trail,

 

and Red Canyon visitor's center area with a walk around the canyon rim for pictures and juggling (it's been a while since I've juggled in scenic places).

Apparently, in order to get a selfie with the whole family, I will be in focus and the rest of the family will be blurry. Sigh.

We crossed Cart Creek Bridge 

and visited Flaming Gorge Dam 

 

then headed out and South to a completely different area- Ouray National Wildlife Refuge and then Pelican Lake for some more birding. 

We stopped at a few more places on our way home including Strawberry Riverwalk in Duchesne 

(see previous note about family selfies)

 

and Pinion Ridge Rest Area where we went on another little walk around the trails there.

It was a long day but I think we all did pretty well. It was not hard to fall asleep when we got home.  

It was a great way to celebrate Play Outside Day on May 2.

I love family trips. 

Lots of Lights

December 6 was a day for being around holiday lights apparently.

Since it was St. Nicholas Day, we found candy in our shoes. Lucky let me know that he had learned about that holiday in the library so when he saw it on the calendar, it reminded him that it was that holiday so he went to look in his shoes.

I need to take a little break from writing now because Jet wants his turn so this is my way of doing service for him now- letting him type.

 

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Now it's my turn (after I edited his a little). 

Besides St. Nicholas Day, December 6 was also Put On Your Own Shoes Day. That happened. 

Since the lights are on at City Center Park now, I wanted to get out for a walk on the first morning I could, which was that Saturday (because weekdays during school, there's not enough time). You know I like going for morning walks there when the lights are on. It was Play Outside Day as well.

It was raining that morning so I was worried about going out until Jeremy encouraged me to unlock my "inner Oregonian" and I realized I could use an umbrella. So I went and got a good walk in the rain and enjoyed the lights (and an audiobook). 

That evening, Nichole needed to go some places for homework so I took her to the mall and to BYU, both places with holiday lights. 

She pointed out the cool Nativity they had on the windows of the library at BYU. 

The moon looked cool that night.

We ate breakfast sandwiches that night because it was Microwave Oven Day and I made sure to cook my egg in the microwave as well as sausage links. 

 

Star Party!

I am thankful for the Star Party some of us went to one night because of my son's Earth and Space Science class.

Members of the community brought telescopes so we could see different galaxies and stars, Saturn with its rings and one of its moons, and our moon when it finally made an appearance.

There were hot chocolate and donuts.

My sons had friends to talk to.

I got bad pictures with my phone because I was not going to use my flash at an event that requires darkness.

I did get decent (enough) pictures of the moon with our good camera.

 

When we got home that night, Jeremy and Jet were trying out some lights that would "dance" to music. Jeremy needed them for yet another balloon build out of state. He didn't need them to dance to music for the build but that was one of the modes of the lights. Jet sure enjoyed it.