Tag: 2013

Creepy Crawlies

I’m sure you all have bugs of your own. Those you see and love, and those you smash and kill. For me, it’s been interesting to find some of the creepiest, crawliest bugs I’ve ever seen right in my back yard.  With Halloween this week, I figured now was a good time to really find out what those bugs are.

Box Elder Bug – These things swarm in the fall and I often find them on my windowsill, wall, even my bathtub. My kids can easily pick them up (they’re not the quickest). They don’t seem to hurt people but I’m not sure they do much for Box Elder trees.

Fuzzy Orange and Black Caterpillar – I like to call these Halloween Caterpillars because of their coloring, but apparently their real name is Pyrrharctia Isabella. This video is a throw back to when Big E was barely more than a baby, but the caterpillar is still cool. Last year we brought one in the house to see what it would turn into, but somehow it disappeared from the box and is now probably hiding under my bed.

Banded Alder Borer

Zebra Thing – I think this is a beetle of some sort but, c’mon it looks crazy right? It’s actually a Banded Alder Borer which lives in dead hardwood trees like Maple and Alder. This photo is from the website www.whatsthatbug.com, which was very useful in identifying these critters.

Enjoy some of the creepy crawlies from our neighborhood! Happy Halloween!

Stewart Falls, Sundance, Utah

Well Blog Readers, we finally did it. Many of you may remember that on my 30th birthday back in January I made a list of 30 adventures I wanted to have this year. One of the toughest on that list was to hike three miles to Stewart Falls with Big E on his feet the whole time.

Well it’s finally happened. Accompanied by his trusty Jengo Fett blasters (can you guess what Big E wants to be for Halloween?), Big E, little g and I made it all the way to Stewart Falls with Big E walking the whole way! Along the trail we saw beautiful golden aspens and dark green pines, and loved the autumn sunshine.

Hooray! Hooray! Happy Day!

Little g was in the hiking pack and I was grateful for that. She ended up asleep by the time we reached the falls, and would’ve stayed that way on the way back if Big E hadn’t enthusiastically yelled at her to see the cool rock he found.

The whole hike took two and a half hours there and back. It would’ve been shorter if I had not missed the shortcut turnoff back to the trailhead.  That unfortunate lapse of attention added thirty minutes onto an already tiring trip.

Trail Info:
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Tips: Don’t miss the shortcut turnoff!

Motherhood Moments: My baby’s not a baby anymore!

Happy Birthday little g!!

My baby is officially two years old. I’ve found myself smiling more than ever with her conversational attempts (Happy Bir-day Mama!) and the world of her imagination. She pushes her brother’s cars and trucks around in her new baby stroller, and constantly makes me smile.

But with all her exuberance for life, there is a feeling of loss in my heart too. I know other parents know what I’m talking about. She’s a big girl now, wanting to choose her own clothes (notice the shoes she is wearing), do her own thing and not wanting mom to be in charge anymore. I know the terrible twos are about independence and growth, but I’m reluctant for this new stage of normal.  

As little g’s mom I want her to explore her world, learn new skills and become independant. But I also want her to always be my sweet little girl. I guess being a mom means I’ll take what I can get, and I’ll try to just be grateful for that.

Little G Info:
Favorite Toy: Baby Doll Stroller
Favorite Activity: Anything her older brother is doing.
Least Favorite Activity: Getting her hair combed.

Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park, Ogden, Utah

Happy Anniversary Ogden Dinosaur Park! This year marks the 20th anniversary of the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden and the tots and I went to check it out, along with their cousins.

 

 

Ogden Dinosaur Park consists of a museum surrounded by a collection of outdoor dinosaur statues and a children’s playground. Little g and Big E most enjoyed the dinosaur playground where you slide down a Pteradactyl, climb inside a dino skull and run under a Brachiosaurus.
What little g didn’t like were the dinosaur noises sounding in the bushes. She spent most of the time with hands over her ears to block out the noise.
From Triceratops to Brontosaurus we explored the gardens on a quest to find the coolest creature. The kids all decided this was it – Velocoraptor! It was fun to see the dinosaurs in their “natural habitat”.
Inside the museum were fossils, interactive displays and complete dinosaur skeletons. The best part for me was an animatronic T rex and Triceratop family that moved like real dinosaurs did (I imagine). There’s also an area to watch paleotologists brushing, catogorizing and caring for dinosaur bones in real time.
Although the museum was cool, my tots and I visited it as almost an after thought since the outdoor dinosaurs were so fun. It was also cool to see the Halloween decor set up for their Haunted Halloween Carnival. If you’re interested in that you better act fast, October 25 and 26th are the final days!

 

Info:
Price: $7.00 adults, $5.00 kids ages 2-12
Time: 1-3 hours
Tips: Check out their different seasonal activities at www.dinosaurpark.org.