Redefine Cloud Nine

Spring Soccer

2010-05-15T11:03:00.009-05:00

End of the Seminary Year!

2010-05-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

I taught Book of Mormon, early morning seminary this year.

It was a challenge, but these kids were amazing and made it a great experience.

Don't Go!

2010-05-12T10:51:00.000-05:00

Todd had his first day back at Skadden today.

Max wasn't too happy about it!

Last Day in Lima

2010-05-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

Resting in Cuzco

2010-05-05T19:10:00.005-05:00

River Rafting down the Apurimac

2010-05-02T16:34:00.005-05:00

Hiking Wayna Picchu and Touring Machu Picchu

2010-05-01T14:11:00.007-05:00

Descent to the Sun Gate and Machu Piccu, Part 2

2010-04-30T12:58:00.028-05:00

Decending to the Sun Gate, Part 1

2010-04-30T11:54:00.017-05:00

Day 5: Dead Woman's Pass and Beyond

2010-04-29T16:47:00.019-05:00

Heading off to the highest point on our hike...

Dead Woman's Pass. We made it!

Cairns.

More ups and downs...

Our porters passing us.

I was totally exhausted at this pint and our campsite was in view...just down a ways and up another hill. Then Todd sees a very steep path up to another ruin. I was cursing him with every step up, but it was worth it once we got up!

This campsite was breathtaking. We were above the peaks and clouds looking down on the world. We had a really long day of hiking, so we were super tired and exhilarated at the same time. We were used to the altitude at this point and feeling like the toughest part of the trail was finished.

The ruins near the campsite.

Day 4: More Hiking on the Inca Trail

2010-04-28T15:17:00.001-05:00

We woke up to a donkey grazing right next to the tent.

Breakfast time.

We loved our cook. He had a big smile on his face all the time.

On the trail again.

This day was a shorter distance, but very difficult. We were glad that we could stop and camp and have some time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

The views from our campsite were amazing. It's hard to believe we were so high up, communing with the clouds.

Day 3: Hiking the Inca Trail

2010-04-27T07:56:00.005-05:00

Our journey to the start of the Inca Trail brought us to this little town where we met our Quechua porters and gathered the last of our supplies.

And off we go on a perfect day.

Our campsite for the night.

Day 2: Cuzco, Peru

2010-04-26T19:15:00.007-05:00

The beautiful Hotel Picoaga in Cuzco, which is my favorite because they put delicious chocolates with caramel and pecan on your pillows at night.

Touring the city.

Above is the Temple of the Sun. Inside you can see the original Incan walls, the Spanish architecture built on top, and modern improvements on top of that. It's a very interesting tour.

The ruins at Sacsayhuaman.

Our Peruvian Adventure Day 1: Lima, Peru

2010-04-25T18:54:00.001-05:00

We flew into Lima and stayed in the Miraflores neighborhood. It's right on the beach and has plenty of places to eat, shop and explore. We liked hanging out in the Parque del Amor with it's low, winding mosaic walls overlooking the ocean. It is definitely a make-out spot for the locals, inspired by the "El Beso" statue sculpted by Victor Delfin.

We had out first taste of Inca Kola.

Mmmmmm!

Ford Theatre and the National Zoo

2010-04-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

We were able to see a short play at the Ford Theatre about the assassination of President Lincoln. Then we went to the Zoo.

Exploring Washington D.C.

2010-04-01T13:05:00.000-05:00

We had a great time exploring D.C.

The kids were able to do Junior Rangers for the National Mall and President's Park.

Our feet were really sore after this trip!

Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington D.C.

2010-04-01T12:40:00.000-05:00

Gettysburg National Military Park

2010-03-30T12:24:00.001-05:00

We spent the day exploring Gettysburg.

The kids had fun with Junior Rangers.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

2010-03-29T11:45:00.012-05:00

On the road again for Spring Break. Our first stop was at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Haiku for You

2010-02-18T11:25:00.002-06:00

Maddie's class put on a great show today, full of asian inspired songs and artwork. I loved seeing Maddie sing her little heart out with all of her friends.

She was so excited to share her haiku and the computer animation she created.

Maddie's Mardi Gras

2010-02-16T11:18:00.000-06:00

Maddie, Sophie and Madame Stosur celebrated Mardi Gras today in French class.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Max's 6th Birthday

2010-02-13T10:55:00.000-06:00

Max had a great time in Wisconsin Dells with the family for his birthday. I forgot my camera, so presents at home and his new short haircut are all I can share.

He kept putting water in his hair so that he could spike it up taller.

Max with his new Book of Mormon figurines.

The big birthday breakfast: Pancakes, Pringles and (caramel) Popcorn.

I love you Max!

Once in a Blue Moon

2010-01-13T12:58:00.008-06:00

New Year's Eve

We played Mario Cart and Mario Galaxy.

We played Zingo.

We counted down...

AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE!!!

The kids insisted on sleeping together.

Do you think they got any sleep?

Christmas Day

2010-01-12T15:33:00.010-06:00

We had a quiet Christmas day.

It snowed non-stop, so we went sledding...

...until Maddie's sled broke. She was sad.

So we cheered her up with hot chocolate and candy canes.

Christmas (Crazy) Morning

2010-01-12T14:47:00.012-06:00

Maddie and Max wanted to start a new tradition this year.

They decided to wake up in crazy morning (anything before 5 a.m.) and roller skate. According to The Friend magazine, that is what kids in Venezuela do on Christmas morning. They had to skate in the garage, but they had fun!

My favorite part of Christmas morning is the stockings.

Santa and the Reindeer brought Zhu Zhu Pets for the kids.

I always try to give special things that the kids aren't expecting. For Max, I sewed his patches from the road trip onto a sweatshirt. He put it on immediately. Yay!

For Maddie, I found a cute train case for her to put her girly nail stuff in. I filled it with Lucky Bee Bee charms. She was so excited and happy.

I think I did good this year!

We has freshly baked chocolate filled croissants for breakfast.

Merry Christmas to you!

Twas' the Night Before Christmas

2010-01-12T14:34:00.004-06:00

We had some friends over for a nice Christmas Eve dinner of, what else, homemade Chinese food. Yum.

Before bed we all open one present.

Pajamas!

Then the kids take down their stockings and pick a spot where Santa will gather all their presents to open in the morning.

Now for the visions of sugar plums!

Christmas Sunday

2010-01-12T14:23:00.003-06:00

These are the photos I wanted.

This is the photo that the kids wanted.

Maddie's Girl Scout Gingerbread Event

2010-01-12T14:13:00.002-06:00

Maddie and I had a great time at Gingerbread Night. All the Girl Scouts and moms got together in the school gym. It was fun seeing all the creativity from the girls and getting cool tips and tricks from the professional gingerbread guys that came to help us.

Maddie will deny it, but I think she may have sampled more candy than made it on to her house!

Max's Holiday Party

2010-01-12T13:54:00.008-06:00

When I arrived to help out with Max's class party, the class was gathered on the rug singing Christmas songs.

This is how Max crafts.

The kids had candy cane sled races...

and donuts on a string.

It was a fun little party.

Once there was a snowman...

2010-01-12T13:43:00.002-06:00

The snow was perfect for building a snowman on this day.

Good thing the kids got out there because the next few days and weeks got so cold that the snow wasn't sticking anymore. Now our snowman is buried under all the other snow that has fallen!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Christmas Enrichment

2009-12-21T18:56:00.003-06:00

The house is all decorated for Christmas...presents all wrapped. I needed the house looking nice for our Christmas Enrichment.

About 40 women came. Somehow they all fit pretty comfortably.

It was a really nice night.

The Christmas Tree Hunt

2009-12-21T18:36:00.007-06:00

I have fond memories of going to the Christmas tree farm with my parents and sisters to cut down our family Christmas tree. We would sing carols, get cold, drink hot chocolate, finally decide on a tree, hack it down and then carry it back to get netted and tied to the car. We'd get sap on our hands and get excited about decorating the tree with our collections of ornaments from years past.

This year I told Todd we were not going to Home Depot for a tree. I wanted something more special. The problem was, we had no time to go to a farm. We had just gotten home from vacation. We needed a tree to be decorated that same night for a ward party at our home the next day. I thought the perfect compromise would be Cosley Zoo.

We had a great time looking at the animals and seeing the lights. There were rows and rows of lovely trees.

The only problem: They were all too small.

So guess where we ended up?

HOME DEPOT!

And we did get it decorated that night!

This Is The Place Monument

2009-12-21T18:19:00.005-06:00

A Single Tear

2009-12-21T18:08:00.002-06:00

Max has begun saying things like, "How could you? You're my mother!" very loudly...in public. He has even added the single tear to it. Yes, he can make himself cry a single tear while making his eyes very big. When he can't squeeze out a crocodile tear, he goes into the bathroom and drops water onto his face. Really.

His latest pitiful comment: "Nobody wespects me."

The Baptism

2009-12-21T17:51:00.013-06:00

On the way to the church.

My mom made a white dress for Maddie's doll May.

All wet.

The girls and the dads walking together.

Madeline and Paige.

The Grandparents.

Getting Ready for the Baptism

2009-12-21T13:47:00.007-06:00

We took Maddie out today to get all the things she needed for her baptism. We found the perfect white dress. (It was the twirl that decided things.) We also found some sparkly white shoes and her very own set of scriptures.

Paige and Maddie were exhausted after a full day of shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-12-21T13:44:00.002-06:00

All the cousins under the same roof!

Good times.

Museum of Science and Industry

2009-12-21T13:31:00.010-06:00

We met our friends at the Museum of Science and Industry today. The kids enjoyed creating lego structures and exploring the You! The Experience exhibit.

Activity Days

2009-12-21T13:23:00.003-06:00

Maddie is old enough to attend Activity Days now. At her first meeting she made Apple Cider Jelly. She loved the smell of the boiling mixture and could not wait to get home and have it with bread and butter.

St. James Farm

2009-12-21T12:35:00.008-06:00

We took a wagon ride around St. James Farm today. It was a really nice day out. Perfect for getting some fresh air and exploring outdoors.

Madeline's 8th birthday

2009-12-21T11:49:00.018-06:00

My sweet Madeline is eight years old today. She is my innocent one with her head in the clouds. She loves to write and draw and make up her own magazines. She loves to form clubs and have best friends. She has a big, brave, kind heart.

She woke up to lots of present and balloons this morning.

Then three of her best friends came over. We walked over to the nail salon on the corner. They all got their nails and toes painted.

We walked back home and had a fun lunch of creamy chicken soup in gigantic bread bowls.

Maddie requested a chocolate cake filled with vanilla ice cream.

When you cut it open, the ice cream is shaped like a heart.

After lunch, we did crafts. They beaded bracelets for their American Girl dolls and themselves. Then we made teeny tiny treats for their dolls. They made mini croissants, mini s'mores, mini cinnamon rolls, and mini doughnuts. It was a lot of fun.

May got new glasses today!

Maddie was really excited about having a miniature ice cream cake before bed time.

Tour of Springfield, IL

2009-12-21T10:24:00.018-06:00

We toured Lincoln's Home in Springfield, IL. The kids did the Junior Rangers Program there and earned badges.

Next we went to the Lincoln Linbrary and museum. The exhibits and shows were really well done. We were entertained all day here.

Max and Maddie dressed up as Abraham and Mary. Max worked really hard to perfect the half smile/half frown that Lincoln was famous for.

We also toured the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices and the Old Capital Building.

We may have a future lawyer on our hands. Max started giving a speech when we were in the Representative Hall. He stuck his chin up, puffed his chest out and shouted, "What came first? The chicken...or the egg? You need an egg to make a chicken. You need a chicken to make an egg..."

Fall Leaves

2009-12-21T10:17:00.002-06:00

The kids were so excited to rake leaves. Max just wanted to sit in a big pile of them. He sat there for the longest time, so content. Maddie was trying to make leaf angels and pathways all over the lawn.

Halloween Night

2009-12-21T09:50:00.012-06:00

On Halloween we went trick-or-treating with two families from church. The kids had a great time. Maddie had a few girls to run around with, which always makes her happy.

Max was feeling good this year. He was leading the pack. One lady made the kids sing "King Tut" with her before she would give them candy!

We all had a nice dinner together afterwards. The hot soup was great after tromping around in the cold!

The sorting.

Trick-or-Treating in Downtown Glen Ellyn

2009-12-21T09:31:00.009-06:00

I love the community activities in Glen Ellyn. We trick-or-treated the downtown shops today with hundreds of other kids.

The kids enjoyed this guy and his one-of-a-kind Kalliorgel, a mechanical wind instrument.

Maddie found her window painting to show Todd.

Max showed us the secret message he wrote on the window.

MAX RULES!

Halloween at Forest Glen

2009-12-21T09:07:00.009-06:00

I was able to visit the kids in their classrooms today. It was fun to see all the kids dressed up and having fun. The Halloween parade was indoors this year due to rain.

Trunk or Treat

2009-12-21T08:58:00.002-06:00

The kids won the "Best Historical Character" prize at our ward party. It was a proud moment.

Here they are freezing their Egyptian tails off in front of the trunk Todd decorated.

Carving Pumpkins

2009-12-09T16:01:00.002-06:00

Maddie's New Glasses

2009-12-09T15:54:00.002-06:00

Maddie got her new glasses today.

When she failed her eye exam at school, she was worried. Tearfully she said, "I tried my hardest, Mom!" But after her appointment with the eye doctor, she felt a lot better. She picked out the boldest frames they had! Black front with blue backing. All her classmates made a big deal about them and made her feel special.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-12-09T15:38:00.004-06:00

We took the kids to see Where The Wild Things Are at the movie theatre today. Max was so excited to wear his "King of the Wild Things" costume. Every teenage girl in the mall gave him oohs and aaahs as he passed by. Every once in a while during the movie, I would see him stand up and raise his paws up in the air along with the action.

He really does think he's king of the world today.

What a funny little boy.

Sunny Acres Pumpkin Farm

2009-12-09T15:14:00.014-06:00

It was really cold out at the Pumpkin Farm, but that didn't stop the kids from going on all the rides.

The favorite of the day was the flying swing.

Painting Windows for Halloween

2009-12-09T15:09:00.004-06:00

Maddie's Brownie troop walked downtown to paint windows for Halloween. Max and I joined in the fun. It was a little rainy, but really fun.

(I forgot my camera, so I had to settle for cell phone pictures.)

Guayaquil, Ecuador

2009-12-09T14:13:00.012-06:00

Driving from the airport into the city, we caught a glimpse of Las Penas neighborhood and the Cerro Santa Ana Lighthouse. The colorful hillside is one of the things that makes me want to visit Gauy again. I need more time to explore this city! I want to climb up that hill!

Guayaquil has a tougher and less traditional feel than Quito. The last ten years have seen a lot of urban renewal and dramatic changes in infrastructure. The Malecon 2000 is a boardwalk that borders the Guayas River. Restaurants and shops are interspersed with gardens, monuments, public art, and play areas, and anchored by a theater and museum. I would have loved to spend some time there, but our city tour was mostly in a bus. We got an overview of the city, but I didn't feel we really experienced it. Maybe someday!

We did get to pop into this cathedral. Across the street is one of my favorite places from out trip. Iguana Park. There a hundreds of iguanas of many different species covering this small city park. Every branch of every tree has an iguana laying on it. Kids and their parents are here playing with them and feeding them. It is bizarre and lovely.

I would love to take the kids here. While I love Quito, I think the kids would get more enjoyment from what Guayaquil offers. Also, the elevation is lower so they would be more comfortable too. Now I just need to convince Todd to take us all to Ecuador!

Galapogos, Seymour Island

2009-12-09T14:00:00.015-06:00

Blue Footed Booby, mid-dance

I loved seeing the Frigate Birds puffing out their throats.

We ended our day back on Isla Santa Cruz at Darwin Station, home to Lonesome George.

Lonesome George is the last Pinta Island Tortoise known to be alive. Maddie and Max are very upset to know that he is the last of his kind. They have decided that they need to go meet George before he dies.

The Galapagos, Bartolome

2009-12-09T13:25:00.013-06:00

Seeing this Galapagos Penguin was definitely a highlight!

Sally Lightfoot Crab

The Galapagos, Isla Santa Cruz

2009-12-09T13:07:00.015-06:00

How I felt on our first day in the Galapagos was sort of captured by this picture of the Sea Lions, or Lobos Del Mar as the locals call them, lounging on the back of this boat. I saw that and knew we were going to have a great trip. I don't know what it was. The laid-back accessibility of these animals is just endearing and amazing.

You can see the fishermen here cleaning their fish. The Frigate birds are scavenging from above because they can't get wet. The pelicans are surrounding the boat. It felt like a Hitchcock film.

We ended the day by hiking to Las Grietas, a beautiful spot where you can swim and jump off the rocks.

Quito and Otavallo, Ecuador

2009-12-09T12:47:00.012-06:00

The Winged Virgin of Quito

Quito is an approachable city with warm and open people. I loved the cathedral that features animals like anteaters and llamas instead of gargoyles. The kids out selling candy and things made me a little sad as I thought of my own kids. I wouldn't want them hitting the streets alone.

On a whim we decided to drive out to Otavallo to shop at the handicrafts market there. They had the best quality and prices of all the places we went on our trip.

What a great day. We saw a lot of scenery, neighborhoods and tried a lot of new foods that we could not have done without this trip to Otavallo.

Mitad del Mundo.

The middle of the world.

Eating Cuy.

Yes, Guinea Pig tastes just like you think it would.

Maxwell's First Day of Kindergarten

2009-12-09T12:29:00.009-06:00

Max's school picture, taken at orientation.

Max, before leaving for the afternoon bus and his first day of Kindergarten!

Max was so excited for school and his first time on the bus. He made fast friends with the neighbor girl, Olivia. They had fun playing while we waited for the bus.

No, that's not a paper bag on his head.

It's a Dr. Seuss hat that he made in class.

Madeline's First Day of Second Grade

2009-12-09T12:00:00.008-06:00

Maddie's school picture.

Forest Glen does school pictures at orientation, before the school year officially starts.

Maddie, before heading off to the bus stop for her first day of Second Grade.

She is getting so tall!

Madonnari Off Main, An Italian Street Chalk Festival

2009-12-09T11:39:00.014-06:00

I love the community activities in Glen Ellyn. We had a great time at the Chalk Festival. These artists were amazing. Our favorite piece was the Ben Franklin that looked stretched out at you walked up to it, but standing in a certain spot was in perfect perspective. I guess there is some mathematical way of transferring art this way. So cool.

We bought the kids their own square of pavement to participate. They collaborated on Noah's Ark. They got totally chalky and artistic. It was awesome.

Charlotte's Web Theatre Hike, Morton Arboretum

2009-12-09T11:22:00.004-06:00

Max, Todd and Madeline getting ready for our Theatre Hike.

The play was Charlotte's Web. At different points in the play, we all got up to hike to a different locations. This provided a fun way for scene and scenery changes.

We had a good time. It was a beautiful day.

Animal Houses 2009, Morton Arboretum

2009-12-09T10:58:00.011-06:00

We had a nice day at the Morton Arboretum looking at the "Animal Houses 2009" exhibits. 11 oversized animal houses were installed throughout the grounds for kids and families to experience life as an animal and how trees play an important role in habitats.

Madeline's Clean Out

2009-08-31T18:29:00.006-05:00

Instead of enjoying the first few days of a new school year, Maddie was admitted to Children's Hospital for a "clean out." Basically it is a two week round of IV antibiotics to clean out her lungs. We have never had to do this before, so I was pretty devastated. She was super brave while getting her PICC line in. After that, the tests and treatments were not scary for her. She was in contact isolation, so she was not able to have kid visitors, but her friends Brendan and Aiden came by anyway to make faces at her from the hallway.

The hospital staff somehow knew that Madeline loves cats. They had a stuffed Lion, a "Tired Little Tiger" printed gown, a fancy pillow case, crafts and a Welcome poster waiting for her when she arrived. That definitely put a smile on her face.

We were able to take her home after a week and continue the IV medications on our own. I was so scared to do the infusions myself.

(I always imagine that I will mess everything up entirely.)

I have done it once before. A friend of mine showed me how to do it when they were doing IV's at home. She knew I'd be doing it someday. I was nervous then and it was only until I completed a whole day on my own that I began to feel confident.

It was sort of empowering actually.

Maddie heading home!

For kids with Cystic Fibrosis, coughs are an every day thing. It's healthy for them to cough. But when I know that one of the kids is having a flare-up or their lung function has gone down, every cough scares me. When they can't breath, I can't breath. You can tell me everything will be fine, and I know that it will, but I still hold my breath.

Welcome Home: Glen Ellyn, IL

2009-07-23T15:37:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone reading my new blog will take the time to flip through my road trip posts. (I meant to post as we were going, but never had the time to do it.) Just click on the archives to the right starting with May, then June and July. That is the fastest way to get through all the excitement.

I want to hear if you have visited the same places or plan to some day, so make sure to comment!

The kids had great attitudes the entire trip, even without the DVD player that I forgot to buy. (I thought we would be stopping off at a Walmart for that one!) They were fun and adventurous and happy wherever we were.

Madeline's highlights were the Redwoods and Arches and Mount Rushmore.

Maxwell's highlights were Great Wolf Lodge and Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop.

Todd's highlights were Humboldt National and State Park and his Mom's house.

My favorite's were the Redwoods, Bryce Canyon and the Biggest Ball of Twine.

Their backpacks got heavier and heavier as the trip went on. Here they are now, covered in badges and memories.

So now we are home. I am so excited to sleep in my own bed and have a clean toilet and shower at my disposal. And I almost forgot about the washer and dryer and other clothes. (I have been wearing the same sweatshirt and jeans rotation for far too long.)

We are worn out. We definitely need some pajama days.

You know, the days when they take a bath and then put on clean pajamas and just wear them all day?

Love those days.

Now where are we going, Mom?

2009-07-22T18:53:00.000-05:00

As soon as we got into the car for the long haul home, the kids started chatting about where we were going next. I told them, "Nowhere. We are heading home." Max handed Maddie his note pad. "Maddie. Write down this list for me. O.K. When we get home, we are going on my road trip. And everybody has to follow my plan for our next road trip." Maddie dutifully wrote down his itinerary as follows:

1. Great Wolf Lodge

2. Cousin Paige's house for 2 months

3. Utah Grandma's house

4. India

5. Africa for a Safari

6. Hawaii

7. The Rainforest

8. Space

9. California Grandma's house

10. Great Wolf Lodge

After his list was complete, he read it to us. I said, "Max, that sounds fun. I'm up for it."

Todd quickly chimed in. "But Max, you have to be older to go to India." Max was shocked. "What? Older? What do you mean? How much older do I have to be?" I think Todd decided on 16. He explained that you have to be bigger and tougher to be able to handle the heat and the germs that other countries can have. Surprisingly, Max accepted this and he and Maddie started thinking of other things we could do for the rest of the summer.

I have a few ideas of my own. I want to visit Madeline Island, one of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. I want to visit our friends the Katzoff's in Saint Louis. I want to go to Springfield and the Illinois State Fair. I want to do a million things. But first... I want to rest and make sure Maddie is healthy. She has developed a cough on this trip that has me worried.

Homeward Bound!

Henry Doorley Zoo: Omaha, NB

2009-07-22T14:04:00.002-05:00

The Henry Doorly Zoo is one of America's best zoos. We were excited to visit. Todd was especially looking forward to exploring the Desert Dome.

There are a lot of zoo keeper chats throughout the day. Here the kids were able to pet a snake.

In the Lagoon Island exhibit, there were a bunch of little Spider and Squirrel Monkeys climbing around on this man-made Banyan tree that the kids were playing in. There were many places in the zoo where the animals were right out with you, not caged away.

The Skyfari was fun.

Maddie and Max enjoyed feeding the Budgies and petting the goats.

We had a nice time at the Doorly Zoo, but we are ready to get home. We have been gone for a month and a half now. We need to get back to our own beds and stay in one place for a while.

Sod House Museum: Gothenburg, NB

2009-07-21T17:13:00.014-05:00

The Sod House Museum was another quick stop we made. I liked being able to go inside the Sod House to see how some of the early settlers lived.

Why a sod house?

Well, the first thing these settlers had to do was to provide a shelter for themselves and their families. Because there was a scarcity of trees, and importing lumber very expensive, they turned to the very land they walked on. Having seen how the Indians used the sod to create a home, they followed suit and soon were building their homes out of sod blocks. This led to the settlers sometimes being referred to as "sodbusters."

If you are looking for barbed-wire art or face-in-the-hole photo opportunities, this is your stop.

Pony Express Station: Gothenburg, NB

2009-07-21T15:52:00.002-05:00

We made a quick stop here at one of the original Pony Express Stations. The door was open as we walked up. Maddie was asking me where we were going. I tried to explain a little bit abut the Pony Express to her. Then she said, "Oh, and then they made it into a gift shop?"

Pretty much!

They do have some artifacts inside as well.

A little history: During the time from April 3, 1860 to late October 1861 the Pony Express riders were providing the fastest mail delivery between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California.

In total there were 183 men that were riders for the Pony Express during this period of just over 18 months. They had to be young, skinny men, not over 18 and must have been expert riders. It was said they had to be willing to risk death daily and that orphans were preferred.

The end of the Pony Express happened on October 24, 1861. The route could not be continued with the outbreak of the Civil War, the lack of getting a government mail contract, and the debt incurred by the owners.

Fort Cody: North Platte, NB

2009-07-21T11:18:00.000-05:00

Why visit Fort Cody?

Because it is the only place to stop for a

loooooooong waaaaaaaays.

Don't get me wrong.

I love this place.

One of the main attractions is the Two-Headed Calf.

You can take your picture with a strange pretend native american guy.

Our favorite part was Buffalo Bill's Miniature Wild West Show that runs every half hour, and features over 20,000 tiny hand-carved figures populate moving dioramas of Bill's show, which traveled across America and even to Europe in 1877. (The scenes were created by Ernie and Virginia Palmquist over a 12 year period.)

They have an Old West Museum in the back also.

And of course an awesome gift shop.

Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center: Westminster, CO

2009-07-20T15:28:00.006-05:00

We had a great time at the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center. They have nice, hands-on experiences and a fun play area.

Max got to hold Rosie the Tarantula.

He asked the lady, "Can you put it on my head?"

The butterflies loved Judge and Tatum!

They have a great play area that gets the kids feel bug sized.

Picking their favorite butterflies.

Eldorado Canyon State Park: Eldorado Springs, CO

2009-07-20T11:10:00.005-05:00

Maddie and Max had a great time with their Colorado cousins! We went to Eldorado Canyon State Park, had a nice picnic and played by the river.

I have to say, Colorado is gorgeous. I could live there quite happily. (Not that I want to move again. Don't get any ideas Todd!) My niece and nephews are so cute, smart and fun. They are funny, confident and spirited. Maddie and Max had the best time hanging out with Tatum, Judge and little Tag. They did not want to leave!

Colorado National Monument: Fruita, CO

2009-07-19T10:01:00.011-05:00

We started our explorations of Colorado National Monument at the Visitor's Center. The kids got their Junior Rangers books (which were the nicest, full-color booklets we have seen on the whole trip) and decided on which hike to take. The Canyon Rim Trail was a half mile hike along the edge of the canyon.

Maddie and Max were constantly reminding us to stay on the trail so that we "don't bust the crust."

Sweet little Madeline started feeling light headed about half-way through the hike. She was pale and just wanted to lie down. Todd carried her back to the Visitor's Center to cool off and hydrate.

She started feeling better, so the kids were able to finish their booklets and earn their Junior Ranger badges.

We took the Rim Rock Drive down and out of the monument. It is a lovely, 23-mile scenic drive. The road seems almost inseparable from the monument. There are many pull-over spot for incredible views and photo moments.

Unfortunately, we should have gone the shorter way out since we had Maddie feeling a little fragile and Max getting carsick everywhere.

My worst road trip nightmare come true: "Only 22 miles of scenic road to go kids!"

Canyonlands National Park: Moab, UT

2009-07-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

Canyonlands National Park is definitely a dry desert, 4 wheel drive, back country park.

The Green and Colorado rivers separate Canyonlands into three distinct land districts: the scenic overlooks at the Island in the Sky, to the remote canyons of the Maze, to the thunderous rapids of Cataract Canyon. There are no roads that directly link the districts. Although they may appear close on a map, traveling between them requires two to six hours by car.

We chose to visit Island in the Sky, mainly because it was the closest to Arches and has many overlook areas that you can enjoy on a nice air-conditioned car drive.

We took a little hike out to Mesa Arch which was amazing. The overlook from here was gorgeous.

Once again, we wished we had more time to explore. We would have liked to see Upheaval Dome, but we didn't want to press our luck with the heat.

The Rangers here were really nice. They had activities for the kids set up in front of the Visitor's Center at regular intervals which was a nice surprise.

When the kids finished their Junior Ranger program, they earned a "Don't Bust The Crust" pin by learning about the biological soil crust on the desert floor.

Know Before You Go: Horseshoe Canyon is a detached unit of the park. It contains some of the most significant rock art in North America. The Great Gallery, the best known panel in Horseshoe Canyon, includes well-preserved, life-sized figures with intricate designs. The rangers told us that it was a long, tough hike, and not very scenic...but worth it to see such an amazing "gallery."

Arches National Park: Moab, UT

2009-07-18T09:24:00.005-05:00

When we arrived at Arches, the first thing Maddie and I wanted to do was hike to Delicate Arch. Todd didn't think the kids could handle it. I think that made them want to do it more. So off we went.

There is a fun little overlook arch that you can climb up into and take pictures with Delicate Arch in the background.

We made it!

Max was nervous about the slope in front of the arch. He made his way very carefully.

The kids and I are the dots in front of the arch.

We made it back down and were able to follow a little path to some pictographs.

Next we made our way to Double Arch. This was a shorter hike, but really fun. You can climb up into the arches quite a ways.

The kids finished their Junior Ranger activities.

We got up early the next morning to make the hike to Landscape Arch in cooler conditions. After watching the park movie about how chunks had recently fallen out of this particular arch to make it even thinner, Maddie was insistent that we not miss seeing it. She said, "It may not be here the next time we visit!"

Know Before You Go: Moab was definitely the hottest area we have spent time in so far. Like over 110 degrees at 9 in the morning hot. Get up early to hike in cooler temps. Or don't go in July like we did!

Capitol Reef National Park: Torrey, UT

2009-07-17T20:20:00.014-05:00

Capitol Reef National Park was a nice surprise. We had fun driving through the area.

We have seen a lot of rock on this road trip, but here we saw a greenish layer that we had not seen elsewhere.

The kids completed the Junior Ranger program here. While on our way out of the park, we came across the historic Fruita Schoolhouse and some petroglyphs. It was so cool to see these old pictures carved in stone.

Know Before You Go: In addition to the Junior Ranger badge program, Capitol Reef offers a Junior Geologist program where kids can earn a patch. This is only done on Tuesdays during certain times of the year.

Bryce Canyon National Park: Bryce Canyon, UT

2009-07-17T14:12:00.006-05:00

Bryce Canyon National Park is an incredibly beautiful place. I was blown away by the architecture of the rock. It is a hoodoo wonderland.

Is looks like an enchanted fairy land.

Or an ancient, crumbling fort.

Maddie and Max were resting and waiting for the ranger talk on geology.

Here they are becoming Junior Rangers. Todd bought them ranger hats afterwards.

We watched the Visitor's Center movie, Todd's favorite part, and Max fell fast asleep.

We barely scratched the surface of this park. We were able to visit many f the scenic outlooks. We did a few small hikes. But we definitely need to come back and hike down into the hoodoos on the Fairyland Loop.

The kids were so worn out because we have been on the go for so many weeks now.

The heat makes it difficult for them also.

I hope we can bring them back when they are a little older and stronger to explore some more.

Know Before or After You Go: Your kids can become official Geodetectives by visiting the Geodetectives portion of the Bryce website. Learn at least three new things about geology and they will mail you a cool patch.

Red Canyon: Panguitch, UT

2009-07-17T13:06:00.001-05:00

Red Canyon is a beautiful area about 9 miles from Bryce Canyon and in the Dixie National Forest.

Earlier in the road trip, Maddie had hatched a plan to get Todd a walking stick for Father's Day. She found one here and was so excited when I let her get it for him.

The kids surprised Todd with it before we set out for Bryce.

Happy Father's Day!

Zion's National Park: Springdale, UT

2009-07-16T15:34:00.007-05:00

Zion's National Park requires more time than the two days we spent there. We wanted to stay longer because there are so many hikes to take and things to do. We were not able to stay out all day because of the heat. We made sure to rest and play in the river or our hotel pool so the kids didn't overheat.

On our first morning, the kids attended a three hour Junior Rangers Class. (They are serious about making you earn your patches here.) Todd and I took the shuttle up to Weeping Rock. It is a short hike up to a place where water seeps out of the side of the cliffs.

We took the kids on a hike to the Emerald Pools. This is another spot where the water is seeping out in a mini waterfall. You can stand almost underneath the fall and get misted. The kids enjoyed that. After we hiked back down, Maddie wanted to play in the river to cool off. It was a fun way to cool off before lunch at Zion Lodge.

As we were leaving Zion's, we drove past Checkerboard Canyon. It was really cool.

Know Before You Go: Kids can earn patches by attending a Junior Ranger class. They can also earn a badge by attending a family program or filling out an activity book at the Visitor's Center. We did both. Two of the big hikes we wanted to take are not child friendly. (We need to come back with a sitter for the kids so we can hike The Narrows and Angel's Landing.) Also, you may want to learn how to control the exposure on your cameras, because I didn't and all my pictures are over-exposed.

Tuacahn Amphitheatre: Ivins, UT

2009-07-15T16:39:00.002-05:00

My Uncle Mike recommended that we check out the Tuacahn Amphitheatre near Saint George while we were in the Zion's area. They were showing Annie. Yay! My favorite! (My mom made me an Annie costume when I was little. And an enormous Annie doll too.)

The outdoor amphitheatre is set right in the middle of the red cliffs.

The kids enjoyed the play and the snacks.

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Cedar City, UT

2009-07-15T08:04:00.006-05:00

We arrived back in Utah and drove south. Our first stop was Cedar Breaks National Monument. It was a great start to our Southern Utah experience. We had gorgeous weather, the rocks were alive with vibrant color, and the wildflowers were blooming.

Cedar refers to the juniper trees that were mistaken for cedars that grow on the slopes below the park. Breaks describes the eroded badlands where the edge of the plateau breaks away to a lower area.

We were there during the Wildflower Festival and their 75th Anniversary celebration.

This is definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. If I remember correctly, it is near Brian Head Ski Resort.

The kids enjoyed the Junior Rangers Program. We attended an animal talk and hiked through the wildflower path.

Golden Gate Bridge: San Francisco, CA

2009-07-13T11:58:00.003-05:00

Today we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.

My mom came with us.

The kids did great.

Almost to the end!

Max was very dramatically tired about halfway back.

After the big walk, we went into San Francisco to visit one of Todd's sandwich shops. We were able to have a nice lunch at The Toaster Oven, chat with his partners, and then walk over to the new location that is almost ready to open on California Street.

The Toaster Oven