Home on the Range

Destined for stardom . . .

Status Quo

How are all my loved ones out there? Here everything is same old, same old. Just a ballerina and a pirate watching cartoons.

Summer Fun at Red Butte Garden

Here are James and May examining a plant together at Red Butte Garden. The kids and I spent a couple of days exploring the garden this summer, and each time I was so glad we had gone.
Any of you who have spent extensive time with May this summer know that she is into pretty dresses, singing, and flowers. She couldn't be happier with spending her day wandering around and looking at the wide variety of plants and flowers at the garden.
She tried to show James how truly magnificent the flowers were. James thought they were pretty, but he was more excited about exploring the side paths and finding the water play area.
So May ended up glorying in the beauty of nature on her own. If I couldn't provide a name for the flower, she named it herself. There were large white blossoms that she dubbed "Grandma Flowers," small, button-shaped white blooms that she named "Grandpa Flowers," and flowers with a black center and red petals that she called, "Red Bee Flowers."
Here she is in all her glamorous-ness. Too bad her knees and hands are all muddy from kneeling down to see the flowers better.
Fortunately there is a water area in the children's garden for rinsing off and relaxing.
And some giant lizards for posing and cheesing.
Here is James looking for fish in the koi pond with his friend Isabelle.
Here is May pointing at some stepping stones, which she attempted to use to cross the pond and ended up rather wet and sad. Mostly she was upset because she thought the koi were going to eat her.
And here are the children running away across the meadow. Come back!

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

Here are the kids playing "Vacation." I like how James looks like a cross between a traveling salesman and some sort of big game fisherman (also he's wearing slippers). May, on the other hand, looks ready to go on her cruise. Or to Cabo. Or wherever those pampered heiresses like to party.

International Peace Gardens Pic-Splosion

If you've never visited the International Peace Gardens in Jordan Park, I highly recommend it. A couple of weeks ago the kids and I went on a big "Explore" there, and we had such a good time.

James was excited about the Eiffel Tower, until he got close and saw how tiny it was.


The Korean Garden had this beautiful wall that we just had to stop and admire.

We enjoyed all parts of the Zen Garden:
big red bridges,
ornamental stonework
and little red bridges.
We took a break to check out the Jordan River, which borders the park. We were just in time to see a guy taking his kayak upstream!

The Belgium Garden had some really cool hedges.
The mermaid pond was sadly empty,
but that allowed May to get an up close interview.
James found a tiny stone-henge looking thing.
Then we set off down this covered walk.
James couldn't believe how many trumpet flowers were overhead.

On to more bridges.

The kids found a tiny cottage.

And of course we continuously stopped to smell the flowers.
Although it was a long, hot walk, they were both good sports about it.
Finally, it was time to say goodbye to the gardens and all the wonders held within.
We journeyed across the parking lot to a playground for snacks, drinks . . .
and of course, playing!
I love finding fun new places with my two little explorers!