WELCH FAMILY: vacations

Monday, June 06, 2016

Moab Giants

Since we were heading up to Utah Valley to attend cousin Emma's baptism and to drop Curtis off with his parents, we decided to make a small vacation out of it. We left home as early as we could so we could get to Moab right when Moab Giants Museum opened. We wanted to be able to walk around and see all the replicas without getting heatstroke. Even at 10 am it was really hot.

This museum is very new, having just opened in the last year. We watched it being built and when we saw the large replica dinosaurs out on the grounds, we knew it was something we were eventually going to spend the money to go to.

Fortunately for us, they have a 'locals discount' that allowed our whole family to get in for under $40. For a family our size, that's a real bargain. (last year it cost us about $120 to get into the aquarium in SLC) We did the Dinosaur Walk first thing, then went back and watched the movie and went into the actual museum part. Then we went into the gift shop and bought some souvenirs. I was surprised that even their gift shop prices were not extreme, it seemed quite reasonable to me. They also have a cafe, which looked like it had good food, but we didn't go into it. Maybe next time.

Here are some fun photos of our adventures:

The gang just inside the gates, ready to go...

The whole thing revolves around dinosaur tracks and how they formed and created.

Every different replica has a placard to explain what type of track it is and gives an example of the type/species of dinosaur that would make that kind of track.

Sadie channeling her inner 'raptor'

Just the right height for a 'smooch'!

I was blown away by the size of this one...

I absolutely can't imagine being near a live creature this size. The ground would've literally shook with each step...

And can you imagine the size of it's 'cow-pies'?

Had to do a little cheer stunting to be able to reach the tip of its tail...

They had a few places set up for fossil digging. There were misting stations for the waiting and watching parents. It was a very welcome thing.

The salt cedar was in bloom....I love the color and feathery nature of its blooms.

Had to do a little rodeoing on the Triceratops. I loved that there were some replicas that were open for touching and climbing on for photo opps. That made it a lot more fun.

Charlie going for his 8 seconds...

Soren trying to stay on his wild mount...

James wasn't too sure about being in the 'hot' seat.

It really was hot and was hurting his legs...

Sadie was pretty comfortable on hers...

Hannah was multi-tasking...yoga and rodeo at the same time...

I've seen large skeleton exhibits before but to be able to see a fully fleshed replica was incredible. I'm so glad they are extinct. I would hate to have run into any one of them...herbivore or carnivore.

This was the final replica, the piece de resistance....The T-Rex

Can you just imagine that thing chasing you?

I loved how they put it in a perfect place for a great photo.

I thought the kids did a great job 'running' away.

Sadie seems to know something Cambria does not!

Soren and I were in trouble....he was catching up with us fast...

They had a playground and some other fun things to climb around on....

Sadie trying desperately to save Hannah

Charlie doesn't look too scared for being in a T-Rex's mouth...

Looks like he got Sadie, too.

Soren trying to escape

They had some really cool exhibits inside the museum. This one was really fun for the kids. It had a couple of games that were projected onto the floor, one was Tic Tac Toe, and the other was a track recognition and trail game. It had some other interactive things, like you stand near an exhibit and act like you're trying to catch little dinosaurs as they run past. The other people can stand by a monitor and see you on screen as you try to catch the little CG dinosaurs.

Hannah and Soren playing Tic Tac Toe

James doing one of the other activities

They also have a short 3D movie about the creation and evolution of the earth. Of course, it is depicted from an evolutionist viewpoint. But the 3D graphics were cool and don't we look cool in our sweet shades?
(We often talk about creation and evolution. I don't know what processes Heavenly Father used to create and shape this earth, nor how long it took, and it could very well have happened exactly like the scientists think. But we always emphasize that the earth was created by Heavenly Father for a purpose and that was for his children, who we are.)

My crew waiting for the movie to start

The glasses were a bit large for James' head....

I would not include this picture but James wanted to take a picture of me so I thought I would put it on this post. I think he did all right, even though he so wonderfully captured my extra chins. ;)

this is a much better angle

They also had this cool swing in the playground. All of my kids who tried it declared that we need to put on in the backyard, or in their bedroom!

Soren

Isn't he dressed well for Moab? A black T-shirt and dark gray sweatpants???

Hannah

Cambria and Hannah

James

We had a blast at this attraction and I'm glad we took the time and shelled out the money to visit. It was well worth all that we spent! I hope we'll be able to go again when they get their 5D aquarium opened up. #MoabGiants

Monday, June 29, 2015

Welch Reunion - Day at the Lake/Beach

On Tuesday we spent the day at the shore of Bear Lake. This is actually the third time we've been to Bear Lake for a family reunion and it was by far, the best time we've ever had there. The first time we went we spent time on the shore further north and it was not soft or fun to walk on and the water was choppy and filled with floating pieces of bark that stuck to your skin. The second time we went, 2 years later, I didn't even go to the Lake. I didn't really like the JetSki the first time or the 'beach' so opted to stay at the condos while everyone else went to the Lake.

The house we stayed in had bikes to use, including this tandem bike. No, we did not ride it to the beach, someone else did, we just borrowed it while there. :)

Still hard to make sure I get in some pictures....My kids are so much cuter!!

This time, 12 years later, we found the perfect place to play on the beach. If you go to the little city park in Garden City and park in that parking lot, there is a boardwalk from that parking lot to the lake. We found a big sandy piece of beach and set up our 3 popups for shade. The water was very shallow for a long way out and therefore, was nice and warm and fun to walk in, splash in and play in. The shallow area was huge and provided plenty of space for all the kids to play. To get on the JetSkis you had to walk out a ways to deeper, colder water. Dennis (Medea's husband) also rented a paddle board to use, and there were plenty of squirt guns and other toys.

Our base camp on the beach. Even Grandma and Grandpa made the effort to come. Grandma was having some back issues and we had to wheel her back to the parking lot on a bicycle. Thankfully she has lots of big strong boys to help!

So fun spending relaxed time with cousins and getting to know them all better. Some we don't see often since they live soooooooooo far away.

It was easy to spend the entire day there. We actually ordered pizza and ate it on the beach. People came and went as their needs dictated. Those with little kids didn't spend as long as those whose kids are grown. But it was really the most perfect beach day I've ever had. Wishing we had had another day to spend there.

This is the younger crowd of cousins, mostly boys...

I had fun watching James play and getting his picture. In this picture you can see all the shells they picked up on the towel. That occupied their attention for quite a while.

He was pretty intent on whatever he was doing.

It took him a while to get used to being in the water.

Such a sweet boy, enjoying his first warm day on a beach...

There were lots of seagulls, who were very hungry.
They kept trying to steal our pizza. They were
successful a time or two when a little guy didn't
keep a good eye on his plate.