Outdoor Challenge # 9

I am so behind posting our Outdoor Challenge experiences but because we did it as often as time allowed in our ridiculously busy schedule I want to document the fun things the girls were able to do as a result of it.

On the day Cassi, Cali and I made our first trek of the season to Capt. Cook Park, Cori went shooting with her (very proud) Daddy!

I don't think she enjoyed his large (I don't know the caliber) rifle. She said she was a bit afraid of it. But she thoroughly enjoyed shooting the 22 handgun. I think, in an attempt to torture me, she insists she will be hunting an Autumn season soon!  :(

Outdoor Challenge #11

First bear sighting of the season-Wayyyy to early.
This happened back on April 25th. That is amazingly early.  I was driving down our road looking at the trail and talking to my Dad on the phone.  I told him I thought I saw a moose but as I kept driving I realized it looked a lot hairier than a moose would be.

As I got closer, they galloped off down the trail. I jerked into my driveway, ran into the house and grabbed my camera, then ran back outside.  As I walked towards the trail, they were slowly grazing their way down the trail.

All I could get in my lens was Bear-butt. :) and I thought you might enjoy seeing it too!

2010-04-25

Outdoor Challenge #10

There are no limits to how my girls will spend their time outside. If anything stops them, it would likely be the cold. Rain however is no problem for us!

In early Spring we had some regular afternoon showers going on. (I am still catching up on posts.) Cassi took the opportunity to do some wet-chalk drawings. Then we snapped a few fun photos. :)

The Great Outdoor Challenge #8

Know what looks are not good ones!

The Great Outdoor Challenge #7- Captain Cook Park

So maybe I should call this my touring Alaska challenge.  :)

Yesterday we took a trip out to the end of the road. When you head North, you come to the end of the road, past Nikiski. I mentioned it in my #6 post.

The road stops, and then there is a muddy trail that goes until you run into the ocean.  They've talked about building a bridge to Anchorage but it may never happen!

If you turn left at the end of the road, a short distance in is Captain Cook Park.

We could not drive all the way in because there is still too much snow, we hiked down to the beach.
It  is home to our favorite beach in the nearby area.And although it takes us about 30 minutes to get there we go often in the summer and fall.

This trip was gloomy. It was raining some, snowing some, overall a fairly blah day. I feel like or pictures are sorely lacking color!

We did take some time to notice things around us. There were many massive boulders with melting ice on them.

They melting ice made some interesting designs in the sand.

We found some beautiful seaweed.

I wish I knew if I could dry it out and use it later. I wonder if it would hold it's color and would it stink?  Anyone ever tried it?

We found interesting rocks and clumps of mud balanced atop each other.

There were many areas of water run off and even a log that reminded us of a sharks' head..

Cali found a bungee cord which was stuck under a rock. It caused an intense amount of frustration when we couldn't retrieve it. We had to take a moment to regroup before deciding it was time to make our way back home.

It was a good early Spring trip although we've seen better. We are eagerly anticipating Summer with it's abundant sunshine and warm rays. Until then, we'll keep mucking our way around the Kenai.

The Great Outdoor Challenge #6- Getting Out Anyway

So, today we started with 9:00 am tumbling lessons, each girl had a half-hour lesson then they had a hour and a half class.  From there we had thirty minutes to grab a bit to eat and get to Cali's soccer game.

It's been overcast the whole day and rather chilly. After the game we came home for a short while, then we had to get Cori to a hair appointment. Whew, seriously, when we were done, most everyone collapsed. I could not get Cori, Cassi or Daddy (who is home for only 3 days) off the couch for love or money.

But Cali, she's game for anything. She was still in soccer shorts when we decided to head to Joanne's for craft supplies. After we got what we needed I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride and we ended up on the evacuation route.  The road that heads north and ends in Nikiski, Alaska has one way in and out.  This escape road was built so that in the event there was a problem at one of the refineries out there everyone could escape the area. When the kids were little we would drive the road and look for moose. We still drive it during hunting season.

Cali and I thought we'd head out and look for moose or anything interesting. We didn't find much but she found two things hanging on trees and she made me stop to get them. She got of out the car in her shorts and boots, hauled herself over and took them down. The black thing has a big hole in it and is trash.  The other one is fine but she insists we should cover it with beads and things and hang it. I'm just not sure what to think about her ideas sometimes. She cracks me up!

 While we were driving it started snowing, ugghhh!  We found a few interesting trees that were growing over sideways. We found these pretty funny.

After we meandered the escape route we took a tour through town. We were also in search of a "T" picture for our weekly amongst friends challenge.  We took several; the airport tower (which is really small here), the cages at the animal control shelter (for trapped) and even the Tesoro station (because our gas prices are creeping up again. :(

We may have to seriously think outside-the-box to get out and about but we are making it work for us. It's a bit non-traditional but we had the greatest time tonight. What did you do today to get outside and learn about the world around you? When you get out in it, it makes it so much more with saving. Even when all you can do is get rid of some trashy hubcaps off the trees. :)

The Great Outdoor Challenge #5 - Kids on a Tramp

There aren't a lot of words needed for this post. I just happened to look out the kitchen window and found my girls, two of them anyway, just jumpin'.  I took some photos as I watched them play; they were unaware.

Then I snuck outside and peeked around the corner and I cold hear them singing,
 "Little Sally Walker
 Walkin' down the street
 didn't know what to do
 so she stopped in front of me
Hey girl, do your thang
do your thang and switch."

Then they would flop around and they would switch with each other, and the other would sing.

It was simple, it was fresh, it was a sister moment. And I got to be a part of it. And no one was the wiser. ;)

There are a lot of folks participating in this challenge, Here they are! You will find lots of good ideas for outside activities and you might make some new friends!

The Great Outdoor Challenge #4- Snakes in the Grass

It's a different world we live in. Alaska is a beautiful place but it is cold.  For a long time. We are still at mid 30's all day long. We really only have 2 seasons. Winter and Summer. We have a short late Spring but it feels like winter. It's where we are right now. When Summer is winding down we move into Fall that lasts until early October.  Every now and again, we get a lucky year and have a warm Spring. Autumn might even keep Winter at bay for a little longer some years but it is very rare.

This Outdoor Challenge we are participating in is really a challenge because it's hard to continue to drag yourself outside in the sunshine yet still be incredibly cold. We are tired of wearing snow pants and winter coats yet it's too cold to be outside with out them for longer than a minute. It's frustrating.

This challenge has been encouraging and we persevere.  Our #4 outside experience was fun.
I found this sack of snakes at a garage sale about 5 years ago and it was the best few dollars I spent that day to be sure.  I decided to hide them for Cali and tell her some simple snake facts.

We don't have to worry about snakes in Alaska. Yeah!  I am not a fan of snakes and I'm grateful I won't be stepping on them as I run through the grass in the summer.

Some snakes like to sun bathe. One might find them lying on rocks by the pond.

Snakes also hide in holes and dark places, like divots in the dirt and grass.

Some snakes live in water, like the slushy areas around the snow where it's finally starting to melt. (not!)

Only in Alaska would your find a coiled snake near the moose poop :-)

Some snakes even live in trees. Keep an eye out over head.

Cali had such a great time doing this. I hid those snakes for her, then she hid them me and then I for her, then her for me and on and on. I did finally convince Cori to go searching one time.

Anyway, I guess the point is, while sometimes the weather is discouraging and sometimes it's cold. Every moment means something and even if it's just a short time spent together outside each day, it's worth it. Consider joining the movement, challenge yourself and get outdoors.

The Great Outdoor Challenge #3- A Simple Little Chat

We are participating in The Great Outdoor Challenge and a challenge it has been. We have statewide testing going on at school this week. I had two meetings tonight and both of the older girls had music lessons this afternoon. There seriously was little time to spend outside.

Even so, we decided to take a few minutes and share the moments of our day on the pond swing with a mug of hot chocolate.  The girls told me their frustrations about testing and I told them mine. Cali got up and down a few times to pick up some magical stick or rock or other thing she thought would be lovely for a future project. And we just huddled and talked and then laughed and enjoyed our cup of warm cocoa. 

I took pictures, I always do. In fact, half the time, I don't think they even notice. Once they do, they get silly and pose for shots like this.

This is my favorite picture tonight.  As my oldest daughter talked I sat across from her and watched her mannerisms. She looked so grown from this angle, the way she held her cup and crossed legs. I could easily imagine having a conversation with her many years from now, a young adult contemplating her future. 

While this challenge isn't always easy I'm finding it's bringing us together. And we are taking a minute or two each day to linger, study, observe and appreciate the world around us. I guess it means it's a game we're winning.

These folks are winning too. If you'd like to see how others meet this challenge head-on, check them out.

Visit the other Great Outdoor Challenge players-
lisa, sanders, angelina, phyllis, sarah, christie, jennifer, debbie,dong dong, denise,luisa, joy, stephanie,
cori, alex, dawn, kristen, catherine, tricia,becky, christy, ruth, kari, courtney, branflakes,jessica, renee,
haiku, brynn, amy, clemencia, sherry, leslie, lise, renee, Janet, jenn, marina, amy, ella, marcia, karen, beth,
julie, kyndale,kelly, lizzie, eileen,ag,

Great Outdoor Challenge #2- Bubbles in a Blizzard

We are participating in a Get Outdoors Challenge in honor of Children and Nature Awareness Month. It's being hosted at 5 orange potatoes. This is our contribution today.

Cali has been wanting to blow bubbles for days. It seems that each day, we struggle to get around to it. Once we get outside we all go in our own direction with different agendas. I promised that we would get to it today, Pinky promised! And you can't go back on those. :)

We drug the big sister's out with us and they came kicking and screaming.  It isn't that they mind getting outside but after a long day and having to stay after school for Cassi to work on a Quest project, then add to that there was a new blizzard blowing- I think it was a bit depressing for them .

Once we all got started things got a little silly. Snowflakes and bubbles in the eyes, bubbles on hats and even bubbles and snow on cats.  I was having a fantastic time taking photos. The bubbles were-a-blowing!  Of course the girls tried to catch them on their wands.

And they were trying hard to blow slowly to get the biggest bubble.  I found their faces quite funny.

Then Cali said she was going to check out the lake. We all cracked up because it was a big puddle. Still she was fascinated. Since we were bubble blowing for her sake, we followed her and as a result ended up noticing how the bubbles hit the water, changed color then kind of melted into the water. The whole process was pretty cool. Ultimately we decided it could be because the water was warm from the day. We still aren't really sure but it was very neat.

We also found it rather artistic noticing our reflections in the bubbles on the road.  I could have photographed them again and again. In fact I'd love to try it again in the future with the girls individually.  When I get around to that, I'll be sure to share their portraits.

The cat got a little lazy chasing the bubbles and eventually just watched them go by.

The best part about being outside was the conversation that ensued while we observed the actions of the bubbles.  Well, that wasn't really the best part. That would be Cali's happiness at being outside blowing bubbles with her family. She told me it was the best part of her day.