The International Peace Gardens

I was browsing a "Things to Do" in Utah list and saw The International Peace Gardens on it. It's free (and I LOVE free!) so we decided to give it a visit. It's divided into sections for different countries. Salt Lake residents from those countries were in charge of building each section. We loved it!

This is Wales. A harp in the middle of a field. We're not sure what that means, but apparently, it's Welsch.

I think this was China

France

Japan. Notice the blossoms in the back! Doesn't it remind you of Mulan (even though Mulan was in China, not Japan)?

If you knew me during college, you will remember my mild obsession with Canada and all things Canadian. I had to take a picture here, even though the gardens didn't look very Canadian in my "knowledgeable" opinion!

It was kind of like a mini Epcot center without rides or excitement!

Planetarium Birthday

We had an "out of this world" experience this weekend.




Ok. That was a stupid joke. Ryan's birthday is this Wednesday, so, like the cheapskate that I am, I decided to take him to the Clark Planetarium (it's free!). They have two little areas set up to look like Mars and Earth's moon.

There's also a place where you can pretend you're doing the weather on TV.

And a three story tall contraption where little balls go round and round through little rollercoasters.

The birthday boy is easy to please.

This, That, and the Other

Lydia can walk down stairs now. Kind of makes this gate pointless.



Actually, the gate and our lack of shutting it is probably what aided in her new skill of walking down stairs!

Hair bows don't stay in hair very long in this house. We're working on it, but Lydia is just too curious.

I'm getting very nervous about Lydia's reach.

Daddy...Have I told you lately that I love you???

Cuz I do.

Baby Bed Head is the best.

Lydia's obsession with piano books cracks me up. She spreads them around the living room, then chooses 1 of 3 activities to do with them:

1. Lay down and read them, (ALWAYS upside down, even if I turn it right side up for her.) while mumbling, laughing, and pointing.

2. Rearrange them in a more orderly fashion

3. Or put them up at the piano and then alternately look at the book and her hands while she plays the piano. (Don't have a picture of that, but it's hilarious.)

She loves to look at the notes and wants me to describe them to her. We talk a lot about quarter notes, rests, measures, time signatures, and more. I won't be surprised if music theory starts entering her dialogue!