July 24th
Here in Utah, Pioneer Day is a state holiday and many people have off work to barbecue, watch parades, blow stuff up, and...oh yeah, remember the pioneers. It's somewhat like the 4th of July all over again. There are tons of things going on all over the state. Unfortunately Jonathan needed to work. I thought about taking the kids to a parade, but my swollen feet rejected the idea of standing for hours on end. Instead I took them to "This is the Place Heritage Park." At least at the park there would be some shade guaranteed, and walking in 90+ degree heat is easier than standing still. Plus it would be educational! Moms are suckers for educational stuff, I think.
Things have sure changed since I was there 15? years ago with Grandma. Back then I remember a main street with a few replica houses (most we couldn't enter), a wagon ride, and really that was about it. Now it's a bustling little town! In each of the houses and shops there are activities, crafts, stories, people dressed in pioneer garb using the tools, and making handicrafts. The streets are also filled with demonstrations and games.
We first checked out the spinsters house and Matthew pulled wool and watched the spinners and learned about the dyes. Melissa wasn't as interested until we went outside and made little lamb masks for the parade to take place later in the day. Thankfully the table was in the shade. I gratefully sat down while they worked away. It was pretty sweltering.
Then they learned how to play some games. One involved rolling an iron wheel with a stick. Towards the end Matthew got the hang of it.
For another game, two people stood across from each other with two crossed sticks and a small hoop. The player with the hoop on the sticks pulled the sticks apart quickly to send the hoop flying. The other player then tried to catch the hoop and return it to the first player.
The kids also "helped" with chores. Matthew and Melissa each did laundry the old fashioned way with a scrub board, watered plants, and beat a rug.
Matthew kept wanting to know why they didn't have washing machines, why there were no cars or toilets, and how they survived without computers. It was quite eye opening for him.
After this, both kids declared they were starving, so we took a break for lunch. After lunch we waited for the train and the kids watched a whip demonstration. Unfortunately we weren't able to get on the first train that came and had to wait until the next one. This resulted in a major meltdown on the part of Melissa. I think she was starting to get tired, but Matthew was still going strong so I hated to leave just yet. I bribed her with some rice crispy treats and that appeased her somewhat. We rode the train around the petting farm and the Young house (neither of which we had time to see). At the Young house stop, a militia man boarded the train and sat next to Matthew with his rifle. Matthew was quite impressed and initiated a conversation about good guys, bad guys, and guns.
After the train ride we checked out the printers shop. The kids helped inked the lettering and press the paper. Matthew was given a print copy he made of the Declaration of Independence. He was quite pleased with this. We saw the bank and played with the scale and weights. After which we visited another house and decorated wooden toy pinwheels and then checked out the school house for a short lesson. Then there was the flag raising ceremony accompanied by rifles shooting blanks (again, Matthew was enthralled). Melissa on the other hand had just about had enough, but Matthew really, really wanted to participate in the parade scheduled for after the flag raising ceremony so I decided to try and appease the cranky 3 year old tyrant (at least until after the parade). We gathered to the wagons and the kids collected their lamb masks. It was a cute little parade with all the shops and houses sponsoring the wagons and costumes. We were part of Mary's little lambs and marched with a sheep, Mary, and a cart full of wool and woolen products. The kids were cute and seemed to enjoy waving at the crowds along the street.
At the end of the parade Melissa seemed spent, as was I. Did I mention that it was HOT? We'd been there for nearly 4 hours and so it seemed like a good time to head home even though we hadn't seen half of what the park had to offer. We didn't take a wagon ride, or pony ride, or miniature train ride, or check out the petting area, the blacksmith shop, the old ZCMI store, the watermelon contest, the candy pull, the candy cannon, the Young house, or many other little houses and shops along the way. It didn't help that we had to make three trips to the bathroom. You add a large pregnant woman + 2 tiny kids' bladders and it's a lot of trips back to the bathroom. Oh well, I figure there's plenty for them to go see another day. Hopefully on a less crowded day!
Despite being exhausted, Melissa was NOT ready to go home. So I slung her (kicking and screaming) over my shoulder and off we went to hike back to our car. Boy it was hot! Felt like 110 but I think it only reached the mid 90s. About two minutes into the car ride she crashed and slept the rest of the way home. Meanwhile Matthew thanked me for taking him and told me he had "lots of fun!" Awww. Makes me want to take him again, but maybe without his sister.
After the train ride we checked out the printers shop. The kids helped inked the lettering and press the paper. Matthew was given a print copy he made of the Declaration of Independence. He was quite pleased with this. We saw the bank and played with the scale and weights. After which we visited another house and decorated wooden toy pinwheels and then checked out the school house for a short lesson. Then there was the flag raising ceremony accompanied by rifles shooting blanks (again, Matthew was enthralled). Melissa on the other hand had just about had enough, but Matthew really, really wanted to participate in the parade scheduled for after the flag raising ceremony so I decided to try and appease the cranky 3 year old tyrant (at least until after the parade). We gathered to the wagons and the kids collected their lamb masks. It was a cute little parade with all the shops and houses sponsoring the wagons and costumes. We were part of Mary's little lambs and marched with a sheep, Mary, and a cart full of wool and woolen products. The kids were cute and seemed to enjoy waving at the crowds along the street.
At the end of the parade Melissa seemed spent, as was I. Did I mention that it was HOT? We'd been there for nearly 4 hours and so it seemed like a good time to head home even though we hadn't seen half of what the park had to offer. We didn't take a wagon ride, or pony ride, or miniature train ride, or check out the petting area, the blacksmith shop, the old ZCMI store, the watermelon contest, the candy pull, the candy cannon, the Young house, or many other little houses and shops along the way. It didn't help that we had to make three trips to the bathroom. You add a large pregnant woman + 2 tiny kids' bladders and it's a lot of trips back to the bathroom. Oh well, I figure there's plenty for them to go see another day. Hopefully on a less crowded day!
Despite being exhausted, Melissa was NOT ready to go home. So I slung her (kicking and screaming) over my shoulder and off we went to hike back to our car. Boy it was hot! Felt like 110 but I think it only reached the mid 90s. About two minutes into the car ride she crashed and slept the rest of the way home. Meanwhile Matthew thanked me for taking him and told me he had "lots of fun!" Awww. Makes me want to take him again, but maybe without his sister.
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