Harmony Haven 2k15 (or Allan family shenanigans)

My family has spent the last three Thanksgivings at a ranch house that we rent (thanks VRBO) in New Harmony, Utah (near Cedar City--which is near St. George). All five of the Allan siblings live in Utah, while my parents live in Tennessee, so it just makes sense for them to come out here to spend the holidays with us. 

Out of all the amazing places we've traveled together (Stinson Beach CA, Moab, cruises, Washington DC), Harmony Haven is everyone's favorite. We look forward to it and talk about it all year long. What's so special? It's a super kitschy ranch house on a working ranch (the owners live in the bunkhouse so they can rent out the main house). The house is filled with taxidermy, shag carpet, funny wallpaper, uncomfortable furniture, and cowboy memoribilia. It's definitely not the most impressive place we've ever stayed, but we have the most fun at Harmony Haven.

This year we decided to make our Thanksgiving trip our first official Allan family reunion, now that nearly all of us are married. 

Here are some of the things we did for our reunion:

1. T-shirts: Nothing says family reunion more than matching t-shirts! My brother and his wife were in charge of the design this year and they turned out fabulous.

The shirts say Allan Family 2k15 with a picture of a cat wearing sunglasses on the front and all of our names on the back.

2. Food: since it was Thanksgiving, there was no shortage of food. One of our traditions is to have all the appetizers on the night before Thanksgiving--this way you can enjoy all the yummy dips, balls, puffs, and rolls without filling up before the big meal. Everyone contributes something so we have a huge spread. Then of course we have a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and tons of pies on the day itself.

3. Talent show: We didn't do a full talent show this year, but Jason and I did a great stand up comedy routine together and my brother and his wife sang a song together.

4. Service: We put together craft kits for Primary Children's Hospital (gallon size ziplock bags filled with everything needed for a simple craft to be distributed by my neighbor who is a child life specialist). I was in charge of this this year. I brought cardboard masks and everyone else brought things to decorate them with--sequins, feathers, crayons, gems, etc.

5. Family awards: My parents gathered up a bunch of my brothers' old trophies and came up with a special award for each of us. We had a little award show where they gave them all out and then we spent the afternoon posing with our trophies. Such a fun tradition!

6. Turkey Bowl: We get together with my cousin and his kids who live in New Harmony and have a Thanksgiving football game before dinner.

7. Other traditions: The Allan family's favorite game to play is Bartender. Yes, a bunch of non-drinkers love to pretend that we are at a bar. I have never laughed as hard as when we play Bartender--it may sound weird and not fun, but every family has that game that no one else gets. We also love watching movies together (the dumbest Syfy original we can find), coloring, and playing games together.

We have so much fun at our little reunion spot! 

What fun traditions do you do with your family?

summer fun (or where I've been)

It's been quite a while since I posted anything!

When I started this blog, it was partly because I no longer posted at my kids eat off the floor. I thought a fresh start with a new format and new ideas would help.

I'm hoping that once school starts in two weeks I will get back on track!

Let me tell you about some of the fun things we've done this summer!

Park passports: We've visited four parks and two splash pads that aren't our usual go-to neighborhood park. The girls dutifully fill in their park passports after each visit!

Science: We've burst a watermelon using rubber bands, attempted a Rube Goldberg machine (it failed), melted a giant ice cube to get to rubber sea creatures, blown up a balloon with baking soda, made a doodlebot, built and destroyed a dam in our neighborhood park creek...

Field trips: One of my favorite things about summer is that it gives us the opportunity to go to all the many fun places in our area that we can't get to during the school year. This year we've gone to: the fairy forest, the SLC library, Hill Air Force Base museum, Pioneer Quarry Trail, Great Salt Lake Shoreline preserve in Layton, the farmer's market, movie in the park, hiking several times, the pioneer museum in Provo...

Vacations:  We've been totally spoiled this summer, with 10 days in Tennessee, four days in Washington DC, a weekend in Idaho Falls, and a weekend at our family cabin. 

We have two more weeks of summer and we're going to try to cram as much fun into it as we can!

Salt Lake City Library Square: our five favorites

One of our favorite places to go for a fun, free family activity is the Salt Lake City Main Library. From books to art to film to architecture, there is something for everyone at this amazing library. 

Here are our five favorites at the City Library!

1. The rooftop gardens

No trip to the library is complete without a ride up the glass elevator to the rooftop gardens and terrace. It's the perfect place for a picnic with stunning views of the valley and mountains. There's even a bee colony (don't worry, they're tucked away where you can see them but not get to them)!

Speaking of the glass elevators... while up on the roof, you can even watch the mechanics of them as they move up and down!

When you're done on the roof, ride the elevator back down or take the stairs along the sweeping ramp--yes, you can actually walk on that iconic ramp!

2. The free film events

One of my favorite date nights is going to a free movie at the library. The library partners with other community organizations like the Utah Film Center and the Natural History Museum of Utah to present science-themed movies followed by discussions led by experts once a month. Jason and I have gone to see "Doc of the Dead" and "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" (and the discussion after that one was fascinating!) There are also children's movies the first Saturday of the month and other themed movie events--check out the full list here.

If you're imagining watching a movie in the multipurpose room at the local branch of your public library, you're probably thinking that going to a movie at the library doesn't sound all that great. The movies at the main branch of the SLC library are shown in an auditorium with comfy auditorium seating--it's not a movie theater, but it's also not watching a movie in a meeting room!

3. The children's library

The children's library is on the bottom level and is a completely separate, private library-in-a-library. It's filled with toys for toddlers and younger kids, rugs and cozy child-size couches and chairs. There are child size bathrooms, a coatroom to park that big old diaper bag and stroller, and a baby care room with changing station and rocker. There are often children's crafts and activities going on in the children's library. If you're a member of the library, you can check out one of the many themed backpacks they have that are filled with books and simple toys and activities (alphabet, potty training, counting, animals, etc)

But my girls will tell you the best parts of the children's library are the two themed reading rooms:

The Ice Cave, complete with a skylight in the roof that is under the reflecting pool outside the library--so the light is constantly changing and rippling as the water moves.

The Attic, complete with tons of beams that are just right for climbing on.

We love gathering a stack of books and finding an out of the way alcove in one of these reading rooms to read, play, and explore together. 

4. The architecture and art

If you've ever driven past the library, you've probably noticed it's amazing architecture. It's a fun building to look at from the street, but it's even more fun to explore! There are soaring ceilings, glass elevators, spiral staircases, walls of windows, water features, sculptures, art exhibits, fountains, shops and counter service restaurants, reflecting pools, you name it!

5. The Library Store

If there is a book lover in your life, then this is the place to go for gifts. Magnets, book marks, pens, books, stuffed animals and dolls, journals, jewelry, pins, wax seals--it's so fun just to browse! And the prices are actually comparable to Amazon (they carry my favorite baby books, the Babylit series, at Amazon prices). I always stop in for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers.

So there you have it, our top five reasons to visit the City Library. It's a place that we have gone many times, and it never gets old. Check it out!

Salt Lake City Main Library

210 East 400 South, SLC.

Parking: metered on 200 East along the library block, but if you go south one block (past 500 South) there is free street parking.