Kuehn Conservation

Today we checked off another item off our summer bucket list~ Kuehn Conservation. Hannah went here this past spring on her school field trip. Loved it and wanted to go back this summer.  Well it wasn't as much fun the 2nd time around!  For 1 the birds that she got to see where not there in the summer There is a bird blind that you can go into see area birds. Well they fill the feeders from late fall through early spring.  Why in the winter months?  No one is walking out on trails in the winter in Iowa?  Anyway, we didn't get to see birds or the owls she saw on her field trip. It was still a nice day to walk around outside and enjoy mother nature. 

 

 

 

 the tipi is a seasonal structure, not native to this area. It is used as a gathering space and for educational programs.

 above picture-I had to capture they do like each other! 

 

Haydn took a selfie

 Hannah's selfie

 can you see "little" Hannah?  This arbor is made of local cedar and ironwood trees. Each September, it is covered with cedar boughs and used as the shaded area for drummers during the Prairie Awakening Celebration.

 

Carolina Beach 2014

We headed out on Saturday, July 19th at 4:20AM.  We made it to Beckley WV around 6:30PM.  LONG day or driving. The girls did awesome!!  We left WV at 7:30AM (Sunday) and arrived in Carolina Beach 2:30 PM.  The girls hit the ocean running!!  We packed a lot in for the 5 days we were there. 

* girls swam in the ocean for the 1st time
* went to the North Carolina Aquarium
* went on a hike to find Venus Fly traps but didn't see any. It was a very hot/humid walk and no one complained!
* ate Britt's donuts for breakfast every morning~ yummy!
* had Pop's ice cream
* toured Wilmington where One Tree Hill was taped
* Toured Duke's campus
* walked the beach with flashlights

NC Aquarium

 beach bums

 Wes catching a wave

 Vada

 Isla and Papa

 Hannah and Stella

 our house

 matching PJs

 NC Aquarium

 Vada

 didn't expect to see a palm tree in NC

 sweaty cousins after the hike

 Davidson's

 off our balcony

 catching a wave

 walking the beach at night

 Isla

 walking the beach one night a guy caught these

 early celebrating Hannah's 11th Birthday

* estimated 42 hrs in the car
* 2506 miles from IA to NC
* we drove through 7 states
* counted 37 different states license plates

We left Carolina Beach Friday, July 25th around 8:00 AM. We went up to Durham to see Cameron Indoor.  Duke's campus is beautiful! We stayed the night in Lexington, KY Friday night. Got back home Saturday night. We had a awesome trip to Carolina Beach.  Many memories were made!  Miss the ocean waves already! 

Fishing on the 4th of July

We headed out to a pond this morning. Girls have gone here with Wes before and had a good time. The pond is just north of our house, nice and close. 

 

 had to get a picture of Wes using Haydn's Barbie pole

 Hannah caught the 1st fish

 Haydn's fish but she didn't want to touch it!

 Haydn's carp caught on her Barbie pole thought the 3 pounder was going to break the pole in half!