Tag Archives: Oklahoma

A trip to the Tulsa Zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday!

I really enjoy that we have one close enough that seeing exotic animals is no big deal to my boys.

We also get to be laid back and learn a little bit each time instead of trying to absorb it all at once!

laughI thought this Forsythia bush was beautiful.

My oldest saw a wasp and did not want to get near it so I made him the photographer instead.

My youngest took my sunglasses and put them on.

He thought he was pretty funny.

birdWe saw new things in the desert area.

I had never seen the lizards.

desert

wetlandsThe boys were not sure about passing this guy.

closewetlandsIt let me get pretty close before it flew off!

pelicans

dinoThey have a new Dinosaur exhibit coming this summer.

It does cost extra though.

climbingThe boys were pretty excited so I think we will go through it at least once.

This guy was just to get people excited about it I think.

forsythia

owl

jag

elephantThe boys were mesmerized by the video in the new Elephant discovery center.

They watched the whole thing and then my oldest said, “huh, now I know how to tell the difference between Asian and African Elephants.”

redbudpicWe had to stop and see the picture of them that is just before the door to go outside.

The people that made these posters asked if they could use this picture last year.

hikingI guess they were looking for a local place for the shot and this was taken at Redbud.

They were so excited that their picture is in the zoo!

pictureofhimThis is my youngest pretending he is the picture…

elephantsI quizzed my oldest when we got outside about which kind of elephants these were.

He got it right.

Guess they got something from the video inside.

macawOn the way outside a zoo keeper had this guy out to look at.

macaw2It was a great way to end a beautiful morning at the zoo!

What is your favorite animal at the zoo?

Fur Trade Era Rendezvous ~Fort Washita, Durant, OK

barracks3I had only visited one fort in Oklahoma until last weekend, Fort Gibson.

I kept wanting to visit the other forts but they just seemed too far away for a trip just to see them.

fortwallsImagine my delight when I found out that Fort Washita was on the way home from the DanMan Challenge we were going to!

Not only was it on the way but it was having it’s Fur Trade Era Rendezvous the same weekend!

barracksSo after we finished our 10K we headed to the Fort to walk around.

Isn’t that what everyone does after running that far?

ruins

fortIt was a very big fort so there was a lot of walking.

My feet protested a little but I was okay with that.

skins

saberMy boys noticed his weapon right away and asked to see it.

I really enjoy how people are passionate about sharing history at these events.

Seeing a Dragoon show you his saber is so much better than a picture in a book!

playerWe have gone to so many history events that we have started recognizing the regulars!

This guy has been at two other events that we have been to.

campsitesThe grounds were beautiful!

toysThe boys always drool all over the handmade weapons.

tenthouse

cemetaryThis fort was taken over by the Confederates during the Civil War.

dyeDying cloth.

fabricdye

teachingThis lady was great!

So full of information on dying fabric!

bugsDead bugs used for one of the colors(still used today).

fabricdye2

woolcardShowing the boys how to card wool.

carding

wool

yarn2

toolsThe Blacksmith shop.

blacksmith2

stokefire

canonThe blacksmith had a little canon that he fired.

It was loud!

canonfire

smoke

saddleThe Stables.

stables

candlemakingCandle Making.

candles

canon3

walkpathThis was a beautiful fort!

I am so glad that we got to go!

I really like to visit places like this when an event is going on, it is so much more fun to see people dressed in period clothing when going to historical places.

Most of these places have websites so I just check out their event schedule and add it to our calendar!

Our Weekend

settingupI decided last minute to do the DanMan Challenge this past weekend.

I had some complaining from my husband and son about my choice of the 10K, apparently they are above that.

I am not.

I would have choosen the 5K if they had one.

Since it was 3hrs away we camped at Lake Texoma Resort State Park the night before.

tent

dinnerDinner.

I really like these type of stoves, they make heating up water so much easier!

laketexomaThis is not a park we would usually travel to go to because it does not have much hiking but it was a beautiful place to spend an evening.

boyslake

lake2

play

shells

laketexoma2

water

trailIt even had a hiking trail.

It was an under 3 mile out and back.

forest

trailpathSuch a beautiful way to spend an evening.

himandmeI really like having a little photographer with me.

laughingWe started laughing when he just kept clicking away.

laketrailWalking along a lake, holding hands at sunset.

A memory I want to cherish forever.

holdingshells

swingingThis was me forcing my husband to turn around and my son to take our picture because the light was so pretty.

flowrs

tenteveningI decided to leave the air mattress at home, I thought surely the foam pads and an extra sleeping bag would be enough.

I am wimp.

It was not enough.

bedtimeReading a bedtime story on my kindle.

finishersThe next morning we ran the 10K at the DanMan Challenge!

My oldest and husband ran together and my little man and I ran together.

His thoughts on the privilege of running with his mom, “I am not the slowest in this family so why do I have to run with you?”

Yep, I am slow.

I am pretty sure I was fast enough for his first 10K though.

He did point out that a 10K is very short.

That poor child thinks 6.2 miles is nothing.

danmanchallengeIt was a fun run on dirt roads and trails.

It is so amazing that someone opens their ranch up and invites all of these strangers to come enjoy it!

It was a great first run for my boy and I!

Since this post already has a lot in it, I will share what we did after the Challenge tomorrow!

There just happened to be a fun history event going on in the area of the Challenge!