You have probably played this game before but these are unique to experiences that we have had since we left Utah in June of 2018. You get one point for every line that you have not experienced. Like golf, the lowest score wins. Leave your score in the comments and a short story about your craziest experience related to the list.
Never have I ever.... 51. Gone ghost crab hunting 52. Sat in the cockpit of a Blue Angel plane 53. Ate gator 54. Ate dinner with a wild flock of turkey 55. Been to a field of painted Cadillacs 56. Walked the rim of a volcano 57. Driven through a canyon in a car with the top down 58. Listened to sea lions barking for 24 hours a day 59. Used the toilet with the company of a scorpion 60. Become a Jr Ranger at over 15 US National Parks in just 3 months 61. Walked through the forest of Endor from Star Wars 62. Experienced the distinct aroma of a 2 month old rotting whale carcass 63. Constructed a sea creature out of driftwood on a Washington beach 64. Visited the cabin of Lewis and Clark 65. Climbed through the bow of a shipwreck 66. Went hiking with banana slugs 67. Visited Tillamook cheese factory 7 times within 4 days 68. Walked across a covered bridge 69. Ate dinner with a grey whale 70. Been splashed by a puffin 71. Shared a cave with 2500 lb sea lions 72. Added my gum to the famous Gum Wall Seattle 73. Ate lunch from products exclusively from a farmer's market 74. Climbed a 30 foot mountain made of oyster shells 75. Played ocean keep away - and won 76. Slept in a tree house 77. Been on evacuation watch for wild fires 78. Had our picture taken with Paul Bunion and Babe the blue ox 79. Driven through a tree 80. Spent the night at a highway rest stop 81. Explored a sea cave 83. Been to Glass Beach and not taken a piece of beach glass with you 84. Had a picnic at a winery in Napa Valley 85. Swam in Lake Tahoe 86. Visited an old west ghost town frozen in time - (Body, CA) 87. Walked on a columnar jointing rock formation 88. Rode on electric bikes through the mountains 89. Explored an abandoned observatory in the Mojave Desert 90. Ran into a friend from your home state in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park 91. Experienced 114 degree Fahrenheit temperatures 92. Sledded down the sand dunes in White Sands National Park 93. Walked in 11,000 year old dwellings in New Mexico 94. Said, "Remember the Alamo" at the Alamo 95. Toured the Earthship Community in Taos, NM 96. Saw the "Worlds Largest Rocking Chair" 97. Walked around inside Colorado's oldest church 98. Took a picture with the Worlds' Largest Pistachio 99. Ordered your burrito Christmas style in New Mexico 100. Met your favourite princess, in her castle, at Disneyland
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You have probably played this game before but these are unique to experiences that we have had since we left Utah in June of 2018. You get one point for every line that you have not experienced. Like golf, the lowest score wins. Leave your score in the comments and a short story about your craziest experience related to the list.
Never have I ever.... 1. Bought a crab pot to go crabbing 2. Pet a baby tiger, lion, and/or cheetah 3. Made eye contact with a grey whale 4. Had a chickadee land on my hand or head 5. Built a shelter in the woods 6. Sold my house, most worldly goods, and moved to another country 7. Slept in a mini van for 3 straight months 8. Ate bear 9. Walked among the Saguaro Cactus 10. Been within 10 feet of a wild bear 11. Been in 3 provinces within 40 mins 12. Built an ice igloo in the middle of a town square 13. Been approached by a wild shark 14. Drank beer with an Orca (Killer Whale) 15. Went ice skating on a driveway or parking lot (in actual ice skates) 16. Stood in line for more then 25 minutes for a doughnut 17. Ate a "bird's nest" 18. Walked on the ocean floor 19. Have made maple candy on fresh snow 20. Have won free doughnuts in "roll up the rim to win" 21. Have seen a two headed cow skeleton 22. Made an outdoor ice sun-catcher 23. Been hit by a deer while driving 24. Waited over 7 hours at a hospital for a very minor concern 25. Drove across the longest bridge over frozen water 26. Took a porcupine for a walk on a sled 27. Had the magical experience of being present for the birth of a grandchild 28. Had a visit from Flat Stanley 29. Known what a fishing weir is 30. Cut your own Christmas tree from your property 31. Participated in Dinovember (this was our third year in a row!) 32. Made an edible snow person 33. Stacked 3 cords of wood for your winter heat 34. Had partridge berry jam 35. Snuggled with an emu 36. Ate lobster in Maine 37. Experienced fall colours in Acadia National park 38. Travelled across the US with Buddha on your dashboard 39. Seen the Hope Diamond 40. Stargazed with the secret service 40. Met a 4 star general 41. Watched the VP fly in and out of his home 42.Touched writings from Galileo and Plato 43. Been smiled at by a whale shark 44. Played chase with a Beluga whale 45. Gone beach combing on a Florida beach in the nude 46. Walked in the footsteps of Marten Luther King Jr. on the freedom walk 47. Scratched the head of a Texas Long Horn 48. Been to a slave market 49. Done grave rubbings on a great grandparent's stone 50. Picked cotton This easy to make pocket bear was sparked by a group I joined in January that focused on expanding your outdoor time as a family. It is a group of people, all over the world, who recognize the value of outdoor time and support each other with ideas and inspiration for activities to do as adults and with children. Although this is something we always strive to include in our lives, it is nice to see this movement growing and see some of the things other families are doing to participate. As part of that, the idea of Adventure Bear came along. It is a small, hand-stitched, personalized felt bear that fits in your child's pocket that they can take on adventures wherever they go. I found it to be an amazing idea for those kids who sometimes have a hard time spending expended periods of time outdoors. This bear can help by giving them a partner in crime and make them accountable for ensuring that their bear has a fantastic time. Dylan loved hers so much that we made one for Carver and Bridger and sent them in the mail for Valentines Day! Below is the pattern for creating the bear as well as the Facebook movement if you would like to join:
Facebook group Adventure Bear Pattern When, for the past 19 years you have lived thousands of miles from your family, and you now only live 2 hours apart, you take every opportunity to spend time together. Sugar Moon Farms is a commercial maple syrup farm that is about 15 minutes north of Truro, which is just over an hour from Laurie in Halifax and us in Parrsboro, the perfect halfway spot. Plus, they offer a fantastic pancake breakfast topped off with delicious maple treat coffees. The farm backs onto some beautiful hiking trails, so we were able to combine breakfast with a short nature walk. Sugar Moon Farm is a very popular restaurant in the spring so we arrived as it was opening. The farm is located at the end of a gravel road, lined in blueberry fields and consists of the restaurant, shop that sells a large variety of maple products, a sugar shack that offers maple candy, and a full boil house where the syrup is made. They offer a guided tour of the production facility so that "city folk" can experience how syrup is made. We were seated at a family style farm table in front of a large fireplace and of course Dylan chose to be sandwiched between Aunt Laurie and Uncle Spike. After enjoying a fantastic breakfast we decided to take advantage of the hiking trails on the property. Unfortunately, we didn't make it far as the trail was still covered in snow and ice but it was lovely to get out, even for just a half of a mile. Spring in Nova Scotia has brought some lovely experiences, and this one will be one of the most memorable for a very long time. Photos for the day are presented by the one and only mini photographer who got a hold of the camera and went wild. We had to make a run into Halifax for the night to drop off our fur nephew and run a couple of errands so we took the opportunity to check out the Discovery Centre on the waterfront of Halifax. This amazing 40,000 square foot, hands-on, interactive STEAM science centre opened its door in February of 2017 It houses 4 permanent galleries and a 6000 square foot roving exhibit hall which housed a Ripley's Believe it or Not display while we were there. The centre also houses a cafe on the children's floor which allows you to grab a cup of coffee while you allow the kids to run amok.
Each floor as a myriad of hands-on, interactive exhibits that create an environment of exploration for all ages. My sister Laurie, Will, and I found ourselves trying out just as many of the exhibits as Dylan. A few of the favourites that stick out were the wall of visual illusions, the amazing interactive wall depicting the water cycle, and the flight simulator which allowed you to fly over the Halifax region. The centre seemed like a compilation of a traditional children's museum and science centre as it really had something for everyone. We decided to take advantage of their rural membership (an offering I have never seen offered elsewhere) and we can now visit as much as we would like for a whole year. How many of you remember Flat Stanley from elementary school? WELL, he came to visit us from Utah in Nova Scotia. To those of you who have no clue what I am talking about - Flat Stanley was a children's book written in 1964 by Jeff Brown about a little boy who was flattened by a bulletin board and his parents mailed him to visit his friend in California. In 1995 a teacher from London, Ontario saw an educational opportunity to recreate this in his classroom. Each student in the class makes their own "flat Stanley" and mails it to a friend or family member anywhere in the world. The recipient then takes Stanley on adventures that are iconic to the area in which they live. They then mail him back to his owner with a story and photo of the adventure they had together. The class then shares the stories of what their Stanleys did throughout the world. What a fantastic lesson in geography, literature, art, and even math.
One of Dylan's close friends, Three, sent us Stanley from Utah and boy did he have an adventure with us. He got to experience the life in Nova Scotia with which we have fallen in love, including fishing boats, lobster pots, native history, Tim Hortons, and board games. We discovered another treasure of a museum while spending a few days in Halifax this week. This modestly-sized museum packs in a wide variety of Nova Scotia history, highlights some of the unique aspects of the province, and gives the younger visitors an appropriate amount of hands on experiences to give them a well-rounded visit as well. Not only do they have artifacts, but they also have an armful of live animals with which visitors can interact. The current roving exhibit is titled, Dinosaurs Unearthed - a whole exhibit hall dedicated to animatroic dinosaurs, with artifacts and signage mixed in. It was a great balance of entertainment and education. Dylan's favorite permanent exhibit was a research ship that was set up so that patrons could drive, monitor the fish, and observe what was happening on board via screen monitors. She spent a good hour on that ship and still wasn't ready to leave it.
They also had a fantastic exhibit highlighting Sable Island, the crescent shaped, sandy island 190 miles southeast of Halifax. In 2013 this island was given the status of National Reserve due to a rich and diverse history of habitation dating back to the early 1500's. The island is a mere 12 square miles but is home to population of about 500 feral horses and the only structure is a weather station. It has very strict and expensive visitation regulations (a dream of mine) which helps keep the natural beauty of the island. There was also a lovely exhibit dedicated to the animals of the province with numerous taxidermy mammals and birds. A small room of the geological make-up of the province was also a hit for my sister and I. We enjoyed seeing that the area in which we are currently living may be the richest area of the province, geologically speaking. The last hall had a wall showing the history of the native people here in Nova Scotia and the other half was filled with a dozen or so live animals found in the province (mostly reptile and amphibian). Gus the tortoise was the biggest hit as he was out having a walk in the museum while we were there. This relatively small natural history museum was a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the city and gave us a taste of many aspects of the provinces history. While there, we decided to invest in the Nova Scotia Museum pass, which offers us entrance to 29 museums throughout the province. New goal - visit all 29 this year. Living on the road for 4 months and driving over 10,000 miles in our converted minivan has provided us with many helpful hints for spending extended time on the road with a 4 year old.
1. Create a basic plan for your trip, but understand that flexibility is key. We would lay out all the things we aimed to see or accomplish but we also had the understanding that we had to travel and spend time at each of those locations on a 4 year-old's time constraints. This would include how far we drove, the extra things we would stop and see, the number of stops we would make, the types of places where we would stop, and the length of time we would stay at each stop. 2. Visit friends and family along the route whenever possible. Will and I are cool but boy did she crave interactions with other people, especially small people. They have rooms, and cool new toys, new foods and often pets that Dylan would crave. We were fortunate to have family and friends in many of the states to which we would visit. 3. Take time to find opportunities for the kids to interact with other kids. Look for city parks or playgrounds for the kids to be kids and continue to interact with other kids....especially if you are travelling with kids that are in the age group just learning how to play with other kids so that they don't loose their child communication skills (sharing, taking turns, speaking kindly). This may sound silly, but we noticed Dylan would slip into selfishness quickly when she wasn't given the opportunity to interact with kids. 4. Alone time. When living in such a small space and being together 24/7 it is important for all those involved to have some time to themselves - even if it is only for a few minutes a day....a walk on the beach alone, sitting in the van while the other takes the child for a play at the playground, an early morning walk before the others awoke, staying up late to stargaze while the other two are in bed, even things like shopping alone, laundromat alone and even a 10 minute shower can rejuvenate you for the day. 5. Ensure everything has its own space and put it there each day. Living in such a tight space and having all the gear needed for your time on the road can make for a very messy van by the end of the day. We found that if we did one good tidy up each day that we weren't so overwhelmed. 6. Extra space. Going along with number 5, ensure that when you are preparing for your trip you leave a little bit of extra room for the the things you collect or accumulate along the way. 7. Ensure your child knows where their things are and make them accessible as possible. Rig up your child's travel space so that they can reach the things they use regularly, that way they can be a little more self-sufficient while you are actually travelling. We strapped a travel table to the seat in front of Dylan with all her art supplies and electronics - that way she could work on things without us having to help. She also had a bin at her feet, below her car seat, that housed all of her things...it had her hiking pack, her backpack of toys, and extras that pertain to her. That way she always knew where her things were and could help with the clean up each day. 8. Balance treats and healthy snacks. It is very easy to stop at a gas station to grab a treat when on potty breaks or gassing up but all those treats add up. We learned to avoid gas stations for potty breaks and go to rest stops or visitors centers so that she (or us for that matter) wasn't tempted. Make sure to have a supply of quick grab, healthy snacks available at all times for in the car and to throw in your backpack for hikes. Also, in order to allow Dylan to have some control, she had a wallet with her own money that she could spend as she saw fit. Often times it was on treats, but other times she would save for a toy or souvenir. Before leaving on our trip, we had a half-birthday party for her with her friends in Utah. Many of her friends gave her gift cards for places like 7-11 which worked very well. 9. Budget for a few of the extra experiences along the way. I feel as though we did a fantastic job of living quite minimally while living on the road BUT we did ensure that we saved a bit of money for a few of the iconic things to do in each of the areas...like whale-watching in the Puget sound, or eating really good BBQ in Texas, and our biggest expense, Disneyland. 10. Find your spot for the night while it is still light. We found that for peace of mind and peace in the van that finding our spot before dinner was the best plan for our family. Halfway through our travels, we heard about an app called iOverlander which provides excellent suggestions from campgrounds to free overnight parking areas. Definitely a resource we would recommend. Since she was about 3 years old Dylan has been asking to get her ears pierced. In Utah, many girls have theirs pierced as babies or when they are quite young. We have always lived by the motto that we will allow her to make decisions for her body when she has the ability to make them. At that time, we told her that if by her 5th birthday she still felt as though she wanted them done that we would take her. Well, after 2 years of constant asking, the time came. Will found a tattoo/piercing parlor in Halifax and off she went - with confidence and very little fear. We did not sugar coat anything but laid out the entire process of what to expect, including the pain and care, and she strutted into that parlor without hesitation. She is now almost 2 months into having it done and has been diligent on the up keep and care. There were no complaints even when she had to pass up going swimming, even when we had a hotel with a pool twice, while we waited the initial first month of healing.
The Utah-based Bollder Clan grew in December with the birth of Bridger Boyd Hill on the 10th! On December 7th, Carolyn flew out to Utah to be with Aubrey, Stephen and Carver and to help with logistics during the birth of baby Bridger: I arrived early afternoon on Friday and we were able to spend the weekend visiting with all the big kids; shopping, eating out, loads of playing with Carver and family dinners. Then, on Sunday morning, Aubrey's blood pressure was remaining high enough that her midwives made the call to have her come in that evening to be induced. They left the house at around 7:30 pm for the hospital and Carver and I spent our first night alone together. He was a little upset that mommy wasn't there to help him fall asleep, but after about 3-4 minutes of tears he feel asleep beside me and we had fantastic snuggles all night long (of course I kept him in bed with me - I don't get many Carver snuggles, so I had to take advantage when I got the chance). December 10th - Carver and I woke up early and gave Aub's and Steve a call at the hospital. They let us know that things were progressing but that she was still comfortable so she wanted to have Carver with her for a while. By 11 am we could tell things were going quickly so it was time to call Papa Mike (Stephen's dad) to grab Carver for the afternoon during the tough part of the delivery. Carver, who is now 2.5 and smart as a whip, has been very excited to meet his little brother but LOVES his Papa Mike, so they had a great time for the afternoon while I got to stay with Aubrey during the delivery. Being with Aubrey and Stephen during this time was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever gone though. To watch my daughter accomplish something so intimate and natural, all without any chemical aid was humbling. She made a goal to not get any pain meds, and she achieved it without wavering at all. I can't express the feeling of watching the strength and determination that she possesses. She has always been one of the strongest women I know, but being with her during this experience showed me the strength of her body, mind and soul. To see the pure love that she possessed for that small person, and the beautiful instincts that flowed during this time filled my soul. I was able to spend another 5 days with this new little family as they manoeuvred their way of learning how to be a family of 4...which honestly, they feel into seamlessly. The next 5 days were spent getting to know this new little member of our crazy gang, visiting with the older members of our family (the older boys) and generally just enjoying each other's company.
Welcome to the world, and our crazy family, Bridger - we are so very excited to watch you grow into the incredible human I see in you already. Love, Nana |
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April 2019
AuthorCarolyn and Will Bollwerk share their adventures with their 5 year-old daughter, Dylan. |