Our USA Adventure 2010, Part 5: Hot Springs and Rodeo
The hot springs, geysers and other exciting geological activity isn’t confined to Yellowstone. Thermopolis, a small town not far from Cody, WY is home to numerous hot springs (it’s actually located in the creatively named “Hot Springs County”). The locals were quick to take advantage of a few of the springs by directing their output into swimming pools and water slides. We enjoyed a relaxing morning there, splashing around and having a great time.
The streets of Cody are filled with real cowboys (fully decked out with real cowboy boots, real cowboy hats and really large belt buckles), so no trip to Wyoming would be complete without going to see cowboys in their natural habitat — a rodeo. The events were pretty exciting and did a good job of convicing us that the competitors were all quite insane. An Australian was competing in the bronco riding and we think he won… We yelled out a hearty, “Ozzie ozzie ozzie! Oy! Oy! Oy!” for good measure.
We had such a great time in Wyoming — it was pretty much non-stop activities and entertainment — most of which wouldn’t have been possible without the hospitality of our friends DD. and C. Thank you so much guys. It’s just amazing how much we got done; it really was terrific.
We like to… move it!
We made an offer on a house… The owners accepted… Settlement is in 40 days… PANIC!
In the meantime, here it is. Purdy lil’ thang, aint it!

Hmmm... Those rose bushes may have to go...
The kids love the look of it even more than we do. They’ve decided to call it, “The Cow House.”

Is it time to moooove in yet?
Best… Wine list… Ever…
Mum went off to camp to visit LR for the evening. RJ and I had a big afternoon playing secret agents, jumping on the trampoline, mucking about at the beach and having getting dinner at a restaurant.
Towards the end of the meal, RJ grabbed the drinks menu, opened it and started reading.
RJ: Hmmm… Look at that…
… That’s interesting.
… Wow. I didn’t know that!
Dad: RJ. What are you reading???
RJ: This magazine. They left it here for us.
Dad: What is it about?
RJ: All sorts of things. There is a story about a party that they had.
Dad: What kind of party?
RJ: Just a birthday party. It’s not very interesting.
Dad: Is there an interesting story in there?
RJ: Yes. It’s about dragons.
Dad: Cool. What does it say?
RJ: Dragons have enormous teeth and a big tail. Some of them live in the ocean. They have very sharp teeth and they eat meat… but not people meat.
Dad: What kind of meat do they eat?
RJ: Oh you know, sheep, cows and horses and stuff.
Dad: Anything else about dragons in there?
RJ: They have a picture of a knight who had to kill a dragon. It was very dangerous, but he had a sword and shield with him.
Dad: Why did he have to kill the dragon?
RJ: The king told him to. It was eating all the sheep and making the people mad. (goes back to reading the menu)
Dad: … Anything else in there?
RJ: No. That’s the end.
Joke Time
LR: Why did the elephant paint his feet yellow?
Because he wanted to hide upside down in the custard!
LR: Why did the elephant paint himself purple, with a green face?
Because he wanted to hide in the purple carrot patch!
RJ: Why was the ship missing?
Because the Kraken already smashed it!
LR: What is a slug?
A snail with a housing problem!
RJ: Why did the chicken cross the playground?
To get to the other slide!
Mum: Why did the fish cross the playground?
To get to the other tide!
LR: Why did the cow jump over the moon?
Because the farmer had cold hands!
LR: What’s the scariest flower in the garden?
A dandelion!
Dad: What’s the scariest flower in the whole world?
A daisy. With a lion hiding behind it!
I Hear Mary liked her Lamb too…
RJ: (singing) Old MacDonald had a farm. Eee eye eee eye oh!
And on that farm he had a cow. Eee eye eee eye oh!
With a moo-moo here, and a moo-moo there. Here a moo, there a moo everywhere a moo-moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, Eee eye eee eye oh!
RJ: And after that he ate the pig and the sheep and the duck too!
The Kraken awakes!
The latest on the Kraken, courtesy of RJ and his “Kraken Joke Book”.
Q: Why did the Kraken cross the ocean?
A: To go and eat a pot.
Q: Why did the Kraken have big teeth?
A: Because he was a carnivore.
Q: Why did the Kraken smash the ship?
A: Because he was the Master of the Ocean.
Q: Why did the Kraken jump over the moon?
A: Because he wanted to eat a cow!







![<a href="http://tobob.com/200908/at-the-park/">At the Park</a> - We stopped by the park last week on the way home before dinner. Surprise, surprise -- I grabbed a few photos.
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... At the Park](http://tobob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/wpid200-200908-Aug11-16-IMG_4177.jpg)
![<a href="http://tobob.com/201009/august-2010-wrap-up/">August, 2010 Photo Wrap-Up</a> - It was a huge August and the kids have only gotten more busy, not less. We've had birthday parties, sleep-overs, soccer finals, dress-up days at school, martial arts Jedi training and more. Here are some of the highlights!
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[/capt... August, 2010 Photo Wrap-Up](http://tobob.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wpid2126-IMG_7790-450x300.jpg)




![<a href="http://tobob.com/201008/happy-birthday-lady/">Happy Birthday Lady!</a> - [/caption]
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Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday Lady!](http://tobob.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/wpid2016-IMG_6233-450x360.jpg)