Spring Break at Calico Basin

One of the things I don't really like about Las Vegas is that there aren't a lot of "outdoorsy" things nearby (other than parks/playgrounds).  There are definitely other places (like the Mount Charleston area, which is where we went to go play in the snow), but they are further away.  So we tend to go to Calico Basin a lot (it's about 15 minutes away and it is free - maybe we will get a season pass to the scenic loop at Red Rock, just a little further away, so we can explore some other areas).  But the kids do enjoy going out there, and get excited any time we go.

Spring break for both the school I work at and Ann's school included the week before Easter plus the Monday after (I work at a charter school and Ann attends a private school).  The regular school district started back on Monday, so that's when we headed out to Red Rock since it wouldn't be crowded.  It was a perfect day, warm, but overcast so we didn't have the sun beating down on us.

This kid loves rocks.  He picked this one up and was just like "I'm going to carry this with me"

There were a lot of flowers in bloom, so I took advantage of that and decided to document that there really is color in the desert!  :)

I really like the flowers that bloom on this cactus plant

Close up of the same flower above

Snack and water break

Ann spotted this little inch-worm type guy.  It was cool how he was camouflaged to avoid being seen by hungry birds.

Love these two cute kiddos (who just keep growing bigger and bigger! And are big for their ages too - Ann especially is frequently mistaken for a 7 or even 8 year old when she's just shy of 6.  I don't get as many comments about Ian, but I'm pretty sure people think he's already 3).

Cheese!!  And I realized as I was working on these pictures that I had inadvertently dressed Ian to match the desert landscape :)

A cactus plant with 3 blossoms!

Pick up dirt, drop it...I just have to remind him that he's not supposed to drop the dirt onto plants...

And with that, Spring Break was over!  It was a nice, laid-back time overall.  Now here's to the last few weeks of the school year (Ann and I both finish May 24!)