Today we headed north, into cowboy country. We started our day off in Evanston, Wyoming. We had parked in a dirt lot near an rv supply store so Deon could walk over first thing in the morning to get some questions answered. We still have some electrical issues to work out, which make it difficult for Deon to work. 

After he returned, he took the van and trailer on some errands, and I took the kids to play in Bear River. So much fun. The two littles and I threw rocks while the big kids swam.

   
    
 
Then we made the short drive to Fort Bridger. This is an interesting place, first named by a trapper (after himself), not really a fort, then owned by the Mormon church and subsequently burned to the ground, then actually becoming a military outpost. 

I, personally, thought the site was a bit of a bust. It was supposed to be living history, with costumed interpreters (there were two). My kids are a little blasé about sights. I suppose that is the downside to having exposed them to a lot of amazing things. This has been one of the major upsides to bringing cousins along (besides the fact that they are fun, and helpful, and some of our favorite people ;)). Every day is a new experience for them, and the enthusiasm definitely rubs off on my kids. It also gives me a deep satisfaction to give them these new experiences, that they are soaking up like sponges.

That said, my kids had good reviews on Fort Bridger as well. 

   
   
We headed out from there to fossil butte national monument. Now, I had looked up hours before we went, so that we wouldn’t miss it, and the drive out of our way would be worth it. (You know where this is going.) We arrived 30 minutes after the visitors center closed. The park was open until sunset, but the visitors center was only open until 5. Some places require more explanation than not, so this pit stop was a bust, in terms of leading about fossils. 

We did park at a picnic area and I made dinner while the kids braved a steep hike on their own. The came back full of enthusiasm and I was so proud of them. Then we raced inside to try to escape the swarms of mosquitoes.

   
 Now, in reading about this day, it all seems to be a bust. A wasted morning, a lackluster Fort, a closed visitors center. But here is another lesson (or two). Change your expectations. Enjoy where you are. Instead of throwing in the towel, disappointed, find your own cool thing to do. Today I learned lessons from the kids I am lucky enough to steward. I hope we will keep reminding each other how to find that beautiful silver lining on every cloud.