June 2011-Playing Catchup-Dad's Day!

Arionna "Buffalo Gal" Folmar

On Sunday, June 17th, we had a "Dad's Day".  Dad's days are a tradition I started when Kaylee was around 3 or 4.  Basically, I take one of the kids we spend the day together.  I remember Kaylee at 3 years old going for 'coffee' with me and we would 'play chess'.  (On a side note; at the age of 4 she beat me, twice, and I have since given up the game!)

Little "Alora Oakley" Folmar 

Anyhow, this week I took the youngest two as we haven't been out in some time.  Particularly since I have been traveling for the job over the past year, I have had less time to spend with the kids.  So, today I took them out!

Food First
First, we went to Lamar's Donuts.  Mmmmmm...gooooood.  Each of us ate two and had, depending on the person: coffee, chocolate milk, or apple juice.  Then we were on our way!

Main Event
I took them to Buffalo Bill's Grave site and Museum up in Golden.  We had a blast as the pictures below show.  All of us learned quite a bit about the life and times of William F. Cody.

One thing my wife and I try to do is take the kids to both educational and fun activities -- Funcational if you will.  This summer we plan on visiting D.C.  Personally, I'd like to go visit Gettysburg again, but DC it will be for this year.  Another thing we often involve the kids in is 'social issues' of history.  Some stories I know are a a bit more extreme than the wife might like, but history is a brutal affair.

So, here are some of the things we learned about Col. William F 'Buffalo Bill' Cody interspersed among the pictures:

Arionna Trying Her Roping Skills on "Stubby the Horse"

• He was born in Iowa, but moved to Leavenworth, Kansas

And She Knocks Her Hat Off!

• He met his first 'American' (Native American or Indian) at the age of 8 when they came to trade with his father
• His father was stabbed in Kansas while giving an anti-slavery talk by a pro-slavery supporter

Alora on "Stubby" the Horse

• At 11 William was head of household and proceed to embark on his careers:
• Cattle Driver,
• Pony Express Rider,
• Gold Prospector,
• Buffalo Hunter for the Railroad,
• Showman
• He was also an Army Scout where he earned the rank of Colonel, and later General
• He preferred Colonel despite being a general and others int he continued to call him Colonel.

Here we can see why we nicknamed him 'Stubby'

• He won the Congressional Medal of Honor:  Later rescinded, then reinstated
• He passed away in Denver, Co and was buried in Lookout Mountain at his request
• Nebraska and Wyoming both contested the burial plot, saying his body belonged to them.
• The local newspaper of Cody, Wyoming (the town he founded) went so far as to post a $10,000 reward to anyone who would 'retrieve his remains'.
• CO called out the Colorado Guard to protect his grave
• His was the second most visited grave site in the United States, behind George Washington, until the death of JFK.

Alora Roped Her Doggie

Alora the Ham -- On 'Stubby'

Finishing the Museum

We spent close to 5 hours at the museum.  We did almost all the activities and read quite a bit of the exhibits.  We at least looked at the exhibits, Arionna wasn't up much for reading.  And the show was fun.

Weather up in Golden was Windy, real windy.  Still, it wasn't as cold as I expected and the girls and I were comfortable up there.

Finally, the girls wanted to visit Buffalo Bill's Tomb, so we climbed the hill and paid our respects.  Alora was rather respectful and insightful.  Arionna asked, with typical 7 year old inquisitiveness, "So he's dead in there, right?  Wow, that's a lot of stones.  I'm hungry.  Ok, race you to car!"

Post Museum

Alora is holding a skunk pelt

After the museum we took the beautiful mountain trail down: Lariat Loop.  Then we headed for lunch at Atlanta Bread Company.  After lunch, paid a visit to a few stores: Beyond the Blackboard, and a famous local used bookstore: Black and Read.

Arionna had to try both cutouts

So, Alora did as well!

At Beyond the girls played with some of the educational games, while at Black and Read I introduced them to the top of the line technology analog systems ever developed: the 33 RPM record.  Neither had ever seen a record before!  Odd explaining what type of primitive, back woods society would be forced to live in such decrepit conditions necessary to find entertainment by running a sharp needle over a spinning disk just to hear sound.  What?  No Picture Either?  It was the Dark Ages all over again, man!