Move over Sundance, the Dinosaur Train is in Herriman!

I got a very unusual phone call from the Director of the Utah Museum of Natural History. She was calling to see where I was because Dr. Scott the Paleontologist was at Butterfield Canyon Elementary school putting on an assembly in fifteen minutes.

Somehow she had my phone number as the South Valley Journal Contact. First, I quit working for them in like September. Secondly, when I did work for them I only covered South Jordan City government issues, not education.

I gave them my former boss’s phone number and told them I no longer worked for the paper. After I hung-up, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see and get my kids photo with one of their favorite celebrities, Dr. Scott the Paleontologist.

So even though I had just gotten out of the shower and I was dripping wet, I threw some clothes on me, and my kids who were still in pajamas. I looked up the address for the school (in six year living here, I have never even seen Butterfield Canyon Elementary) and rushed out the door. No time to waste doing anyone’s hair or doing my make-up. When opportunity knocks, you just open the door right?!

We drove right to the school and found a million cars everywhere. We parked a block away and I made my kids run with me into the school. Alyssa, who has been sick, was just starting to feel better today and did not appreciate me pushing her beyond her physical limits. I ended up carrying her the last half block to the school.

We walked right into the school assembly without any trouble. I wasn’t sure we’d be welcome or invited. I know schools are weird about who can be there. We walked right into the front of the assembly to be exact and sat on the front row. They gymnasium was packed with kids and parents standing around the edges.

Dr. Scott was up front talking to the school kids and putting on a presentation about Dinosaurs which the kids absolutely ate up. Alyssa who was formerly mad at me, was now elated at seeing her favorite TV personality. At the end of his 30 minute presentation. The kids met this special guest.
Buddy the Dinosaur!

Nothing could have been more exciting to the kids, including my kids! He walked right passed us in the front (since we were sitting in the front). Very exciting!
The school kids got to file out of the gym past Dr. Scott and Buddy. A quick little meet-and-greet. I was looking to see if there were any reporters there from the South Valley Journal. I didn’t see any, so I gave myself the job of covering this for the paper.

After ¾ of the kids had left the room, Buddy had to leave (presumably because he was roasting inside that costume) before my kids had their picture with him!

You know I could not allow this to happen, so I told the person in charge that I was with the SVJ and I needed Buddy for a photo with these two cute girls (mine) since schools are weird about letting school kids be photographed (what?…Its true, they are).

So we got they brought him back out for me so I could get my photo. This is what I got.
Even though most the kids were gone, he got swarmed by everyone who was left.
Overwhelmed, Buddy quickly left again, but the museum people promised me they’d bring him back out after the kids had gone.

Then they introduced me to Dr. Scott.
He told me some fascinating things about Utah and its awesome relationship to Dinosaurs. We also got some pics with him. You know I had to. I can’t help it.

I also got to talk to program people for KUED and Museum people. All in all it was very fascinating. My kids had almost as much fun as I did.


Certainly a memorable moment for me, I mean them.