Utah Summer Visit 2014

I am going to attempt to document our visit to Utah a few months back, but I can't promise how cohesive, or coherent it will be. I really want to get caught up on what we have had going on the past few months before I document the birth of our new baby girl. She came three weeks ago today! I am also hoping to get my blogging zeal back. It most definitely took a back seat to the demands of pregnancy on my mind and body. A newborn does not really make it that much easier, but here is to trying!

Our kids live for their trips to see family in Utah. They tell people about the place their grandparents live like it is a hidden secret spot, full of adventure and magic. It is pretty precious. Someday it may just become any other place to them. We will embrace the now. While it is so special.  I hope it remains special to them. I know it has to me!

We are always in the mood to let the kids see a new spot every time to visit. This time we took a drive out to Antelope Island. It is an island sitting in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. It is pretty baron. And it does stink because of the brine shrimp in the lake. It has a arid beauty. It really is amazing. The water was really low when we drove across the causeway to the island. The endless stretch of salt residue with the mountains in the distance was a great back drop!

Antelope Island has herds of roaming buffalo.

Take a drive out to the island if you get a chance, and you haven't been. It has its own unique splendor, and it is fun to see one of the many landscapes in the state of Utah!

My sister, Emily and I took some of our kids who were not involved in other activities to Temple Square in Downtown Salt Lake City one afternoon. Del and I celebrated our 14 year anniversary this July. We were married here, in the Salt Lake Temple.

So gorgeous! It was funny because there was a tour group gathered around some Sister Missionaries as we walked through. The church gives free tours full of history, facts, and the beliefs of our church. Georgia stopped and listened for a few minutes, and then spent the rest of the day filling everyone in on the information she had picked up in her eavesdropping.

Del and Jared had a good childhood friend pass away this past Spring. John has three kids, and Del and Jared wanted to take his two boys on the yearly Summer backpacking trip. All the kids had a good time! Del's brother Dave and his son Ian also went on the trip. Our boys look forward to their time in the mountains of Utah or Wyoming all year! Del sent me some photos from the trip from his phone.

Of course there must be water day with cousins in Grandma's backyard for any trip to be complete.

My mom, sisters and I took our kids up to visit This Is The Place State Park. It was a really fun, hot day! They have the cutest activities for the kids to participate and learn about pioneer life. Every time we left an activity they would say that one was their favorite.

My mom and sisters.

Walker and sheep selfie!

A video of the kids in the petting zoo. My two year old nephew, Sawyer, is one of the most entertaining people alive. In the video he is determined to keep wearing his cowboy boots even though he keeps falling down. He keeps saying, "I fine!"I do not know why youtube will not connect well with my blog these days! Sorry if this does not work here. It does on my Youtube channel.

The kids mined for gold in a little stream. One of the activities they LOVED! I think they would have stayed here all day if we would have let them.

Jack with his found fortune!

There were lots of pioneer games.

This building is a replica of the original ZCMI. The first department store in the U.S. Del worked for ZCMI in high school, and it is where I met him for the first time. He was working his shift as a stock boy, and I was shopping with my sister.

Walker loved plowing. I am sure he would not be such an eager worker if this were real life.

Grandma buying warm donuts to eat while we watched the Native American dancing show. Which was really interesting and well done.

We took some time to go up to Midway to see a childhood friend of Del's. Annd… just to have a chance to go to Midway because there is a lot to love about that city! We were able to see lots of friends on this trip and it was so much fun! I wish I were better about taking pictures with all of them on our visits!
That is a quick summarization of our Summer! Our kids love their weeks in Utah in the Summer so much that every person in their lives know about them! Teachers are up to date on Utah happenings. Friends like the idea of venturing out West themselves one day. Doctors and even strangers are all made aware the Utah is THE place to be! Our kids should work for the Utah Department of Tourism. If there is one. They are doing their part to promote the state!